Maintaining Valid F-1 Status

SEVIS monitors your name, date of birth, country of birth/citizenship, address, program dates, major/minor, course load, funding, employment authorization, entry and exit from the USA, etc.

Your SEVIS record is your part of your permanent immigration record in the USA. It can never be erased, so it is important to always follow the regulations in order to maintain your status. Falling out of status as a student could affect your eligibility for all future visa applications.

• Students' passports must be valid at all times.
• If your passport will expire while you are in the USA, contact your country’s nearest embassy for information on how to renew your passport.
• If you are traveling outside of the USA, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of reentry. (There are some exceptions to this, so if you are unsure, check with OISS.)

You were given the annotation D/S on your I-94 form. This means that you are permitted to remain in the USA even if your visa has expired as long as you are maintaining valid F-1 status and are either:

• Engaged in a full course of study
• Engaged in authorized practical training (employment authorization)
• In your “grace period”

F-1 students have 60 days from the date of their program completion or final day of authorized practical training to prepare to depart the USA.

During your grace period you can:

• Prepare to depart and depart the USA
• Begin a new academic program (i.e., graduate school)
• Apply for Optional Practical Training (if you just completed your academic program)

During your grace period, you cannot work, study, or leave and reenter the USA with the same I-20.

• You must keep your I-20 up to date at all times.
• You must request an updated I-20 from OISS within 10 days of the change if:
  • You declare or change your major, and/or add a second major or minor
  • There is a change in your funding or name.
• If you do not complete your program in the time given on your I-20, you must request an extension at least 30 days before your I-20 expires*. (*Extensions are only considered when approved by Colgate University.)

There are only a few reasons why F-1 students would be permitted to drop below full-time enrollment without falling out of status. 

• Academic or English Language Difficulties (one semester only; usually only first semester)
  • Students must maintain at least 2.00-2.25 course credit, the equivalent of two full classes.
• Medical Condition (Up to 12 months)
• Last semester of study

A reduced course load will only be approved in accordance with Colgate University policy and in coordination with your academic adviser and administrative dean. All RCL requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

If you are traveling outside of the USA and are not traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the “adjacent islands” or do not qualify for Automatic Visa Revalidation, you will need to renew your F-1 visa for reentry into the USA. Please note that it is highly recommended that you only apply for a visa in your home country or country of legal permanent residence. It is not recommended to try to renew your visa in Canada. 

In order to renew your visa, be sure to:

• Make sure that your I-20 is up to date and gives accurate information about your current program and funding.
• Get a new travel signature on your I-20 regardless of whether the previous signature is still valid.
• Bring proof of your current studies and progress towards your degree (transcripts, class schedule, letter from academic adviser, etc.)
• Bring proof of financial support (financial aid letter, bank statement, etc.)
• Follow the procedures of the US Embassy/Consulate in regard to your nonimmigrant visa application very carefully to avoid delays/denials.

Upon reentry to the USA, it is extremely important that you report to the OISS so that your new visa and I-94 can be verified and copied for your file.

If your visa is expired and you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the “adjacent islands,” and will be outside of the USA for less than 30 days, you can reenter the USA using your expired F-1 visa unless:

• You applied for a new visa and it has not been issued 
• You applied for a new visa and were denied 
• You have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that you are out of status 
• You have been out of the United States for more than 30 days 
• You are a citizen of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria

If you plan to travel using Automatic Visa Revalidation, it is recommended that you meet with OISS before departing the USA.

International students are permitted to work on campus up to 20 hours per week. No additional authorization from OISS is needed to work on campus.

International students are not permitted under any circumstance to work off campus without prior authorization. Working off campus without authorization is a major violation of your immigration status.

There are three options for off-campus employment authorization:

• Economic Hardship Employment
• Curricular Practical Training
• Optional Practical Training

This type of employment authorization is difficult to obtain. You must be able to prove to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that employment is necessary due to severe economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond your control that arose after obtaining F-1 status and you must have been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year. If granted, you would be permitted to work off campus part-time while school is in session and full-time during breaks. All employment would also be subject to Colgate University policy.

CPT is employment authorization for a specific employer that is directly related to your field of study and forms an integral part of the established curriculum of your program. CPT requires the recommendation of your academic adviser and must be tied to your enrollment in a related course. You become eligible for CPT after your first year of enrollment at Colgate. While the amount of CPT you can apply for is unlimited, using more than 365 days of full-time CPT will cause you to be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

OPT is employment authorization for any employer in your field of study granted by USCIS. There are three types of OPT: Pre-Completion, Post-Completion, and STEM Extension. You become eligible to apply for OPT after your first year of enrollment at Colgate. You have the opportunity to have a total of one year of OPT unless you qualify for the STEM Extension. You must file an application (Form I-765) with USCIS for which the processing time is approximately three (3) months. Upon approval, you will be issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which will indicate the period of approved employment.

• Pre-Completion OPT can be taken only before you graduate and may be part-time or full-time. If you choose to apply for Pre-Completion OPT in order to work during the fall or spring semesters, your employment must be approved by Colgate University and you must continue to maintain full-time enrollment.
• Post-Completion OPT can be taken upon your graduation. As long as you are otherwise eligible, you may apply for Post-Completion OPT as early as 90 days before you graduate and until the end of your grace period. Post-Completion OPT must be full-time (20 hours or more per week).
• STEM Extension is a 24-month extension of Post-Completion OPT available for students with a DHS-approved STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) major. The STEM Extension application must be filed within the 90 days before your Post-Completion OPT period, as indicated on your EAD, ends.