ISP Advising

The Frequently Asked Questions listed here, are just that- questions that we often hear in our office. The answers are meant as a general guide. Remember that you should ALWAYS consult an International Advisor or an attorney about your specific case.

Arrival
Change of Status
Employment
Enrollment
Fees
Graduation
Insurance
International Advising Office
I-20’s
On Line courses
SEVIS Fee
School Transfers
Travel
Tuition
Visas
Visa Statuses

Arrival

How early can I arrive in the U.S.?
You can arrive a maximum of 30 days before the begin date on the I-20 or DS-2019.

Change of Status

Can I change status inside the U.S.?
Under certain circumstances, you can apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for change of status. Please see (Link to Students/immigration/change of status)
If I change status, do I need to go home to get a new visa?
If you have changed status inside the U.S., you do not need to travel outside the U.S. to get a new visa stamp in your passport.
However, if you do travel outside the U.S., you will need to have a valid visa stamp to enter the U.S.
If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the contiguous islands, except for Cuba, there may be an exception. Please see

http://www.international.unt.edu/advising/students/travel/travother.htm

Employment

On campus
Does an F-1 student need special permission to work on campus?
An F-1 student in valid status does not need any special permission from immigration to work on campus.
How many hours can and F-1 student work on campus?
20 hours per week when enrolled.
The 20 hours is calculated per week. It is not an average over time.
A “little bit over” 20 hours is illegal employment.
Up to full time during vacation periods, such as winter break, spring break, and summer vacation. However, if you are enrolled during summer, you can only work 20 hours per week during that time.
Can I work on campus before immigration approves my change of status to F-1?
No, unless you have some other type of valid work permission.

Off campus
Can an F-1 student work off campus?
Not without immigration permission.
(Link to students/employment)
I have a job offer. Can I work off campus without enrolling in a course?
If you have graduated and have Optional Practical Training (OPT) permission, you work without being in school.
If you have not graduated, you will need to be registered. Please see the employment information (link to students/employment), and talk to an international advisor.
I registered for COOP. Do I need to do anything else?
The type of work permission you will use to work legally will be the Curricular Practical Training. (link to students/employment/F-1CPT). You will need to have the CPT work permission before you begin work.
I have CPT for an Internship class and did not go through COOP. Do I need to contact them?
Anyone who has a course that gives credit for employment must contact COOP to complete an information form.
Can I have CPT and an on campus job at the same time?
If it adds up to a total of 20 hours per week or less, you can.
Can I volunteer for my job while I wait for the CPT (or OPT) to be approved?
A volunteer job is one which would not ordinarily be a paid position.
When should I apply for OPT?
Almost all of the UNT students who use OPT, use it following completion of the degree. In this case, you would apply a maximum of 120 days before completion of the degree requirements. The application must be at immigration before you complete the degree requirements.
If you are a graduate and will use this after completion of coursework and before completion of a degree, you should allow 3 months for approval. Check with an advisor for current processing times. Or, you can check the current dates at the Service Center on this website: https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp
I applied for Optional Practical Training. Can I work before my card comes?
You will need to have the approval before you can start working.
Can my F-2 wife (or husband, or child) work?
As long as she has F-2 status, she can not work.

Enrollment

How many credits do I need to take each semester to remain in F-1 or J-1 status?
Undergraduate: 12 credits
Graduate: 9 credits
Dissertator: 3 credits

I only need to take 2 more classes to graduate. They are taught only one each semester. Can I be less than full time for each semester?
Immigration has been asked this question on multiple occasions. Their answer is always that the student would need to be full time in the second last semester.
I need to take the semester off to work to finance school. How can I do this?
If you are on an F or J visa, this is not possible. Please see an advisor to research possible options.

Can I take a semester off?
This question is too general. Please see an advisor to discuss your particular situation.
I am not doing well in a class, and I don’t want to get a bad grade. Can I drop the class?
If you drop the class and will still meet the minimum 12 or 9 credit minimum, then the answer is, yes.
If when you drop the class, you will be below the 12 or 9 credit minimum, please talk to an advisor to determine the feasibility. Definitely talk to international advisor and get permission BEFORE dropping the class.
Can my F-2 spouse register for just a class or two?
Unfortunately, studying at UNT does not fit the regulation for F-2’s.
I have not graduated yet, but I am going to take a semester off and go home.
How long can I stay in the U.S.?
If you notify the International Advising office before you drop school, and you have not been suspended or administratively withdrawn, you will have 15 days.
If you have been suspended or administratively withdrawn, you still notify International Advising, but you have 0 days. You are out of status at the time of suspension or withdrawal.
b. What do I do to come back?
If you will have been gone from UNT for one year or more, you contact International Admissions.
If you will have been gone less than one year, you contact International Advising.

Fees

UNT charged me an International Student Fee. Why?
This fee is required to cover the direct costs of compliance with US federal regulations regarding non-immigrant students enrolled at the university.

Graduation

I missed the deadline to apply for graduation, so I will graduate next semester. Do I need to register for a class?
Immigration considers that you have completed when you have completed the last requirement for your degree. Forgetting or delaying applying for graduation does not entitle you to continue to stay as an F-1 student. If you plan to apply for another degree program or OPT, you need to do that before you complete that last requirement.

Insurance

You can apply for a waiver in 151 Kendall Hall.

