University of Wisconsin Stout | Wisconsin's Polytechnic University

Before leaving your country, you must obtain a passport from your government and a visa from a United States Consulate or Embassy. As part of the visa process, you must first go to www.fmjfee.com to make the SEVIS I-901 payment in order to be granted an interview with a consular official. The website has additional links to obtain further assistance if needed.

The following documents must be presented at your visa interview:

• SEVIS I-901 payment receipt
• UW-Stout acceptance letter
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Proof of finances
• Passport

Maintaining Status

The F-1 visa is for non immigrants to enter the United States for the purpose of study. When those studies are complete the individual will return to the foreign country of permanent residence.

After being admitted to the U.S., the student is then eligible to stay in the US for "duration of status" (D/S on form I-94 and I-20 ID). Duration of status (or to be "in status") means the time during which the student is a full time student actively pursuing a full time course of study. Upon completion of studies, the student has an additional 60 days to depart the U.S.

To be in status, F-1 students must:

1. Have a valid passport or valid I-20 form
2. Attend the school stated on the I-20 form which you used to enter the United States
3. Enroll each semester as a full-time student (12 credits for undergraduate or 9 credits for graduate); for exceptions, you must see the international student adviser
4. Maintain good academic standing
5. Follow required procedures for: extension of stay, change of level, and institution transfer
6. Limit employment to 20 hours per week on campus while school is in session; 40 hours otherwise
7. Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization
8. Report address changes within 10 days of the change

If any of the requirements are not followed and permission for an exception has not been granted, the student will be considered "out of status" and in violation of visa obligations.

If you are out of status, you will lose the following privileges and benefits:

• Eligibility for employment on or off campus
• Automatic visa revalidation for trips to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands except Cuba
• Extension of program through the notification procedure
• Transfer to or from another university in the United States
• Change from one educational level to another
• Practical training
• Visa stamp may be considered canceled

If you fall out of status, you may have to depart the United States and may not be able to complete your studies.

Program Extension

If it is necessary to stay beyond the date originally estimated to complete the program (the date is on item 5 of the I-20), an extension of stay is possible if the student has continually maintained status and the delay is justified by unexpected and documented health or academic problems.

This procedure can be completed by bringing the I-20 and passport and meeting with the international student adviser to determine if the request is reasonable and which documentation (letter from academic adviser or doctor and new financial documents) is needed.

Release of SEVIS Records

Transfer of School: If a student has maintained status at UW-Stout, and intends to transfer to another U.S. institution he/she must follow these procedures.

Students must present the following to UW-Stout's international student adviser:

• An acceptance letter from the new institution
• SEVIS transfer form from the accepted school

The student must also present both I-20s to the new institution within 15 days of beginning classes.

Change of Educational Level or Major: If the student wants to change educational level or major (i.e. Bachelor's degree to Master's degree) while remaining at UW-Stout, a new I-20 with the new educational program or major noted is necessary after the student has been admitted.

Maintaining Status

The J-1 visa is for the nonimmigrant to enter the U.S. for: teaching, studying, researching, consulting, demonstrating special skills or receiving training.

After being admitted to the U.S., the student is then eligible to stay in the US for "duration of status" (D/S on form I-94 and DS-2019). Duration of status (or to be "in status") means the time during which the student is a full time student actively pursuing a full time course of study. Upon completion of studies, the student has an additional 30 days to depart the U.S.

To be in status, J-1 students must:

1. Have a valid passport or valid DS-2019 form
2. Attend the school stated on the DS-2019 form which you used to enter the United States
3. Enroll each semester as a full-time student (12 credits for undergraduate or 9 credits for graduate); for exceptions, you must see the international student adviser
4. Maintain good academic standing
5. Follow required procedures for: extension of stay, change of level, and institution transfer
6. Limit employment to 20 hours per week on campus while school is in session; 40 hours otherwise
7. Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization
8. Report address changes within 10 days of the change
9. Maintain required health insurance

If any of the requirements are not followed and permission for an exception has not been granted, the student will be considered "out of status" and in violation of visa obligations.

If you are out of status, you will lose the following privileges and benefits:

• Eligibility for employment on or off campus
• Automatic visa revalidation for trips to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands except Cuba
• Extension of program through the notification procedure
• Transfer to or from another university in the United States
• Change from one educational level to another
• Academic training
• Visa stamp may be considered canceled

If you fall out of status, you may have to depart the United States and may not be able to complete your studies.

Program Extension

If a J-1 student finds it impossible to complete the program objectives within the time limits listed on the DS-2019, the student should speak with the international student adviser and the home institution adviser to document the reasons for the need of an extension.

Transfer of Program Sponsor

It is possible for a J-1 student to transfer to another program sponsor if the purpose is to complete the objective of the student's exchange program. The transfer is made through correspondence between the international student adviser and the student's program sponsor.

All international students who plan to travel abroad when school is not in session must have their I-20s and DS-2019s signed before leaving the country.

Please complete the Travel Endorsement Form [PDF], then make an appointment with an International Student Advisor at least one week before your departure.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

• Completed Travel Endorsement Request [PDF]
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Passport