Visa Information :: Student Handbook :: Students
What types of visas are there?
What visa definitions should I know?
How do I stay in-status?
How can I take a break from studying?
What will happen if I am out-of-status?
How can I travel?
What types of visas are there?
| F-1: | This visa allows a person to enter the US for full-time study at an authorized institution. |
| F-2: | This visa allows husbands, wives, or children of F-1 students to enter the US. |
| J-1: | This visa allows a person to enter the US to study or teach. It is also called an exchange visitor visa. |
| J-2: | This visa allows husbands, wives, or children of J-1 students to enter the US. |
What visa definitions should I know?
Visa:- A visa is a stamp in your passport issued by an American Embassy or Consulate in your country.
- It allows you to get on a plane to the US and request entry to this country.
- The date of a visa does not affect how long you can stay in the country. Your visa can expire while you are in the US without affecting your status.
- The new Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service is a part of the Department of Homeland Security. The BCIS is the part of the US government that admits aliens into the country. The BCIS replaces the immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). It controls the status of aliens who are in the U.S.
- Note: The State Department, a different agency, issues visa stamps at Embassies or Consulates abroad.
- SEVIS is a government required communication system used to maintain accurate and current information on F-1 students, J-1 visitors, and their dependents. SEVIS enables schools to produce the I-20 and to report information about a student’s stay in the United States.
- This document is issued to an F-1 student.
- It shows the beginning and expected completion of studies, level of study, field of study, and the school being attended.
- This is a little white card that is stapled in a passport or to an I-20 document.
- When you enter the US, INS marks your visa status on the I-94 card.
- INS also marks the “expiration of legal stay” date on this card.
- The official name of the I-94 is the Departure Record. When you leave, it is given to the airline so INS can confirm that you are no longer in the US.
- F-1 visa holders do not have specific limitations on their length of stay in the US.
- I-94 cards for F-1 visas are marked D/S, which means duration of status.
- This means that a student may remain in the US until the “completion of studies” date on the I-20 (as long as the other conditions are met).
How do I stay in-status?
- Your I-20 must be valid (for F-1 students on IEP I-20s).
and - You must be enrolled in the IEP.
and - You must attend classes.
and - You must maintain contact with the IEP.* You must check your IU e-mail account for visa information about your status.
*Failure to maintain contact will require the IEP to begin the termination process. Check your IU e-mail account (“your username”@indiana.edu) daily.
You must be careful to keep your visa in-status. If you decide to stop studying in the IEP, come to Memorial Hall 313 immediately to discuss your visa status.
How can I take a break from studying?
5th Session Off: A student who has studied 4 consecutive sessions in the IEP may take the 5th session off or study part-time. After taking a 5th session off, students MUST return to the IEP to study a 6th session.*
To qualify for a 5th session off a student must:
- first study with the IEP for 4 consecutive sessions
- purchase health insurance for the 5th session
- fill out the 5th session off form in the IEP office
For Example:
073 (current Session) - Full-Time
074 – Full-time
075 – Full-time
076 – Full-time
081 – Free
082 – Must study full-time in the IEP
*If you change your mind and decide to go home or transfer to another school, you must do this within 60 days of the end of your 4th session, not at the end of your 5th session off.
What will happen if I am out-of-status?
The US government recently rewrote its immigration laws. They make staying in-status more important than it was before. Students who are out-of-status or have overstayed their visas will have more serious problems than before. It may be impossible for them to return to the US in the future.
The new laws say out-of-status people:
- cannot re-enter the US without a new visa
- must be in their native country to apply for a new visa
- cannot apply for a visa from a third country such as Canada or Mexico
Students with F-1 visas must leave the US within 60 days of completing or stopping their studies. To find the date of completion, look at line 5 on your I-20.
How can I travel?
If you plan to travel outside the country while studying with us, you need to follow the following procedures.
- You will need to bring your I-20 to Memorial Hall 313 to have it signed.
- You will need to know exactly when you plan to leave and return.
- You need to return before the date next to the signature.
- If you cannot return before this date, you need to contact the office to arrange to send your I-20 back and have it signed again.
- If you decide to return to the US to attend another school, you MUST enter the country using an I-20 from the other school.
- Your visa MUST be valid for at least 6 more months after your return date. If it is not, you will need to have it renewed while you are in your home country.
If you plan to travel inside the US, you do not need to have your I-20 signed.