Deadlines for Waiver Request Forms:
1. FALL AND SPRING SEMESTERS: 5 p.m. of final day of late registration.
2. SUMMER SEMESTERS: 5 p.m. of 2nd class day (the 2nd day after UNT begins classes, excluding Sundays and holidays when classes are not held)

More information

International Advising Office

Why is the International Advising office closed 3 mornings a week?
The SEVIS system requires a large amount of work. In order to keep your immigration records accurate, and provide services for you, we found that we needed the quiet time. And, if you have been here for a while, you know that your requests are being completed faster than ever!
Can I get insurance or scholarship information from International Advising?
Insurance
Scholarship information
Do I have to make an appointment to see an advisor?
No, you do not need to make an appointment. You stop in when it is convenient for you. See our service hours

I-20’s

I entered the U.S. on another school’s I-20, but I really want to come to UNT. Is that ok?
The immigration regulation requires you to attend the school whose I-20 you used to enter the U.S. You may transfer after your first semester.
My I-20 expired yesterday. Can I extend it?
I want to cry with you! Unfortunately, there is no give in the regulation. This puts you out of status. You definitely want to talk to an advisor about the best solution in your case. You will be considering reinstatement or reentry to correct status.
I graduated in May, but now in August I just decided I want to go to Graduate School. Can I get a new I-20 for this new program?
Immigration regulation states that you must complete your admission to the new program and have the I-20 produced within 60 days of completion of your program. At this late date, you will need to talk to your department, International Admissions, and International Advising to see if this is possible, and how you can accomplish it, if there is a way.
This is advice to those who haven’t graduated yet: You must plan well ahead of time with the F-1 regulations.
How long can I stay after I graduate?
60 days for F-1 students
30 days for J-1 students

On Line Courses

My department is requiring me to take all my core classes on line. Can I do this?
F-1 immigration regulations state that only one 3 credit on-line/distance ed course can be applied each semester to the 12 credit or 9 credit minimum course requirement.
Immigration considers any course which has one on campus experiential component to be an on campus course.
Please see more detailed information on UNT’s policy and procedures

SEVIS Fee

Why is there a SEVIS Fee?
The U.S. Congress required the Department of Homeland Security to develop an electronic reporting system. They also required that the system be supported by the internationals using the system.

Who has to pay this fee?

a. Non-immigrants requesting F-1, J-1, or M-1 status.
b. When I-20 or DS-2019 is issued on or after September 1, 2004.
c. Initial attendance when:
1) Immigration status desired is F-1, F-3, J-1, M-1, or M-3
2) Applying for a visa for entrance to the United States, or
3) Applying for a change of status within the United States.
c. Continuing attendance when:
1) Applying for a visa when the fee has not previously been paid.
2) Applying for a visa after remaining outside the US for more than 5 months.
3) Applying for reinstatement after the allowed period of time.
See more information.

School transfers

I am going to transfer to another school for next fall. It is March now, and that school says I have to have your transfer the SEVIS file to them now, so they can issue the I-20. Please transfer the file now.
We can only transfer the file at the end of the term, not before.
If I am out of status, can I transfer to another school?
Yes, that may be possible. If you are out of status, we must terminate your SEVIS file. We can transfer that terminated file to the new school. You can then decide with them if it is better for you to do a reinstatement, or reenter the U.S.

Travel

Do I need a new travel endorsement on my I-20 (or DS-2019) each time I travel?
Not necessarily. The endorsement is valid for one year, for multiple entries, as long as you remain in status, and the information on the I-20 or DS-2019 is correct.
An Optional Practical Training endorsement is valid for 6 months.
Do I need a travel endorsement to travel to another state in the U.S.?
No.
What do I need to do to travel inside the U.S.?
Do carry your immigration documents with you. If you travel in south Texas, or anywhere near the Mexican border, you must have your documents with you.
Can I apply for a visa in Canada or Mexico?
There are limited situations when this is possible. There are situation where we definitely do not recommend it, because the risk is too high. Please talk to an international advisor about your situation.

Tuition

I am in H-4 status and am paying in-state tuition. If I change status to F-1, can I still pay at the in-state rate?
Please check with the UNT Registrar about your situation.

Visas

I will be coming to the U.S. to start school. It is taking a long time to get an F-1 visa. Can I just come on my B-2 visitor’s visa?
We strongly recommend that you come to the U.S. on the proper visa for what you intend to do here. If you are in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa (other than visa waiver), and then decide to attend school, it may be possible to apply to USCIS for a change of status. You may not begin classes until the change of status to F-1 has bee approved. There is no guarantee that it will be approved.
Can I get a visa here in the U.S.?
No
My visa is expiring. Do I have to go to my home country to renew it?
Technically, any US consulate can issue U.S. visas. The reality may be different. Please talk to an international advisor or attorney about your case.
How do I get a new visa?
You apply at a U.S. consulate for the visa. Be sure that you check the website for the consulate nearest you to learn their procedures, and what you must submit for the application. You can find the consulate website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html .
You can find information about visa wait times at http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php .
I am graduating and I would like to apply for OPT. However, my visa has expired, and I am afraid I can’t apply for OPT. What do I do?
The visa stamp is permission to apply for entry to the U.S. It will not affect your application for OPT.

Visa Statuses

What is the difference between and F-1 and a J-1 student?
An F-1 visa is the general student visa, used for most students. This visa program is managed by the Department of Homeland Security.
A J-1 student is an exchange visitor. This program is managed by the Department of State. These students are generally a participant in an exchange program, such as Fulbright, or others. They may also be supported by government funding.
The regulations for each are generally the same, but have some differences.
How long can my son or daughter stay on a dependent visa (F-2, J-2, H-4)?
When the dependent turns 21, he or she must apply for his or her own visa status.