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“A” Number
The number the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assigns to identify a foreign student and his/her F-1 student status while in the U.S. This number is written on your I-94 and your I-20 when the immigration officer endorses it at the port of entry.
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Designated School Official (DSO)
The school representative on campus who advises you on immigration matters, maintains your F-1 status record, and acts on behalf of the USCIS in certain cases when you need permission to travel, work, etc. DSOs are authorized to sign and process F-1 paperwork and SEVIS data entry on behalf of the college. Rose Falkner (International Programs Office) is the Primary DSO at McDaniel; other DSOs on campus who may endorse your I-20 in the absence of the PDSO are Jan Kiphart (Registrar’s Office), Marcia Virts (Graduate Education), and Stephanie DeSanctis (Undergraduate Admissions).
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Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
Foreign students are not eligible to work off campus without authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An EAD authorizes students, under certain circumstances, to work legally in the U.S. for a period of time (usually one year). The EAD is sometimes known as a work permit and looks like a driver’s license or state identification card. For more information on who may apply for an EAD read How do I get a work premit? & Am I eligable to work with an F-1 visa?
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Entry Visa
A special stamp affixed to a page in your passport by a U.S. consular officer abroad. This visa stamp shows your F-1 (international student) status and allows you to travel to the U.S. and apply to enter the country. You must have a valid visa stamp in your passport every time you enter the United States. The entry visa is a travel document, while your I-20 form is the document that proves your F-1 status while you are in the U.S.
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F-1 Visa (also called F-1 Status)
This non-immigrant visa is usually assigned to international students who have been admitted to and are expected to lawfully enroll in an accredited U.S. school on a full-time basis. After you receive your Form I-20 from McDaniel College, you’ll need to apply for an F-1 Entry Visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.
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I-94 Arrival / Departure Card
The I-94 is a small white card that you’ll be asked to complete upon your arrival in the U.S. This card gets stamped at the U.S. port of entry and is usually stapled into your passport. The I-94 is the official record of when and where you last entered the U.S. and your permitted length of stay in the U.S. The I-94 should always be kept in your passport. This card is surrendered upon departure from the U.S.and a new I-94 card and number will be issued by an immigration officer upon re-entry (except for trips to Canada and Mexico lasting less than 30 days).
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Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status
This is the document that McDaniel College issues to verify to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) that a international student has been lawfully admitted and is expected to enroll at the school. This form is the official evidence of your F-1 status and is one of the most important documents you’ll need while you are studying in the United States. You should have the original form with you every time you travel in or outside the U.S. The I-20 must be signed by you and the Designated School Official.
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Multiple/Single Entry Visa
A single entry visa means that you can only enter the country only once. If you leave the U.S., you will need to obtain a new visa to reenter even if you have been maintaining your F-1 visa status.
A multiple entry visa allows you to enter the U.S. as many times as you like as long as your visa is valid and you maintain your F-1 visa status.
Mutiple/single entry visa status is determined by the U.S. Embassy when you apply for an F-1 visa.
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Non-immigrant/Non-resident Alien
A person who is not a citizen and holds a temporary status with the intent to leave the U.S. and return home upon completion of his/her purpose for being here (F-1 and J-1 visa holders are included in this category).
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Passport
A passport is a travel document issued by your home government that permits you to enter other countries. It indicates your origin, identity, nationality, the date of issuance and the expiration date. Throughout any stay in the U.S., F-1 students must maintain a passport that is valid for a minimum of six months into the future. For information on renewing your passport, contact your foreign consulate in Washington, D.C.
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Port of Entry (POE)
The airport, land border crossing, or port in the U.S. where you first arrive and apply to enter the country.
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SEVIS
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), is the web-based data exchange program for storing and tracking information on all continuing and new F-1 international students and J-1 exchange visitors in the United States. SEVIS is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
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USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is one of the three divisions of the INS (effective March 1, 2003). The other two divisions are USICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and USCBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection.).
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