Immigration Information

Status Overview For F-1 Students

Sections:

Form I-20 And F-1 Visa
Information about the Documents You Will Need
Arrival at Columbia College
Maintaining Legal F-1 Status
Health Insurance Requirements
Travel
Transfer Students
Employment for International Students
Taxes

Form I-20 And F-1 Visa

To enter the United States as an F-1 student, you will need a Columbia College Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status), a valid F-1 visa (issued by the American embassy or consulate), and a current passport. Please plan to carry these documents on your person when you enter the United States. At the port of entry, the immigration officials will stamp your I-20, return the student copy of the I-20 form to you, and give you an I-94 card. Make sure that your I-94 card is marked "F-1" and Duration of Status (D/S). It is recommended that you make a photocopy of your documents and keep them in a secure place. If you have any questions, please contact the Coordinator of International Programs.

Information about the Documents You Will Need

I-20: Certificate of Eligibility
The Form I-20: Certificate of Eligibility will be sent to you after you have been granted admission to Columbia College or to the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program here at the college. Before the Form I-20 will be issued, you will need to submit a completed Certificate of Financial Support, along with a current bank statement to provide evidence of adequate financial resources to cover all college and personal expenses. You will need to take the Form I-20 and evidence of financial support to the American Embassy or Consulate in your country when you apply for your F-1 Visa.

Visa: Permit to apply to enter the U.S. at a port of entry
The American Embassy or Consulate located in your country will issue your visa. You must have a valid visa to enter/re-enter the United States, except from Canada, Mexico and the adjacent islands (with some restrictions). As long as you remain in the United States, it does not matter if the visa has expired. It is a travel document used to enter the United States only. However, if you leave the U.S., even for a short vacation trip, and the visa has expired, you will need to obtain a current visa before you will be permitted to re-enter the United States.

I-94: Arrival - Departure Record
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will issue this small card to you when you enter the U.S. indicating legal entry, status and the permission to stay. Be sure that your I-94 is marked F-1 and Duration of Status (D/S) before leaving INS at your point of entry. Duration of Status (D/S) refers to the length of time necessary for you to complete your specific educational program or level plus a 60-day grace period. Often the INS official will staple your I-94 to your passport.

Arrival at Columbia College

Within ten (10) days of your arrival on campus, it is necessary for you to check-in with the International Programs Office so that your immigration documents can be reviewed and photocopied.

Maintaining Legal F-1 Status

You must meet certain obligations in order to maintain legal immigration status. Maintaining legal status is necessary in order to receive the benefits of F-1 status, such as employment, and is crucial to a successful application for a change or adjustment of status, such as transfer to another institution. Failure to maintain your non-immigrant status can result in serious problems with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and could lead to deportation from the United States.

To Maintain Legal Status, You Must:

• Keep your passport valid at all times
• Not let your I-20 Form expire. (If you need an extension, come to the International Programs Office to request one well before the expiration date listed on your I-20 Form)
• Maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year:
  • ESL: 18 hours of class time
  • Undergraduate --12 credit hours
  • Graduate -- 3 credit hours
  (If you have questions regarding full-time status, please contact the Coordinator of International Programs.)
• Limit employment to 20 hours per week during the academic year
• Do not accept unauthorized employment either on- or off-campus
• Attend classes and maintain satisfactory grades
• If you plan to transfer to another institution, complete the required transfer procedure specified by the institution you plan to attend
• If you intend to extend or change your program of study, check with the Coordinator of International Programs regarding required INS procedures

Health Insurance Requirements

All Columbia College international students are required to participate in the mandatory health insurance program. Students will be responsible for the cost of this service.

Travel

When traveling outside the United States, you need to have the proper documents to return to the United States. You may need a valid F-1 visa to re-enter the United States (except from Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands within 30 days - with some restrictions) and a Form I-20 recently endorsed by the Coordinator of International Programs. Please stop by the International Programs Office to have your I-20 signed before you travel out of the United States. Travel to some countries may require additional documentation.

Transfer Students

If you were previously studying at another U.S. high school or college and are now going to study at Columbia College, you must come to the International Programs Office to complete your immigration transfer within 10 days of the beginning of your first semester here. You need to present your Columbia College I-20, the I-20 from your previous school and evidence that you were a full-time student at your previous school (e.g., transcript, letter from the Foreign Student Advisor at your previous school, etc.)

Employment for International Students

The INS makes the assumption that F-1 students are here for the primary purpose of attending school, so employment is restricted. The following employment possibilities exist for F-1 students.

• On-campus employment limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session and full time during school holidays.
• Off-campus employment, only after you have been in F-1 status for at least one academic year. This employment may take the form of Optional Practical Training, Curricular Practical Training, or an exception for unforeseen economic hardship.

Finding A Job On-Campus

Once you are settled on campus and comfortable with your studies, having a job may be a good idea. You can earn extra money, meet new people and make new friends, improve your communication skills and learn how to manage your time more effectively. Additionally, campus jobs look good on a resume and can be a source of recommendation letters as well as personal references for future employment or graduate school.

Students can learn about employment opportunities on-campus by visiting the International Programs Office. To work on campus during the academic year, you must be enrolled full-time (12 hours for undergraduates and 3 hours for graduate students) and be in good academic standing.

At the point you are hired, you will be asked to complete the top section of the Temporary Employment Form, Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), and federal and state tax withholding statements (W-4's). You will also need to present a Social Security card.

Obtaining a Social Security Card:
As an international student you are probably exempt from paying social security taxes. However, if you plan to work in this country you must obtain a Social Security card. To apply for a Social Security card, visit the International Programs Office. The Coordinator will assist you with obtaining the required letter verifying your eligibility to work on campus as well as traveling to the Social Security Office in Columbia.

Taxes

All F-1 students must file federal tax forms every year they are in the United States. The deadline to file the forms is April 15, if U.S. money is earned (including scholarships and assistantships), and June 15, if no U.S. money is earned. Income tax forms and instructions can be obtained from the International Programs Office.

Paying taxes on your earnings?

You will have to pay federal and state taxes on your earnings, unless you qualify for a special exemption based on your country of citizenship. If that is the case, contact the Columbia College payroll office for the exemption forms you will need to complete. Taxes are deducted from your paycheck each pay period. The tax year runs from January 1 to December 31. You must file a federal income tax return and a state income tax return for the previous year by April 15. The Coordinator of International Programs will notify you when it is time to file your income tax returns and assist you with obtaining the necessary forms.

Working Off-Campus

Optional Practical Training (OPT):
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations permit international students who have been enrolled at a service-approved institution for at least 9 months to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment. Practical training is designed to provide students with opportunities to gain practical, applicable employment experience related to their major field of study. Its purpose is to complement academic work.

Permission from the INS for optional practical training is limited to a total of 12 months during an F-1 student's stay in the United States. Students who have been enrolled at an approved institution for nine consecutive months may apply for all or part of the total twelve months. Students are eligible for OPT with or without a job offer.

Categories of OPT

• Part-time practical training while school is in session, provided the employment does not exceed twenty hours per week. The student must be enrolled for a full-time course load. Practical training that is requested on a part-time basis will be deducted from the 12-month total at a rate of one month for every two months of employment.
• Practical training during the summer vacation and other times when school is not in session, if the student is enrolled and intends to enroll for the next semester.
• Practical training after completion of all course requirements for a degree, for graduate students working on a thesis or dissertation. The student simultaneously must be registered for thesis or research credit.
• Practical training after completion of course of study. Applications must be made to the INS within 60 days of completion of studies.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service may take 90 days to approve an application for OPT. Students are urged to begin the application process as early as possible. Students who wish to do practical training after completion of studies may apply for employment authorization up to 120 days before or 60 days after completion of studies.

The application process for the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is handled by the INS Service Centers via the mail. You may not begin working until you have obtained the EAD from INS and the authorized employment date is reached.

Additional information, INS forms and assistance with the application process can be obtained in the International Programs Office.

Curricular Practical Training for International Students (CPT):
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations permit international students who have been enrolled at a service-approved institution for at least 9 consecutive months to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Curricular Practical Training is defined by INS as employment, such as an internship or practicum, which is "an integral part of an established academic curriculum." This employment may either be required for all students in the academic program or it may be for academic credit, or both. Students must complete the entire application process before CPT will be authorized. Students may not begin employment until the application process is completed.

Employment that is a required part of your degree program always meets the requirements for CPT, regardless of whether or not you receive academic credit for your work. Employment that is not a required part of your degree program may meet the requirements for CPT if you receive academic credit for the employment experience and if it is considered to be an integral part of your curriculum.

To gain approval for CPT employment, you must have legal F-1 status at the time of making application and have been a full-time student for at least one academic year. The employment must be clearly related to your field of study. Students in the English as a Second Language program are not eligible for CPT.

Curricular Practical Training is available only prior to the completion of your degree program and you must have a job offer at the time of application. It is important for you to know that while there is no limitation on the length of time you may participate in full-time CPT, if you participate for twelve months or more, you will not be eligible for OPT. Participation in part-time CPT (20 hours or less per week) will not affect your eligibility for OPT.

It is important for you to remember that CPT is credit bearing and is considered a course. For this reason, failing to fulfill the requirements for this course may result in your falling out of legal F-1 status.

For information or assistance with completing the application process for CPT, contact the International Programs Office.

Employment for International Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship:
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) considers severe economic hardship to consist of situations that are unforeseen and beyond your control. Examples of unforeseen economic hardship include loss of financial aid or on-campus employment that is not your fault, substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate increases in tuition and/or living costs, or unexpected changes in the financial condition of your main source of support.

Students are eligible to apply for employment based on severe economic hardship if the following conditions are met:

• Must have been in F-1 status for one full academic year and be in good academic standing
• Must demonstrate to the INS that employment is necessary due to unforeseen severe economic hardship
• On-campus employment is not sufficient

The International Programs Office can assist you with making an application for employment based on economic hardship. This type of work permission is often very difficult to obtain. If the INS denies your request, you will be told why but you may not appeal the decision.

You may not begin employment until you have received an employment authorization document (EAD) from the INS. Employment will be granted in one-year periods up to the time you are expected to complete your studies. Employment based on economic hardship is limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session; and can be full-time during vacation periods. The INS can renew work permission only if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements.