International Admissions - F1 Student Visa Requirements

If You Are Denied a Student F-1 Visa

Please visit the United States' Department of State web site to learn more about the visa denial

If You Are Granted an F-1 Visa

The U.S embassy/consulate will add a visa sticker with your photo in your passport for permission to enter the United States for a specific purpose and period of time. Students are usually given an F-1 or J-1 visas. Spouses and children of F-1 visa holders are assigned an F-2 visa. J-1 visas are given to researchers, scholars, and students. Spouses and children of these visitors are assigned J-2 visas. Since this visa sticker is only important for entry and re-entry to the United States, you MUST have the following documents to enter the USA:

1. Valid Passport (for at least 6 months) with a valid F-1 or J-1 visa
2. Original letter of acceptance/admission from SUNY-Plattsburgh
3. Valid SEVIS I-20 form issued by SUNY-Plattsburgh
4. Original copies of all of the financial documents (such as bank statement(s))
5. Proof of ties to your home country (please read these tips on how to apply for an F-1 visa)

After Arrival to the United States

When you arrive to a United States airport, you will be asked to complete a small white card called I-94, also called the Arrival/Departure Record of Stay Permit. This form is very important since it officially determines how long an international student can remain in the U.S. Students on F-1 and J-1 visas, usually have their I-94 stamped "D/S" (Duration of Status) which means the student can remain in this country for the length of time required to complete his/her studies as long as the student follows all of the regulations of the student visa. The eleven-digit number written on your I-94 is your DHS-USCIS admission number, which is used by the DHS-USCIS to monitor your entry into and departure from the U.S.

Maintaining Status/Being "In-Status" with DHS-USCIS

An F-1 student is considered in status for the entire length of time during which he/she is enrolled as a full-time student in an educational program that is listed on the I-20 form and to the conditions of the visa designated on the I-94 card, plus any authorized period of practical training (employment) and an additional sixty (60) days to prepare for departure. Be sure to pay close attention to the conditions described below:

You must be enrolled as a full-time student at the university you are authorized to attend. This means that you must only attend the school whose I-20 you last used to enter the U.S. or the school whose I-20 you used to transfer schools. Should you decide to withdraw from the university, you are not allowed to remain in the U.S. in student status.

You may engage in employment or practical training only when you have received the necessary permission from the International Student Services (ISS) and appropriate authorization from DHS-USCIS.

You must apply for extensions in a timely fashion. Duration of Status expires if a student takes longer than expected to complete a given academic level (e.g. bachelor's, master's, doctorate). The amount of time permitted for completing studies at a given level is determined by the date put on item # 5 on the initial I-20 issued at the beginning of each academic level. Students must pay close attention to the expected completion date noted in item 5 on the form I-20 for each level. If more time is needed, an application for extension of stay must be filed with DHS-USCIS. There are certain requirements you must meet to be eligible for an extension, so you will need to consult with the International Student Services (ISS) at least 60 days before the expiration date on your I-20.

You must be a full-time student during each regular term of the academic year. At the State University of New York-Plattsburgh, this is 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates and 12 credit hours for graduate students. Exceptions can be made only by International Student Services (ISS) for valid medical or academic reasons as defined by the DHS. Be sure to speak with the International Student Services (ISS) office about any exceptions to avoid the serious consequences that may result from being out of status.

Note: Students who fail to maintain full-time course enrollment may loose their lawful immigration status and may not be able to continue their education in the United States.

Employment

When you apply for an F-1 student visa, you must prove that you have full financial support to be a full-time student in the United States. Therefore, the main purpose for you to be in the States is to be a full-time student, not to work or to be employed. Yet, the laws provide you with an opportunity to accept employment that will help enhance your education and not interrupt it. In other words, you cannot drop below full-time or stop education to work. In order to be able to accept an employment in the States, you must obtain proper authorization from DHS-USCIS through the International Student Services (ISS) office.

There are two types of international student employment:

1. On-Campus Employment- If you are maintaining your full-time student status, you may take a part-time job on campus for 20 hours or less per week while school is in session (fall and spring semesters) as long as it does not interfere with maintaining full-time enrollment. International students may work full-time on-campus while school is not in session (summer vacation). Please contact the International Student Services (ISS) office for assistance and permission.
2. Off-Campus Employment - In order to qualify for off-campus employment, you must maintain full-time status for one full academic year (fall and spring semesters), and apply for and obtain proper authorization from DHS-USCIS.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT)