FAQ's

  1. Services

1.1 Whom does OISS serve?
1.2 What services does OISS provide?
1.3 Can PRs get services from OISS?
1.4 How do I make an appointment?
1.5 What events are planned for international students?

  2. Admission 

2.1 How do I get admitted to UST?

  3. Financial Aid

3.1 Is there any financial aid for international students at UST?

  4. On-campus Employment

4.1 How many hours can I work?
4.2 What is work study?
4.3 Do I qualify for work study?

  5. Off-campus Employment

5.1 What are the options for working?
5.2 What is OPT and CPT?
5.3 When should I apply for OPT?
5.4 How long does it take to get OPT and CPT?

  6. Immigration & Travel

6.1 How do I change my immigration status?
6.2 What do I need to do to travel outside the US?
6.3 How do I invite my family and/or friends to visit me?
6.4 My visa is about to expire, what do I do?

1.1 Whom does OISS serve?

The staff of The Office of International Student Services is available to international students to answer questions and provide information about St. Thomas and US culture, to explain government rules and regulations, and to process government documents and applications.

 1.2 What services does OISS provide?
We counsel and advise on almost any issue, but expressly the following:

•  Immigration
• Jobs/career questions 
• Academics 
• Personal life 
• Tax issues and finances 
• Social/cultural adjustment issues 
• Accompanying family 
• Housing and practical life

1.3 Can Permanent Residents get services from OISS?
Yes, Permanent Residents (PR) can get services from OISS

1.4 How do I make an appointment?
Advisors are available for regularly scheduled appointments in St. Paul (see hours on the home page) up to 30 minutes in length. Minneapolis appointments are available upon request. Contact the front desk at (651) 962-6650 to schedule an appointment.

1.5 What events are planned for international students?
There are many events all the time either hosted by the university in general, other departments or the Office of International Student Services.  All our events are posted on our Web site front page and in our weekly newsletter.

2.1 How do I get admitted to UST?
All international students who are interested in being admitted to UST and find information at the International Education Center.

3.1 Is there any financial aid for international students at UST?
St. Thomas has very limited funds for general scholarships for international students.  The university awards only a few partial tuition grants each year to incoming students, and at this time there are no scholarships for currently enrolled international students. Students must apply before their initial enrollment at St. Thomas. The deadline for financial aid applications is April 1. The MIM program has limited scholarships for currently enrolled international students.

We are working with leaders of the university to seek more financial aid funds for future international students. But at this time, the only source of extra income would be to work on campus if you are an F-1 or J-1 visa holder. The university does not offer research or teaching assistant positions. However, some departments offer small scholarships for current students toward the cost of tuition that are available to all students, international and domestic. Watch for information from your department.

 
4.1 How many hours can I work?
On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours per week during fall and spring semesters. During school vacations, students may work 40 hours a week. School vacations include Thanksgiving break, winter break, J-term, spring break and summer.

4.2 What is work study?
Work-study is US federal money supplementing wages for American or permanent residents only as a form of financial aid.

4.3 Do I qualify for work study?
As an international student, you are NOT eligible for work-study jobs. If you see a job you want to apply for and it is work-study only, you still can ask the employer if they have funds to pay you from a non-work study budget. Explain that you are an international student. For more information, click here.

5.1 What are the options for working?
You can work on campus and off campus during your study at UST. There are two types of off-campus employment OPT and CPT.

5.2 What is OPT and CPT?
For more detail information, click here

5.3 When should I apply for OPT?
The OISS suggests applying for OPT approximately three to four months before you expect to begin your OPT employment; however, you MUST apply BEFORE you complete your degree during your final semester. An application must be received by Immigration prior to completion of degree requirements or a student loses the opportunity to apply for the benefit. Students finishing a degree in the middle of a semester do not have the entire semester to submit an application. Please note this date can be different from the graduation ceremony date.

5.4 How long does it take to get OPT and CPT?
It is currently taking INS eight to 12 weeks to issue the Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You cannot begin work until you have received the EAD.

 
6.1 How do I change my immigration status?
If you wish to change to an F-1 student status, please schedule an appointment with an advisor at OISS to discuss your individual situation.

6.2 What do I need to do to travel outside the US?
Students in F-1 status should come in or email OISS for an I-20 Re-Entry Signature Form. After completing this short form, one of the advisors will sign your I-20, which will allow you to come back into the US. If you do NOT get your I-20 signed, you will not be permitted to enter the US. We will also check to make sure your visa has not or will not expire during your travel. We advise you to carry your signed I-20, I-94 card, and passport with you when you are traveling.
Students in other status (J-1, H-1) should contact an advisor for assistance.

6.3 How do I invite my family and/or friends to visit me?
Fill out the Visit Invitation Request Form online. After filling out the necessary information on the form, we will use it to draft an invitation letter which your family member(s) and/or friend(s) will use when requesting a visa at the embassy in your home country. If there are multiple visitors, each visitor will receive their own letter if requested.

6.4 My visa is about to expire, what do I do?
Your visa (the sticker in your passport) needs to be valid only when you wish to enter the United States. Once you are in the United States, you do not need a valid visa. If you wish to travel outside of the United States during your time as a student, you will need a valid visa to reenter. Students in F-1 status with an expired F-1 visa in their passport may reenter from Canada, Mexico, or adjacent territories in the Caribbean without a obtaining a new visa. You must be in F-1 status, have a valid passport, have an expired F-1 visa in your passport, and have a Form I-94 and a Form I-20 signed for reentry.
If your visa has expired, please schedule an appointment with an advisor at OISS to discuss applying for a new visa outside of the United States.
Please note that your visa is the sticker placed in your passport by the US Embassy. Your “visa” is not your Form I-20 or your Form I-94, both of which must be valid while you are in the United States.