f-1 intermediate workshop james dorsett, wsu katie mcgee, wsu rosemary max, msu chris bargerstock,...
Post on 19-Dec-2015
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TRANSCRIPT
What is this intermediate workshop about? Assumes 18 months of experience with F-1
regulations Basic working knowledge of SEVIS functions Will not cover everything in the F-1 second
step manual Shortened to half day thus covers key
concepts rather than a general overview Time for Q and A throughout presentation Will draw on school experience and
experience of participants
Key intermediate concepts Reporting Registration Reporting Reduced Course Load Employment CPT/OPT/Hardship Transfer/Extension Semester Off Completion/Termination Out of Status/Reinstatement Change of Status Managing Alert Lists
Reporting Registration DHS registration vs. school registration Initial students-within 30 days based on
program start date Continuing students-within 30 days based
on next session start date “What needs to be updated in SEVIS
within the 30 day deadline is that student reported to the academic institution as expected” DHS October 17 2003 Memo
Social security issues and registration
Reporting Reduced Course Load According to the October 17th memo,
RCL if not confirmed within the 30 days can be reported thereafter
School experience and procedure
Other issues regarding RCL Definitions of full time Prior approval: What does it really
mean? Improper course placement: how is
it defined? Resuming full course load in SEVIS
Employment-CPT Regulations have not changed with SEVIS Regulations still sparse Schools need to set policies and be
consistent Batch problem with adding a third CPT Can now cancel a CPT segment before the
start date of that CPT
Employment-OPT Regulation change includes new OPT after each
higher degree level Can now cancel and OPT request that has not been
adjudicated (4.10 update) Can call help desk to change OPT dates if OPT has
not been sent in (4.10 update) Expediting OPT Interim EAD Card Travel and OPT Reporting requirement for students on OPT I-765/OPT petition received at NSC before
completion date
Employment-Other Issues Severe Economic Hardship Proposed changes at Social Security-
need a job offer to apply for a SSN
Transfer and Extension Transfer is a critical transition time
and burden falls on the student Pick an appropriate release date-
usually last day of semester Summer employment issues Transfer and travel out of US Transfer out form/Transfer in form Transfer pending I-20 to Cont. I-20
Transfer and Extension Must begin at transfer in school within 5
months Transfer during 60 day grace period is still
valid Transfer unnecessary for guest student
taking classes during summer Check in and Transfer: does the student
need to attend for one semester?
Transfer and Extension Extension is one year at at time in
SEVIS (4.10 update) Can go in to SEVIS and give several
back to back extensions Academic or medical reason Verify student eligibility for I-20
extension
Semester Off-In the US Two cases in which a student has
permission to NOT be enrolled during a normal term and remain in the US
Authorized medical term off Non-traditional term off-Student has taken
two semesters full time. For example full load in summer and full load in fall, winter/spring can be “off”
DSO indicates the semester off by adjusting the next semester start date
Semester Off-Outside US Rule: absent for more than 5 months
means a new I-20 Goal of SEVIS system is to maintain SEVIS
ID and continuity of SEVIS record How to handle this contradiction? In Salt Lake DHS said they would clear
this up and indicated that in some cases DSO would maintain the record and in other cases DSO would re-issue an I-20
Semester Off-Outside US When to maintain when to re-issue I-
20? Problem with identifying these
students up front Registered for credit while outside of
the United States School experiences
Completion and Termination When to complete a student in
SEVIS? After graduation and no open OPT application
Keep in mind students ability to transfer in 60 day grace period
No need to complete after OPT For early completion of program can
use shorten program
Completion and Termination When to terminate a student? SEVIS
offers a multitude of reasonsSome often used reasons: Withdrawn from program Out of status Change of status Absent from country for more than
five months
Out of Status/Reinstatement Terminating a student for failing to
maintain status. Who and how to notify on your campus? Student, academic advisor and student payroll.
Reinstatement-leave the US and return or filing the I-539
School experiences with reinstatement
Change of Status F2 to F1-no degree course work
while waiting for COS to be processed.
ICE vs. CIS, ruling pending Long processing times in the US.
Option to go home and re-enter as F-1
Change of Status Other visa types (H, L, J, etc.)
changing to F-1. Long processing times in US Can attend school, no F-1
employment benefits until COS approved
COS approved mid-semester
Managing Alert Lists Students within 45 days of program end
date Active students requiring registration-list
includes OPT people Students in initial status with port of entry
records Students on RCL who need update Nearing OPT/CPT end date Active students requiring status verification Terminated students/adjudication results
Managing Alert Lists Which ones are the most important School experience. How do schools
manage alerts? Audit your data on a regular basis