Visa and Important Documents

Immigration Status

*** When you enter the US, you gain the “status” of your visa. You can do things to shorten, extend, or
change your status from within the US, but these changes to your status DO NOT DO ANYTHING to shorten,
extend, or change your visa. You CANNOT get a new visa from WITHIN the US.

VISA & IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Every international student in the U.S. has a visa type. The official documents for someone on a student visa type include a passport, visa, and an immigration form (either an I-20 or a DS-2019). Each of these documents is very important for understanding your status as an international student. They should be the most important things you have, so please be careful with them. You also have an I-94 which is your entry/exit document. You can find a link for downloading your I-94 in the My EDGE Folder on the OIE website.

F-1 and J-1 VISA RULES

Each visa type has specific rules. For F-1 and J-1 students, the rules are:

• Always be a full-time student during EVERY school term
  • Undergraduates (Salem, PNCA) and ASP = 12.0 credits
  • Graduate programs vary by program:
  • PNCA graduate = 12.0 credits
  • Atkinson MBA = 9.0 credits
  • Law (JD, LLM) = 10 credits
  • Data Science = 8.0 credits
• Make satisfactory progress (attend class, complete assignments, communicate with professors)
• Always have a valid passport
• Always have a valid I-20 or DS-2019 form AND don’t lose your immigration form
• Don’t travel OUTSIDE of the U.S. without a travel signature from the Office of International Education and making sure your visa is still valid. Your passport must also be valid 6 months beyond the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019.
  
  • For a FAST travel signature, come to the OIE during drop-in advising (Mondays 12:30 – 2:00 or Thursdays 3:30 – 5:00) with your I-20 form
  • Fill out a pink Travel Signature Request From (at the OIE) and OIE staff will give you a travel
    signature on your I-20 or DS-2019
  • It is best to try to get this signature AT LEAST 2 weeks before traveling so you do not forget.
• Federal law prohibits the possession of a firearm. Possession includes holding, renting, using, or owning a firearm. International students must follow federal law.
• Federal law prohibits the possession and use of marijuana (smoking or eating) even though it is legal in Oregon. International students must follow federal law.

Additional rules to keep in mind:

• Keep your address updated through SEVIS (via the OIE) within 10 days of moving
  Don’t work without authorization (a mistake that cannot be fixed)
  • You are allowed to work ON CAMPUS for a MAXIMUM of 20 hours per week [Monday to Sunday]
  • Cannot be averaged, must be under 20 hours EVERY week
  • If you have more than one job, the total is 20 hours or less in all jobs COMBINED
  • We will have workshops about working off campus – internships (Curricular Practical Training or Academic Training) or after completion of study (Optional Practical Training or Academic Training), but keep in mind there is NO LEGAL WAY to work off campus without doing an authorization process with the OIE – no automatic approval
  • NOT RECEIVING MONEY/PAYMENT does NOT make it safe. Unpaid or “volunteer” activities are
    often viewed as work and doing these activities will knock you out of status. CHECK FIRST!
• Leave the U.S. before your grace period expires – 60 days (F-1) or 30 days (J-1) after completion of
  study

If you lose your I-20 or DS-2019:

• Complete the pink I-20/DS-2019 Request Form (available from the Office of International Education).
• Take completed form to the Office of International Education.

It can take 2 weeks to get a new I-20, so plan ahead. The Office of International Education will send you an email when your I-20 is ready.