Immigration Regulations

 

Regulations

 

As a foreign national entering the U.S., you must have the following documents as evidence of your legal status: a passport, an I-94 form and an I-20. These documents are necessary for your stay in the U.S. and for temporary departures and re-entry. Have the international student adviser sign your I-20 before you temporarily leave the U.S. Be sure to keep your documents in a safe place!

 

Passport

 

You should be sure that your passport is valid. Only your consulate or embassy in the U.S can grant passport extensions. The U.S. government requires that holders of F-1 or J-1 visas keep their passports valid for at least six months beyond the date of visa expiration.

 

Visa

 

The visa stamp is obtained at the U.S. consulate abroad. It indicates that the holder is eligible to apply for admission to the U.S. Permission to enter is granted only at the point of entry. The visa also indicates the latest date on which you may enter the country. The official at your point of entry will determine the length of time you will be permitted to stay in the U.S.

 

Students normally hold one of two visas, F-1 or J-1. F-1 visas are controlled by the U.S. government and are the regular student visas. In order to obtain an F-1 visa, a student must be accepted for full-time study by a U.S. institution.