• Enter the United States no more than 30 days before your program of study begins (as indicated on your I-20/DS-2019).
• Immediately contact the CIE when you enter the United States. When you arrive at Nazareth, contact the CIE again - no later than the program start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 Form - to provide copies of your visa and to participate in a formal orientation. Be sure to attend the mandatory orientation.

Keep your immigration documents valid and unexpired.

• The school name on your current I-20 or DS-2019 must be the same as the school you are currently attending. Keep all information on your I-20 or DS-2019 up to date including changes in financial information, name, address and program major. Also, make sure your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date does not expire. 
• Keep your passport valid 6 months into the future (passports can be extended while you are in the U.S. by contacting your home country's embassy or consulate).
• If you plan to travel outside the U.S. and re-enter, make sure that your visa is not expired, otherwise you may need to renew your visa before re-entering the U.S. (you do not need a valid visa in order to stay in the United States, only to enter the country). In addition, you need to request a travel endorsement from the Center for International Education in order to travel internationally. Please speak with the CIE every time you plan to travel.

Each semester (fall and spring), please register for and complete a full course load of at least:

• 12 credits (undergraduate);
• 9 credits (graduate);
• 18 hours of class per week (ELI students).

All students are required to make full-time progress toward degree completion. If you feel that you cannot handle taking a full course load during the semester, consult with the Center for International Education to discuss available resources and options. Review the Reduced Course Load form to see if you qualify for a reduced course load; however, DO NOT drop or withdraw from any classes if you will fall below full-time status until talking with the CIE about the consequences. Please note: Only 3 credits of these 12 may be taken as online courses. If you have at least 9 credits on campus you may take more than 3 credits online.

If you believe that you will be unable to complete your program by the end date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019, meet with CIE staff to request a possible program extension.

Once you have completed your studies and any academic or practical training that is authorized, you must:

1. Leave the U.S.;
2. Transfer;
3. Enroll in a higher degree level; or,
4. Change to another immigration status within the appropriate time allowed (called "grace period").
1. This means that you are allowed to stay for the period of time to complete a program of study plus academic training or optional practical training (OPT) and a "grace period". Students in valid J-1 status have a 30 day grace period and students in valid F-1 status have a 60 day grace period. Please contact the Center for International Education with any other questions you might have.

DO NOT accept any on- or off-campus employment without authorization from the Center for International Education and/or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

• Working without proper authorization is considered by the Department of Homeland Security as the most serious violation of its regulations. It is most important, therefore, that you consult with the Center for International Education before you accept an offer of employment or begin to work (even an internship, field placement, clinical experience, or student teaching). We will advise you whether it is possible for you to work and assist you with the appropriate procedures.
• It is illegal to begin to work while waiting for authorization; you must have the appropriate authorization first. Any work – paid or unpaid – without authorization will result in the termination of your visa!
• Once authorized, full-time students in valid F-1 or J-1 status may accept on-campus employment of no more than 20 hours per week (part-time) while school is in session, or may accept full-time employment on-campus during vacations.
  
• If a student would like to participate in an internship for credit and/or for payment they should contact the Center for International Education to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) (for F-1 Students) or Academic Training (for J-1 Students). All other forms of off-campus employment require USCIS approval, which may take up to 6 months to process.

International students are often victims of scams (for example: false job advertisements) via online, telephone, or mail; therefore, not only do we want you to maintain your visa status, but we also want to avoid any such scams that would jeopardize your financials and/or identity!

Contact the Center for International Education if there are any changes to your personal or academic situation. Notify the CIE, for example, if you...

• Change your address (within 10 days of moving)
• Change your name (within 10 days of change)
• Change your major, program or degree level (within 10 days of change)
• Change your program end date (within 10 days of change)
• Wish to take a leave of absence
• Wish to transfer to another college (Before your program ends for J-1 students or before 60 days after your program end date for F-1 students)
• Want to change your immigration status, to travel internationally, or if you have general questions about your current status

SEVIS is the acronym for Student & Exchange Visitor Information System. It is an online tracking system for International and Exchange Students and their dependents. Through SEVIS colleges and universities enter and update various data regarding the International and Exchange Students who have been issued a Form I-20 or DS-2019 by their institution.

The information about you and your F-1 or J-1 student or exchange visitor status will be updated regularly in the SEVIS database. Therefore you must tell the Center for International Education if you:

• have a change of address
• change your name
• change your major or minor
• need to drop below full-time enrollment
• wish to engage in practical training or employment

The CIE must also enter information about illegal employment or any other violation of your F-1 student status.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has complete access to your information via SEVIS. While the Center for International Education is here to support you, it is ultimately  your responsibility to maintain your F-1 or J-1 status.