Current International Students

Business Affairs
Contact Information Organization Chart Staff Directory Forms Library Policy Library Reports Library Business Affairs Calendar Send us your comments

Office of Human Resources

Home » Business Affairs » Business Affairs Services » Human Resources » Immigration Services » Current International Students

Maintaining F-1 Status	Employment Eligibility	On-Campus Employment	Off-Campus Employment
Transfer Students	Traveling Outside the U.S.	Dependents	Reinstatement

Maintaining F-1 Student Status

As an F-1 student you are admitted into the U.S. for "Duration of Status" (D/S is found on the I-94). This means you are permitted to stay in the U.S. as long as you maintain your status by fulfilling the requirements of being an F-1 student. You can lose your legal status if you do not comply with immigration laws regulating your stay in the U.S. A violation of your student status may require reinstatement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Regulations you must follow in order to maintain your legal status:

Passport	Maintain a valid passport at all times, unless exempt from passport requirements.
School Attendance	Attend the University that immigration and Customs Enforcement has authorized you to attend (Form I-20). You must attend school every fall and spring semester while in the U.S. under F-1 status. Summers are optional unless you start your degree program in a summer session.
Full Course of Study	Register, maintain and complete a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters (12 hours undergraduates and 9 hours graduates).
Program Extension	Apply for an extension of your program if you cannot complete your degree by the ending date listed on item 5 of your I-20. The extension must be granted prior to the expiration date on your I-20. (See Forms).
New I-20	Obtain a new I-20 whenever you make a change in degree levels or change of major.
Employment	All employment must be approved by the Designated School Official (international student adviser) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week.
Travel	When traveling out of the U.S. request a travel endorsement on your I-20 from your Designated School Official (international student adviser) before leaving the U.S. (See Forms).
Change of Address	Report a change of address to your international student advisor on a Form AR-11 within 10 days of the change. Also advise of a name change.
Co-Enrollment and School Transfer	Co-enrollment and school transfers must be approved by the Designated School Official (international student adviser). Prior approval is required.
Reduced Course Load	Permission to drop below a full course of study requires prior approval from the Designated School Official (international student adviser).
Distance Learning Classes	No more than one class or three credit hours per semester may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken through distance learning.

Employment Eligibility

The University is required by law to complete the form “Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) for all individuals hired. This form is processed in the Office of Human Resources. The form must be updated each time your I-20 is extended or your work permission is renewed.

On-Campus Employment

The Department of Homeland Security provides employment opportunities for F-1 students to be employed during F-1 status. Unauthorized employment is a violation of student status. You may work on-campus as long as you are maintaining legal F-1 status. On-Campus employment is limited to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full time when school is not in session. On-Campus employment includes employment with commercial firms that provide a service to the university such as the cafeteria or the book store.

Off-Campus Employment

Optional Practical Training (OPT) - OPT is temporary employment directly related to the student’s major field of study. OPT can be used during or after the student’s studies. 12 months is given for each degree level. Some stem degrees may extend an additional 17 months. Students must in legal status for at least one academic year.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) - CPT is paid or unpaid training that is an integral part of an established curriculum in the student's course of study. Students must be in legal status for at least one academic year.

Severe Economic Hardship - The student must apply through Homeland Security to work off-campus due to severe economic hardship. This employment is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time when school is not in session.

Transfer Students

Transferring-In - The student should notify his current international student advisor that he/she is
interested in transferring to another school. The student should discuss a release date for the SEVIS
file. The SEVIS file has to be released to Prairie View A&M University in order to issue a Form I-20.

Transferring-Out - The student should notify his current international student advisor that he/she is interested in transferring to another school. The student should discuss a release date for the SEVIS file. The SEVIS file has to be released to the transfer school in order to be issued a Form I-20.

Traveling Outside the U.S.

International students traveling outside of the United States should review all immigration documents prior to departing the United States. Valid documents will be required for reentry into the United States.

Passport – The passport should be valid or the student will need to apply for a passport prior to attempting to reenter the United States.

Visa – The visa should be current (unexpired) and the visa stamp should state the current immigration category that the student is studying under, such as F-1. Students traveling on expired visas will need to visit the embassy and apply for a new visa prior to attempting to reenter the United States. Students who have had a change of status approved and are traveling outside of the U.S. will need to apply for a student visa prior to attempting to reenter the U.S.

Form I-20 – Page 3 of the I-20 must be endorsed for travel in order to reenter the United States. Once the I-20 is endorsed for travel the signature is good for one year.

I-94 Card (Arrival and Departure Record) – The student should always travel with their must current I-94 card. The student must also have this card when reentering the United States.

Passport – The passport should be valid or the student will need to apply for a passport prior to attempting to reenter the United States.

Visa – The visa should be current (unexpired) and the visa stamp should state the current immigration category that the student is studying under, such as F-1. Students traveling on expired visas will need to visit the embassy and apply for a new visa prior to attempting to reenter the United States. Students who have had a change of status approved and are traveling outside of the U.S. will need to apply for a student visa prior to attempting to reenter the U.S.
Form I-20 – Page 3 of the I-20 must be endorsed for travel in order to reenter the United States. Once the I-20 is endorsed for travel the signature is good for one year.
I-94 Card (Arrival and Departure Record) – The student should always travel with their must current I-94 card. The student must also have this card when reentering the United States.
Dependents

The spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age of an F-1 student are eligible for F-2 status. Family members will each be issued their own dependent I-20. F-2 status is dependent upon the F-1 student’s status.

Employment F-2 - F-2 dependents are not permitted to work in the U.S.

Study in F-2 Status - F-2 children in elementary or secondary school my study full-time.F-2 spouse may not study full-time and part-time study must be vocational or recreational in nature.

Reinstatement

F-1 students who have failed to maintain student status for less than 5 months may apply for reinstatement to F-1 status if circumstances were beyond their control.

LINKS

Frequently Asked Questions

Student and Visitor Exchange Program