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One of the main functions carried out by ISS is to assist international students at UMD in maintaining their non-immigrant status in the United States. This office issues non-immigrant documents required by the U.S. government for persons with F-1 visas. ISS also prepares documents for travel, dependent travel, change of degree program, transfer of schools, extension of stay, and employment options. Please note, however, that the ISS Office is not an office of the Department of Homeland Security. ISS staff's expertise in non-immigrant visa issues enables them to ensure that UMD students holding a F-1 visa can get answers to their visa questions by contacting ISS. This site provides general visa information. For detailed questions, make an appointment with ISS staff.
DocumentsAs 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 a Designated School Official (DSO) sign your I-20 before you temporarily leave the U.S. Your I-20 form can be endorsed by the following staff members:
If none of these people are available, schedule an appointment by e-mail. Emergencies: Chris Haidos Admissions, 25 Solon Campus Center. Graduate Students see Tim Holst in Darland 431. Be sure to keep your documents in a safe place! PassportYou should keep your passport valid at all times. Your passport is your government's permit for you to leave and re-enter your own country. Check the expiration date of your passport. 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. Federal law does not allow a F-1 visa holder to enter the United States or to be employed in the United States if the passport is expired. Renewing your passportContact your own consulate or embassy in the U.S. to renew your passport. Only your consulate or embassy in the U.S can grant passport extensions. The officials there will tell you what forms and fees, if any, are required. You can find out the contact information for your embassy by going to the U.S. Department of State Website. Form I-20The school sends the student an I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility), indicating the date by which the student should arrive at the institution. The student then takes this form to the U.S. embassy or consulate and to apply for an F-1 visa if he/she can demonstrate adequate financial support. The I-20 is issued for the program and level of study you are presently pursuing. If you graduate before the completion date indicated on your I-20 you are considered to have completed your program of study and your I-20 is no longer valid. The third page of the I-20 contains spaces for information about your employment authorization and travel signatures by a Designated School Official (DSO). I-20 DOs and DON'Ts TO AVOID PROBLEMS AND EXTRA EXPENSES DO:
DON'T:
Document processing takes time. Please plan ahead as much as possible. VisaThe visa stamp is obtained at a 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 official at your point of entry will determine the length of time you will be permitted to stay in the U.S. It can expire while you are in the U.S. without loss of your status, but must be valid to enter the U.S. To determine how long you can stay in the US, check your I-20 form, item number 5. You must be enrolled as a full-time student in order to maintain your status. Renewing your U.S. visa for re-entry:It is not possible to renew an F-1 visa while you are in the U.S. If the visa has expired and you are planning on traveling outside the U.S., it is necessary to renew your visa before you return. Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)The I-94 (Arrival and Departure Record) is a white card, which is issued to you upon arrival. It is stamped by a government official and stapled into your passport at your port of entry into the U.S. The I-94 form shows that you are lawfully admitted to the U.S. for a specific period of time. The United States Government requires that you carry your I-94 with you at all times. If you loose your I-94 card, it is expensive and can take up to 6 month to replace. (See United States Citizens and Immigration Services for more information). It is recommended that you have the office of the International Student Adviser keep photocopies of this document in your file. U.S. government regulations require all F-1 students to register for a “full course of study”. Undergraduate students must be registered for 12 credits in day school each term during the academic year. Graduate students must be registered for 6 credits. ExpirationThere should be a date stamped on the I-94 indicating the date that you arrived in the U.S. You should also see that "D/S" is written below the date stamp. This "D/S" indicates "duration of status" which means that you are admitted for the length of your program of study, plus any period for Optional Practical Training, plus 60 days. Program Extension for F-1 StudentsProgram Extension is required if a student is unable to complete all degree requirements by the date noted in Item 5 of the SEVIS I-20. Program Extension application must be submitted to and approved by the International Student Adviser before the I-20 expiration date. Failure to process a Program Extension before the expiration of the I-20 results in the loss of legal status and the ability to work on the campus. Eligibility
Students unsure of their eligibility for a Program Extension should consult with the International Student Adviser. Students who are not eligible for a Program Extension should make every effort to complete their program of study before their I-20 expires. Application
Approval Process
Students on University PayrollA new Form I-9 must be completed by University Payroll. Bring your passport, I-94 and new I-20 to the Department in which you are employed. Salary will be withheld until the new I-9 is processed. Change of Status to F-1To change from your current status to the F-1 status while in the United States, you must apply to US Immigration Service. See directions. Tax InformationAll nonresident F and J visa holders are required to file a 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ (U.S. tax forms), regardless of whether they have income from a U.S. source. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publications and form are available in January. The forms you are required to file:
Forms and instructions can be found at: www.irs.gov. Students who have been employed on and/or off campus will receive a form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from each employer. The forms will be sent to your mailing address. The W-2 form is required in order to complete tax forms. Scholarship recipients may receive a form 1042-S, Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding. The form 1042-S is required for completing tax forms for scholarship recipients. When and Where to FileThe due date for filing tax forms is April 15. The Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ and Form 8843 must be sent to the Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Austin, TX 73301-0215.
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