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How do I maintain my F-1 visa status?
- Keep your passport valid and unexpired at all times while in the U.S.
- Attend the school you were authorized to attend, on a full-time basis for a least nine consecutive months (for example, 2 semesters)
- Report to the Designated School Official (DSO), Rose Falkner in Hill Hall 105, for initial registration in SEVIS upon arrival at McDaniel College.
- Register as a full-time student every semester. At McDaniel, you must be registered for 12-16 credits per semester to be a full-time student. Be very careful about withdrawing from classes if doing so will bring your course load below 12 credit hours. You may drop below 12 credits per semester only with prior permission of the DSO for reasons such as academic difficulties or a medical condition that affects your ability to study.
- Make sure your F-1 visas are valid (important for overseas travel)
- Report all changes in your U.S. address, legal name, and/or visa status to the DSO and the USCIS in a timely manner (moving from one residence hall to another not included). You can do this simply by notifying the International Programs Office or online.
- Work only on campus during the first academic year, and limit employment to 20 hours per week during the semester. Never work off campus without proper authorization.
- Leave the U.S. as required at the completion of your course of study. If you will take longer than the anticipated completion date on your I-20, you will need to get an extension. Normally, you have 60 days to leave the country after you have completed your program. If you withdraw prior to completion of your program, you have a 15-day grace period to depart the U.S. if you notify a Designated School Official prior to withdrawal.
Note: Some of you will probably have visa stamps that will expire before you complete your studies. This does not cause any difficulty with remaining in the U.S. beyond the visa expiration date so long as a USCIS official has written D/S (Duration of Status)on your I-94 when you entered the U.S.
These letters indicate that you have been admitted for "duration of status" as a student. As long as you remain in status, you may remain in the country. However, if you want to leave the country for a vacation after the visa has expired, you will need to receive a new visa before you can reenter the U.S. Unfortunately, you cannot get a new F-1 visa in the U.S. You need to return home to do so (though in some cases it can be done in a third country.) Remember that your visa is your responsibility.
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What information must be reported through SEVIS?
McDaniel College must report each semester the following through SEVIS for each F-1 student:
- Enrollment and registration status
- Whether or not a student drops below a full course of study
- Completion of program of study
- Extension of program of study
- Change(s) in legal name(s) and/or US address
- Academic or disciplinary actions taken against the student
- Other information such as program transfers, changes in level and/or major of study, employment authorizations, reinstatement, and/or record termination date and reason
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Can I travel in and out of the U.S.?
Your F-1 visa allows you to leave and reenter the U.S. (for travel of 5 months or less). Your visa and passport must both be valid (not expired) to reenter the country. AND you must have a valid I-20 that has been signed by a Designated School Official (DSO) in the current term of study or, if returning from abroad after summer or winter break, in the previous term.
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How long can I stay in the U.S. on my F-1 visa?
You are allowed to stay in the United States for as long as you are enrolled as a full-time student in an educational program and making normal progress toward completing your course of study. If approved, you also will be allowed to stay in the country up to 12 additional months beyond the completion of your studies to pursue optional practical training (OPT). At the end of your studies or practical training, you will be given 60 days to prepare to leave the country.
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Am I eligible to work with an F-1 visa?
"Employment" is any type of work performed or services provided in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food or any other benefit. If you receive no pay or other benefit for work performed, this activity is not defined as "employment" but is considred to be "vounteer work." If you are an F-1 student, you are eligible to work on campus as long as you meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must be a full-time student at McDaniel
- You must have a vaild SEVIS I-20 Form from McDaniel
- You must have a valid, unexpired passport
- You must have an I-94 card that is marked "F-1 D/S"
- You must have a job offer from campus
On-campus employment may not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session and full-time (up to 40 hours a week) when school is not in session. New F-1 students may not begin work on campus more than 30 days prior to the actual start of classes. Transfer F-1 students may begin to work on campus once their transfer from the other U.S. institution is completed and they have received an I-20 from McDaniel. Students are not permitted to work on campus after completion of their program of study.
International students with F-1 visas may not work for or receive payment from any employer, other than McDaniel College, without prior approval and authorization from the USCIS. F-1 students may engage in temporary off-campus employment by applying for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
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Do I need a Social Security Card?
Social Security numbers are generally assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States. Non- immigrant F-1 visa students can apply for a Social Security Number (SS#) only after they provide proof that (1) they are enrolled in a full course of study and (2) they have been offered a job on campus. Social Security numbers are used to report your wages to the government and to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits. Social Security will not assign you a number just to enroll in a college.
You do not need to have a Social Security Number before you start work. However, the Internal Revenue Service requires employers to report wages using a Social Security number. While you wait for your Social Security number, your employer can use a letter from a Social Security representative stating that you applied for a number. Your employer may use your immigration documents as proof of your authorization to work in the United States.
Application for a new Social Security Card or a replacement card must be made in person, at a local Social Security Office and requires the following documents:
- Form SS-5, Application For a Social Security Card
- Valid Passport (proof of age and identity)
- Visa with current I-94 Arrival / Departure Card, showing F-1 immigration status
- I-20 form
- Proof of Employment (for on-campus employment, you will need a confirmation letter signed by your on-campus employer and a letter by the primary Designated School Official, Rose Falkner).
An Application for a SS# usually takes 3-4 weeks to process. More information is available at the Social Security Administration.
Note: Be sure to request a receipt, you may need to provide evidence that you have submitted the application.
Local Social Security Administration Office
246 East Green Street, Westminster, MD 21157
Phone: 1-800-234-5772
Directions
Take Main St. toward center of town.
Turn right onto Center St. Take next left at light onto Green St. Go a couple of blocks until you pass United Used Car lot on right. (SS Administration is the one-story brownish building on the right)
If you are not eligible to receive a Social Security number, you may apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) by filing Form W-7 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). An ITIN may be used instead of a SSN—for taxes, banking, etc.
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Do I have to pay taxes?
AAll F-1 students must file a tax form each year with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if they have income to report.
International students on the F-1 visa are allowed to work in the U.S. under a limited set of conditions. If you are authorized to work in the U.S. and get paid for your services, you are required to pay taxes in the U.S. regardless of the type of visa you have (more information). Note: In the spring (when tax forms must be filed), free tax help and forms are available on campus. Filing taxes is the personal responsibility of each international student. The deadline to mail your individual tax forms every year is April 15.
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Can I drive in Maryland with a foreign driver's license?
It is not legal for an international student to drive in the U.S. with a foreign driver’s license. If you plan to drive, you must obtain a driver’s license from the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles.
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What do I need to know about travel to/from Mexico and Canada?
You may or may not need a Canadian Entry Visa to make a short visit to Canada. The “Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC)” website provides a list of citizenships that require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter (or even travel through) Canada. You can also print the TRV application from the following website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
Apply for a TRV at least one month before your intended entry date. It is possible for students from some countries to apply in person and get the visa right away. Check the website to see if this applies to you.
You may apply for a single entry visa (approx. $75), or a multiple entry visa (approx. $150). NOTE: A single entry visa is valid for repeated entries if you will enter from the US within 6 months of the issue date and do not enter any other country in that time.
Canadian Embassy website: http://www.canadianembassy.org/
To reenter the U.S., you will need to present a valid passport, a current I-20 endorsed for reentry, a valid unexpired Form I-94 and your F-1 visa. Citizens of many nations (but not all) are allowed to present an expired F-1 visa when crossing the border from Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the U.S. (other than Cuba) to the U.S. You can usually revalidate an expired visa automatically when returning from a visit of less than 30 days. This process is called automatic visa revalidation. If you have an expired visa, check the Canadian Embassy website to confirm your eligibility for reentry based on automatic revalidation.
NOTE:
* TRANSIT VISAS: If you are traveling through Canada on a flight path, and will be there for less than 48 hours, you probably do need to secure a Temporary Resident Visa for transit. This is free if you have a plane ticket. See
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
* TRAVEL TO / FROM MEXICO: The automatic revalidation process is also valid for reentry into the US from Mexico. Visit the Mexican Embassy website to find more information. Contact the Mexican Embassy by phone to request an application for a visa to visit Mexico.
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Do I need a valid visa to visit Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands?
No. You will need a valid Form I-20 and a valid unexpired Form I-94. Be sure that you do not have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that you are out of status.
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