International students awarded an F-1 or J-1 visa must carefully review the F-1/J-1 Visa Regulations and follow them closely in order to maintain status. Upon arrival, F-1/J-1 students are given the D/S designation on the port of entry stamp in the passport, as well as on the I-94. D/S means “duration of status” and will continue as long as the student remains enrolled in classes and maintaining status. If a student violates the F-1/J-1 visa regulations, they are considered “out of status” and must consult the ISO regarding how to regain their status, through reinstatement or travel. Falling out of status can greatly affect a student’s ability to remain in the U.S., to finish their students, to apply for benefits like Optional Practical Training, and to change their status to a professional work visa in the future. Please know the expiration dates on your passport, visa, and I-20, and take action well in advance of the end dates if you need to renew. U.S. Immigration is very strict about expiration dates. 

F-1 and J-1 students must maintain regular contact with ISO throughout their studies in order to maintain their status.

The following diagram indicates all the things the student must see the ISO about:

Understanding the CIP Code on your I-20: Each academic program or major is assigned a CIP Code that is listed on your I-20. Please note that occasionally the exact wording varies, but the CIP Code is determined based on the content of the academic program as determined by the Department of Education. 

An F-1 or J-1 student planning to travel outside of the country must carry the following documentation in order to depart and re-enter the U.S.:

• Current I-20/DS-2019 with the DSO/RO’s signature on the back
  • The travel signature must be issued within 1 year from the travel re-entry date. The signature must be within 6 months if student is on OPT/STEM. Students requiring a signature must visit the ISO 2 weeks prior to traveling. 
• Unexpired passport
  • The passport must be valid for at least six months upon return to the U.S.
• Unexpired visa 
  • In order to re-enter the U.S., the F-1/J-1 visa must be valid. If it is expired, the student must renew their visa prior to reentry. 
• I-901 Receipt of SEVIS fee payment
  • The receipt can be obtained at https://www.fmjfee.com/
• OPT EAD card and evidence of employment (if approved for OPT)

Some exceptions exist for citizens of Canada, Mexico, and islands adjacent to the U.S.

An F-1 or J-1 student is planning travel within the U.S. are recommended to carry their I-20/DS-2019, unexpired passport and F-1/J-1 visa. If traveling within the U.S., the F-1/J-1 visa may be expired as long as the I-20/DS-2019 are valid.          

International Travel:
When traveling to another country other than the student’s country of citizenship, the student should always investigate what visa documents are required by that country’s government for international travelers. The ISO suggests the student consult with their embassy in the U.S. when traveling to another country.

Extended Absence:           
An F-1/J-1 student is permitted a maximum of five months outside of the U.S. More than five months is not considered a temporary absence, and the F-1/J-1 visa will automatically expire regardless of the dates on the visa and the I-20/DS-2019. If a student must leave the U.S. for more than five months, he or she should see the DSO about possible options for returning to the U.S. Be aware that returning after five months of absence is considered an initial entry, and restarts the clock to be eligible for benefits like CPT. Studying abroad for a semester is not considered an absence because the student remains enrolled full-time at the University of New Haven. 

Change of Status:
If a student changes immigration status while in the U.S., his or her original entry visa is considered expired. To renew an entry visa, the student must return home and reapply at the U.S. consulate. Always consult with the DSO/RO before traveling.

All F-1 students are required to enroll full-time in the fall and spring semesters, and the minimum number of credits is 12 for undergraduate students and 9 for graduate students. There are some specific circumstances in which a student may be eligible for a reduced course load, such as medical reasons, unfamiliarity with English or the U.S. education system in the first semester, or having fewer credits remaining to complete in the last semester. This is permitted only for one semester and there are limited circumstances when the authorization is permitted. The student and their academic adviser should consider this a one-time possibility under special circumstances only.

To apply for a reduced course load, please submit the Less Than Full-Time Enrollment Form signed by the academic advisor. If the reduced course load is due to medical issues, the student must also submit a letter from the doctor with diagnosis and their recommendations regarding study. 

Whenever you are issued a new I-20 because of a substantive change, such as a change of major, extension, CPT, etc., do not discard the old one. Copies of all your previous I-20s are required for OPT applications as well as any future change of status application. The ISO can only reprint and I-20 based on the real-time version of your SEVIS record. The ISO can’t print out previous I-20s if you have lost them.

It is very important to pay attention to the program end date on theI-20 or DS-2019. If an F-1/J-1 student will not complete their program requirements by the program end date, the student must apply for a program extension of the program end date on his or her I-20/DS-2019, so the DSO/RO can make the change electronically in SEVIS and print out a new document.

To request an extension, please submit the I-20/DS-2019 Extension Form signed by your academic advisor and evidence of financial ability to pay for the extra time period. This form must be submitted one month prior to the program end date currently listed on your I-20. 

An F-1 or J-1 student has a notation of D/S on his or her I-94, indicating he or she can remain in the U.S. for the duration of status. The expiration date on the student’s visa sticker may be subject to reciprocal agreements between his or her country and the U.S. Even if the visa sticker expires, F-1/J-1 students may legally remain in the U.S. as long they are maintaining status and within the program dates or authorization on STEM/STEM. If the student leaves and plans to reenter the U.S., they will not be able to re-enter on an expired visa. (Some travel exceptions exist for Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. islands.)

To renew a visa, students must return to the U.S. consulate in their home country. Applying for a visa renewal in a third country may or may not be possible, but students risk being refused renewal, being stranded outside U.S. borders, and/or deportation from the third country. The ISO strongly advises students consult the Department of State website for information specific to the consulate where they hope to renew and make an appointment prior to leaving the U.S.

All F-1/J-1 students must report any changes to their address or contact information to the International Services Office within 10 days of the change. Students planning to move their physical address must submit the Personal Information Update Form so that the DSO/RO can update the student record in SEVIS.