Most international students are in the United States in F-1 (student in academic or language program) or J-1 (exchange visitor) non-immigrant status and have requirements to maintain this status. Students unaware of regulations for their non-immigrant status could potentially fall out of status, resulting in serious consequences! Please check if your student is an international student. When you encounter any of the following situations, please contact the ISSP at 727-3300 or issp@emory.edu. For definitions of immigration terms, please click on definitions.

When your international students say that they never checked-in with the ISSP office

When you know your international students never visited the ISSP office, please instruct them to check-in with us. The documents they should bring to ISSP are passport, I-94 and I-20 or DS-2019. We are required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to keep copies of these documents. It is also important that we have the documents in order to provide them further assistance while they are at Emory.

When your international students carry less than a full course of study

International students must carry a full course of study to maintain their immigration status. However, there are a few, well defined, extenuating circumstances in which a student can be enrolled less than full-time. If you are an administrator who makes the decision to allows students to have less than a full course of study, please be sure to contact ISSP first. USCIS requires international students to receive permission from the Designated School Official (DSO) in ISSP to carry less than a full course of study. Students are not required to be enrolled during the summer and winter vacation. The DSO for undergraduate students is Laura Stamey, and the DSO for graduate students is Dawn Williams.

When your international students transferred from a different institution

Transfer of schools is processed to USCIS and Department of State (DOS) through the ISSP office. Failure to do a transfer process within 15 days of registering for classes causes your international students to fall out of immigration status.

When your international students are unable to meet the program completion date in item #5 on the I-20 form or item #3 on the DS-2019 form

International students must apply for a "program extension" to USCIS or DOS when they are unable to complete their studies on time. Compelling academic or medical reasons, such as a change of major or research topic, an unexpected delay in a research program, or a documented illness could cause the delay. Delay caused by academic probation or suspension is not acceptable for a program extension. If a student is considering program extension, please make sure the student informs the ISSP office. The student must apply for a program extension within the 30 day period before the completion date on the I-20 or DS-2019 form.

When your international students are travelling outside the US temporarily

International students need to come to ISSP for the following preparations.

• Traveling with a valid visa and passport (if required): a signature on back of I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSP and financial information.
• Traveling with an expired/expiring visa: For visa renewal, a signed I-20 or DS-2019, a valid passport, financial information, two small photographs, fee (if required) and other materials which will help demonstrate that the student has no intention of abandoning residence in their home country.
• Automatic extension of visas: if they do not attempt to apply for a new visa, students may reenter the US with expired visas when they are visiting Canada, Mexico or any of the adjacent islands other than Cuba not exceeding 30 days and when they have maintained and intend to resume status as F-1 or J-1 students. ISSP will provide a copy of the regulation and a travel signature on back of I-20 to DS-2019. The students must carry valid passport and I-94.

When your international students are engaged in employment

Rules and regulations regarding employment for international students are entirely different from students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. F-1 students can only engage in employment in the US. in the following ways:

• On-campus employment: need an authorization stamp on the back of the I-20 from ISSP.
• Off-campus employment: need to qualify, must be recommended by ISSP; provide documentation to USCIS to approve.
• Curricular Practical Training: part-time during school year, full-time during vacations; internship must be a required part of the curriculum (either a degree requirement which all students must meet or a course requirement which all enrolled students must meet); authorized by ISSP.
• Optional Practical Training: part-time during school year, full-time during vacations and after graduation; must be recommended by ISSP and authorized by USCIS. ISSP provides a regular workshop for students to learn about this immigration benefit every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m in the ISSP office.

J-1 students can only engage in employment in the United States in the following ways:

• On-campus employment: need a letter of authorization from ISSP.
• Off-campus employment: must meet qualifications; need a letter of authorization from ISSP.
• Academic Training: part-time during the academic year, full-time during vacations and after graduation; need a letter of authorization from ISSP

When your international students are continuing in a new education level at the same school (e.g. BBA to MBA)

Receive a new I-20 or DS-2019, enroll in the first term following the completion of the previous degree or vacation, and report to ISSP. The new I-20 should be issued by the Office of Admissions and the new DS-2019 should be issued by either ISSP or the students' sponsoring agency.

When your international students violate the conditions of lawful F-1 or J-1 status

International students who violate their immigration status must either apply to USCIS for reinstatement or leave the U.S. Students may fall out of status if they (1) carry less than a full course of study, (2) fail to report to a new institution after transferring, (3) fail to apply for a program extension, or (4) engage in unauthorized employment.

When your international students need to change their immigration status

Students should visit ISSP if they are thinking of changing their immigration status from F-1 or J-1 to another nonimmigrant classification or adjusting to permanent residency in the U.S.

When your international students need a new I-20 or DS-2019

I-20 and DS-2019 forms are government documents and subject to change. ISSP is required to keep copies of the I-20 or DS-2019 and other immigration documents for each international student.

ISSP also provides assistance for international students such as:

• Personal counseling
• Advising on cultural adjustment and cross-cultural communication
• Introducing students to other international students and organizations
• Enhancing cultural exchange by hosting events and activities (i.e., International Coffee Hour every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Winship Ballroom of the DUC and the Annual International Cultural Festival in the spring.)