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Extending Your Visa and Inviting Friends and Family to Campus

Extension of F-1 Status

When F-1 students enter the U.S., they receive a SEVIS I-20 document that specifies a date by which they are expected to graduate. Item #5 on the I-20 states "the student is expected to complete studies no later than [date]."

If the expected date of completion indicated on the I-20 issued to you will expire before you complete your degree requirements, you must complete an extension request in order to be able to continue to legally study in the U.S.  Therefore, if your I-20 is about to expire, please schedule and appointment with an International Student Advisor as soon as possible.

It is essential that you submit your application for an extension at least 45 days prior to the expiration of your I-20.  If you fail to apply in a timely manner, you could face various immigration-related problems, including being ineligible for on-campus employment and practical training.

Instructions

The extension process is simple and there is no fee. To apply for an extension, ask the staff in Kehoe # 313 for an extension packet.  You must then bring the following completed documents to ISS in Kehoe, 3rd Floor.

  1. An I-20 Request Form to request a new I-20
  2. Academic Certification Form.  Complete the top portion of the form and then submit it to your Academic or Faculty Advisor.  He/she should complete and sign the bottom portion of the form
  3. Completed I-538 Form, #1-6
  4. Unofficial copy of your transcript, which you can obtain from Banner Web
  5. Your current I-20.
  6. An updated Financial Document (Bank Statement). 

Once you have collected all of the documents listed above, please contact ISS at 518-564-3287 to schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor.

Maintaining your immigration status is your responsibility.  Please act in a timely manner to protect your status and to avoid any problems with your stay in the United States.

Inviting Family and Friends to Campus

Invite Your Spouse to Stay With You in Plattsburgh

If you wish to bring your dependents (spouse, daughter(s), and son(s) only) with you while you engage in studies at SUNY-Plattsburgh, you must be able to provide proof of additional funding in the amounts of:

This proof must be in the form of an attested letter or statement from you or your sponsor's bank showing adequate funds available for one year. This letter or statement must reflect funds in a savings, CD or money market accounts.

We do not accept proof of funding in the forms of property assets i.e. value of house, land, property if sold. If the proof of funding that you have submitted for yourself is adequate to cover the minimum estimated expenses for your dependents, you do not have to submit additional proof of funding. After the international student advisor reviews your documents, new I-20 forms will be issued to your family members to allow them to apply for the F-2 visa.

Invite Family Members to Visit You in Plattsburgh

If you would like to invite your family member(s) to spend the summer vacation with you or attend the graduation ceremony, you may request a letter of invitation from ISS to help him/her apply for a tourist visa (B1/B2). Your family member should submit the following to the American embassy near his/her home address:

  1. Valid passport
  2. Original financial documents to indicate that he/she has sufficient funds to cover the trip and personal expenses
  3. Ties to the home country (please read these tips for more information)
  4. Copy of your unofficial transcripts to show your history as a student at Plattsburgh
  5. ISS letter to support your invitation to your relative

Transfer out from SUNY-Plattsburgh

If a student wishes to transfer from SUNY-Plattsburgh to another school in the States, a school transfer procedure must be completed in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) new Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

In order for students to transfer schools, he/she MUST:

  1. Be in valid F-1 status
  2. Have maintained full course of study at SUNY-Plattsburgh
  3. Have NO balance due to SUNY-Plattsburgh and NO hold on your BANNER records
  4. Have been fully accepted/admitted by the new school and intend to register full- time at the new school
    What should I do to transfer from SUNY-Plattsburgh
    F-1 students should contact the international student advisor at the new school (the school that students is transferring to) and ask for an "immigration transfer form" then call ISS to schedule an appointment with an immigration advisor, and bring the new school's immigration transfer form to ISS with a photocopy of the acceptance letter

After the form is reviewed and completed, the ISS Advisor will transfer your SEVIS record to the new school using the SEVIS system. Please note, your SEVIS record will be transferred upon completion of the semester and cannot be released before the end of the semester. After your SEVIS record is released, your new school will have access to your SEVIS record and issue you a new I-20 form to complete the transfer procedure.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

If you have any questions about international admission or financial aid at SUNY-Plattsburgh, please contact:

International Student Services
 State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Kehoe Administration Building, Room 209
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901 USA

Phone: (518) 564-3287
Fax: (518) 564-3292
E-mail: iss@plattsburgh.edu

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