Immigration Information - International Programs Office

A visa is your permission to apply for entry into the United States. As long as a student remains in the United States, in legal immigration status, it does not matter if the visa has expired. There are several kinds of student visas.

Most students, at NMU, fall into this visa category. F-1 status is given to international students who wish to enter the U.S. solely for the purpose of study. The F-1 visa denotes non-immigrant status and is, therefore, considered a temporary visa.

The J-visa carries many of the same requirements and privileges as the F-1 with an important distinction: it is intended for the purpose of study and promotion of inter-cultural exchange. The J visa program is administered through the U.S. Department of State.

The I-20 is issued to academic and language students who have qualified for admission to an approved U.S. university or college. Students must take the I-20 and apply for a visa at the United States Consulate serving their home country. Additional proof of financial support, significant ties to the home country, and proof of non-immigrant intent may be required at the time of the Consulate interview.

The equivalent Certificate of Eligibility for J-1 students and scholars.  The process for application and entry to the United States is the same as for the F-1 student.

This process is now done electronically and you can access your I-94 information online. The Arrival/Departure Record is issued to international travelers who intend to enter the United States. The form I-94 conveys your legal status during your stay in the United States. Canadian citizens are normally issued a multiple entry paper I-94.

This is the 11 digit number that appears on your electronic I-94. The number changes each time you enter the US except if you have a multiple entry I-94.

An international student's permission to stay is defined as "Duration of Status." The status is usually noted as "D/S" on the student's form I-94. It relates to the expected date of completion for your program of study.

International students who remain in good immigration status during their academic program in the United States may be eligible for practical training. It is a BENEFIT to international students who remain in good status. There are two types of practical training: Curricular (CPT) and Optional (OPT). CPT is generally taken during the program of study, while OPT is typically a post-completion benefit.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services authorizes universities and colleges to administer regulations related to the F-1 visa program. Each university informs the USCIS of employees who function as DSOs. NMU appointed DSO's in International Education Services are Angela Maki (PDSO), Lila Isleib (DSO) and Mary Brundage (DSO).

Preparation for departure. An F-1 student who has completed a course of study and any authorized practical training following completion of studies will be allowed an additional 60 day period to prepare for departure from the United States or to transfer. An F-1 student authorized by the DSO to withdraw from classes will be allowed a 15 day period for departure from the United States. However, an F-1 student who fails to maintain a full course of study without the approval of the DSO or otherwise fails to maintain status is not eligible for an additional period for departure.

If you are in the United States in a valid visa status but do not currently hold a valid visa stamp, it may still be possible for you to make a short trip (30 days or less) to another country in North America and return to the US without renewing your visa. This is called "Automatic Revalidation".

The following conditions apply:

Your trip outside the US must be limited to North America. Trips to Canada, Mexico, or any adjacent islands* (except for Cuba) qualify for Automatic Revalidation.
Note: If you are in a visa status other than F or J, only trips to Canada or Mexico qualify for Automatic Revalidation.

Upon re-entry to the US, you must be in possession of the following documents:

1. Valid passport
2. I-20 or DS-2019 with travel signature from within the past six months
3. I-94  - go to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website to print out your current I-94
4. Expired F-1/J-1 US Visa stamp or If you changed your visa status within the US, you must show your previous US visa stamp (expired or valid) and documentation proving that your change of status was approved.

If you apply for a new US visa stamp during your trip, you are not eligible for Automatic Revalidation.

If you are a citizen of Iraq , Iran , Syria , Sudan , North Korea , or Cuba , you are not eligible for Automatic Revalidation.

* Adjacent islands include Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French, and Netherlands territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea. [Source: INA § 101(b)(5)]

ARRIVAL OF A J-1 SCHOLAR

• You must check in with the International Programs Office (IPO) within 5 business days of your program start date. This includes all J-1 scholars (paid or unpaid by the university). If your SEVIS record is not activated within 30 days of the program start date, you are out of status and must leave the country. This start date is found on your form DS-2019.
  Note: If you are unable to make the arrival date listed on your DS-2019, you must contact the International Programs Office at ies@nmu.edu so that your entry date can be deferred in the SEVIS system. If this is not done, and you check in beyond the 30 day grace period, there will be no way to activate your record in SEVIS. It is, therefore, critical for you to be in contact the International Programs Office of your arrival date.
   
