Maintaining Legal Status
Basic F-1 rules (please refer to Immigration Overview for more details):
- Always enroll full time.
- Never work off-campus without permission from the Center for International Exchange.
- Keep passport valid.
- Notify the center of your current U.S. address.
- Have the center endorse your I-20 before you travel.
- Seek a program extension if completion will be later than the date on the I-20 (item 5).
- Make normal progress to completing your degree.
It is very important that you seek advice from one of the international student advisors in the Center for International Exchange before dropping below a full-time courseload or taking a term off from your studies.
You have been admitted to the United States without a definite ending date for your stay. You are here for "duration of status." This is defined as the time during which you are pursuing a full course of study or engaging in authorized practical training following completion of studies. Upon completion of the program or the end of practical training, you are allowed 60 days to prepare for departure from the United States.
If you officially withdraw from school before completing your program, without transferring to another school, then you have only 15 days to complete your preparations to leave the U.S. If you just walk away from school without doing any official paperwork, then you must leave the U.S. immediately.
If you violate the rules for F-1 status, you will need to seek reinstatement in order to gain any benefit of your status. Until reinstated, you will lose your privilege of working on campus and will not be eligible for internships, cooperative education programs or practical training. Reinstatement is a special application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Boston. In addition to other requirements, the fee is $200 effective Oct. 23, 2005.
Basic J-1 rules (please refer to Immigration Overview for more details):
- Always enroll full time.
- Never work off campus without written permission from your sponsor*.
- Keep your passport valid.
- Have form DS-2019 endorsed by sponsor* before you travel.
- Pay attention to end of studies date on the DS-2019 (item 3).
- Make normal progress to completing your degree.
- Maintain adequate health insurance coverage.
- Reinstatement will require action by the Responsible Officer for your J-1 program (SNHU, AMIDEAST, etc.).
- Violation of the program rules or relevant State Department regulations may result in your termination from the program.
- Failing to keep adequate health insurance will result in your termination from the program.
- Upon completion of your program or any authorized academic training, you are allowed a 30 day grace period to prepare for departure from the U.S.
*J-1 students who are sponsored by Southern New Hampshire University should seek assistance in the Center for International Exchange. J-1 students with other sponsors may seek information in the center, but your sponsor will provide any needed permissions or signatures according to its policies.