Dec 11 OISS Newsletter

Information for F-1 and J-1 visa students completing studies in Fall 2007

For students who are completing a course of study at the end of Fall Semester 2007, you have the following options under current Immigration Rules and Regulations:

You may return back to your home country. F-1 visa students have 60 days after graduation or until February 18, 2007 to depart the United States. J-1 visa students have 30 days after graduation or until January 20, 2008 to depart the United States.
You may continue your studies by applying for and being accepted for a higher level of study or the possibility of changing your program within the same level you are in now. You need to talk with an advisor in OISS to make sure you qualify for this opportunity and to start the process of obtaining a new SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019. In both cases you would need to be accepted either here at St. Thomas or in a different U.S. university within the 60 days (for F-1 visa students) or 30 days (for J-1 visa students) following the completion of your program of study. You would be expected to be a full time student beginning in the Spring Semester 2008.
You may change your visa status if you qualify (for example: H-1, J-1, F-1 or Permanent Resident status). If you qualify for one of these immigration statuses you must apply for a visa/status change within 60 days (for F-1 visa students) or within 30 days (for J-1 visa students) following the completion of your studies.
You might be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (for F-1 visa students) or up to 18 months of Academic Training (for J-1 visa students), which means you may stay in the United States and work in a field related to your major course of study listed on your I-20 or DS-2019. F-1 visa students who wish to follow this program need to schedule an appointment with an OISS advisor immediately to begin the paperwork for the Immigration Department. F-1 visa students do not need to have a job in hand to apply for OPT. J-1 students must have a job offer in their field of study in order to be authorized before for Academic Training by an OISS Advisor. F-1 and J-1 visa students must be sure that they are going to complete their studies by December 21, 2007 in order to be authorized for OPT or Academic Training following degree completion. We recommend that F-1 visa students apply NOW since the Immigration Department must receive their OPT application before December 21, 2007 and it has been taking about 3 to 4 months to receive the EAD card, which is required to work during OPT. A student completing a course of study at the end of Fall semester 2007 may not apply for OPT after December 21, 2007. Please see an OISS advisor if you have any questions or concerns.
Once you are done with your degree program, you are no longer eligible to work on-campus. You will not be able to print a future employment form unless you are admitted to a different degree program and receive a new I-20 or DS-2019 from St. Thomas.

Congratulations to students who are completing their degree/certificate program at St. Thomas!