• To check in, come to the International Programs Office at 203 Cohodas between 8:00-12:00 and 1:00-5:00. Upon check in, you must provide the IPO with your U.S. address. This address must describe a residence. It cannot be a P.O Box or an office address. It can be a "care of" address. Bring your DS-2019, emergency contact information (one domestic, one international), and your passport to check in.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE

• You and your dependents must have current passports at all times. An expired passport will mean you are out of status. If the J-1 visa holder is out of status, so are the J-2 dependents.
• You must always be in possession of a valid DS-2019, which accurately reflects your purpose for being at NMU. If it is close to expiring, you should request an extension from the International Programs Office.
• You and your dependents must come to the IPO to have your DS-2019 signed if you  intend to travel outside the United States. Travel signatures are valid for 6 months.
• You must also report any life event that may affect your immigration status such as birth of a child, marriage, change of legal name, divorce or death. This rule also extends to J-2 dependents.
• You must report any change of address to IPO within 5 days.
• If you are working at NMU you will need a social security number. If you do not have a social security number, come to International Programs Office for further information.

DEPARTURE/CHECK-OUT

• When your program is finished you must submit a Notice of Departure to the IPO. The IPO is required to report your program end date to the federal government. 
• If your J-2 dependents will be departing the US prior to your program end date, they must submit a J-2 Notice of Departure to our office.

EXTENSION OF STAY

• Request for extension must be made by your host department. This can be a letter stating the reason for the extension and the new end date.
• Your program must be extended before the end date on your current DS-2019. If the end date lapses then no extension is possible and you must leave the United States.
• To ensure that this process runs smoothly, have your host department send the IPO any extension paperwork at least two weeks prior to the program end date. The IPO will then verify that you are eligible for an extension and process the paperwork.
• J-1 scholars, students, and dependents (J-2s) are required to have major medical insurance for the duration of the program.

TRANSFER TO ANOTHER J PROGRAM

• J-1 scholars who plan to transfer to another institution must inform the IPO of their intent to do so prior to transferring so that this can be properly noted in the SEVIS system. They need to pick up and complete the transfer out form from the IPO. Under the SEVIS system, the current J program and the transferring J program will work together to complete the transfer process.

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN

• Inappropriate advice given to the scholar by a faculty member, academic adviser or international adviser that results in loss of legal status is not accepted by USCIS as grounds to reinstate the scholar to legal status.
• Reinstatement to legal status will rarely, if ever, be granted in the U.S. to scholars who lose their status. If you are out of status, you must return home with no guarantee of being issued a visa to return.
• J-2 dependents may request work permission from USCIS or attend school while they are in the United States.
• If you are being paid in the United States, you must file tax forms. Please contact the International Programs Office for more information.

Eligible F-1 nonimmigrant students with STEM degrees from SEVP-certified and accredited U.S. college or university may apply for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Interested F-1 students must apply for and received an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

Please review the Study in the States website on STEM OPT as it has information that will help you with the application process, reporting and employer information. It also has a list of the current qualifying STEM OPT degrees. 

To apply for your STEM OPT extension, you will need to work with a Designated School Official through the International Education Services (2001 Hedgcock) and provide the following documentation:

1. I-983 Training Plan - this form must be completed by the student and the student's employer in full before an STEM OPT recommendation can be made. 

Travel

J-1 scholars must be mindful of visa concerns when planning any international travel. To re-enter the United States after traveling abroad, you will need the following:

1. Valid I-20 or DS-2019 recently endorsed with signature from International Programs Office (IPO).
2. Valid visa stamp in passport. Check the expiration date. If expired, you must renew at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. (Please note, if you have been outside of the United States for 5 months or longer and your F-1 or J-1 visa is still valid i.e. unexpired, you may need a NEW visa according to a recent State Department rule. Please check with the nearest US consulate to determine if your visa is still valid for entry to the US.)
3. Valid Passport

If you have any questions before you depart the U.S., please contact the International Programs Office at ies@nmu.edu. 

U.S. Embassies and Foreign Embassies

• U.S. embassies and consulates Overseas
• Foreign embassies in the U.S.

Travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands

• Automatic Revalidation