A: International students may qualify for off-campus employment only if it is required by your degree or one of your classes to do an internship off-campus in a job that is related to your major or to one of your classes. You must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) permission from DHS-USCIS through the International Student Services (ISS) before you start the job. Acceptance of employment should not interfere with the student's ability to maintain a full course of study; and employment should not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session.

A: As J-1 exchange visitor, you are permitted to remain in the country up to 30 days past the end date of your Form DS-2019. This time is to allow you time for tourism and packing. You do not have work authorization during this time. If you require additional time to complete your project, request both an appointment and DS-2019 extension, if eligible, before your grace period begins.

A: SEVIS stands for Student and Exchange Visitors Information System. SEVIS governs retention and reporting of information regarding F, J, and M nonimmigrant.

A: A sponsor organization is designated by the U.S. State Department to administer individual exchange visitor programs. Sponsors select and place exchange visitors in the programs they provide.

A: Generally one business day at most posts. It is issued on the same day the application is made, but time for background check that may be required is not included.

A: A host organization is an institution that provides a training placement within one department or their office as a whole. A host organization can be a museum, gallery, performance center, magazine, dance studio, opera house, or an architecture, design, fashion, or web-design firm.

A: When the university admits a student, it sends the student an immigration form called the I-20. This form indicates your field of study (major), the length of your course, and the date when you must report to the university. The form I-20 allows a student to apply for a student visa known as the F-1.

A: This is part of the Immigration and Naturalization Act (section 212e). The J Exchange Visitor program was created to increase the exchange of knowledge and to enhance mutual understanding between nations. In order to accomplish these goals, Congress created section 212(e) to ensure that significant numbers of exchange visitors return home at the end of their J programs. This two-year rule does not apply to everyone. It applies when an exchange visitor receives government funding from the U.S. or his/her home country. It also applies if the exchange visitor's country of nationality is included in the U.S. Department of State's "skills list" and the list contains the exchange visitor��s career specialty. Many countries have a skill list of essential specialty fields which are needed in the home country for its continued development.

If the two-year rule applies, it prevents the exchange visitor from obtaining U.S. permanent residency ("green card"), or a temporary work visa (H or L) in the U.S. until the visitor first is physically present in his/her home country for two years. It may be possible in some cases to receive a waiver of the two-year rule.

A: F-1 students are normally admitted for Duration of status. Duration of status is defined as the time necessary to pursue a full course of study at any educational level in the same school, and any authorized practical training.

A: A J-1 Visa is for an Exchange Visitor who plans to participate in designated Exchange-Visitor program pre-approved by the State Department (formerly pre-approved by USIA). Exchange Visitors under J-1 visas include secondary school and college students, business trainees, trainees in flight aviation programs, primary and secondary school teachers, college professors, research scholars, medical residents or interns receiving medical training in the U.S., certain specialists, international visitors, and Government visitors.

A: The F1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa issued by a US Consulate to an alien student who is pursuing a full-time course of study in a US academic institution at colleges, universities, conservatories, academic high schools (subject to strict regulations) and institutions with language training programs.

If your I-20 is lost, damaged, or stolen you must request a new I-20 from ISSS by completing a document request form. If your I-20 is stolen, you should file a police report with the police department as soon as possible.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is another type of Work experience opportunity for F-1 students to apply their knowledge in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus. It is available to students, based on their major, at the end of the program. Students who successfully complete their program of study may be eligible to engage in full-time work in a paid, off-campus position for up to one year. Students may then transfer to another college program, or return home. More information about this program is available at the International Student Office to enrolled students.

If you are on OPT after graduation, you are not eligible to extend the OPT end date.

The M-1 student visa is a nonimmigrant visa which allows foreign students wishing to pursue vocational or non-academic studies, other than language training, to enter into the U.S.