Visa Regulations | International Student Program

Visa Regulations | International Student Program
International Student Program
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SIS.SANTAROSA.EDU
VISA REGULATIONS
Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) is certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll nonimmigrant students under the F-1 Student Visa status. Every
SEVP-certified
institution in the United States is required to comply with federal regulations pertaining to F-1 students, and
schools are required by law to
terminate a student's SEVIS record
for any F-1 status violation.
Maintaining F-1 Status
As an international student in F-1 status, your primary purpose in the U.S. is to study.
Study in the States
has an overview of the requirements to maintain F-1 status:
Enroll in a full course of study each term
Possess a valid Form I-20 from SRJC listing your current program of study
Report or update your U.S. address within 10 days
Receive prior authorization for any
off-campus employment
Get permission from your school before traveling
Failure to maintain your F-1 status could result in serious consequences (i.e. SEVIS termination) which could lead to deportation and/or denial of future immigration benefits.
At SRJC, the following policies have been adopted to be in compliance with
F-1 student regulations
. Please read the sections below for more information.
Full-Time Enrollment
Full-time enrollment for international students at SRJC is defined as:
12+ units in Fall/Spring semesters
6+ units in Summer session if it's your first term
For continuing students, Summer is a
vacation term
and enrollment is optional
You must have permission from our office
before
reducing your enrollment below full-time or withdrawing from your program at SRJC.
Online Classes
Only one class (or 3 units) that is 100% online may be included in your 12-unit minimum required for F-1 students each semester. Once you are enrolled in 12 units (including only one online class), the International Student Program can authorize your enrollment in additional online classes. You must email the section number of the class you wish to add to
ralvarez@santarosa.edu
so that ISP can review and authorize your enrollment.
Hybrid/Hyflex Classes
Some classes at SRJC have a combination of in-person and online meetings. These are called "hybrid" classes, and they
are not
counted as online classes. In other words, all of your classes may be hybrid classes. Other classes at SRJC are offered simultaneously both in-person and online, and students can choose which meeting format they prefer to attend. These are called "hyflex" courses, and they
are
counted as online classes. In other words, you can only take one hyflex or online class as part of your first 12 units.
Reduced Course Load
Eligibility Requirements
In certain special circumstances, an F-1 student may be permitted to drop below 12 units. The Reduced Course Load (RCL) authorization is valid for one semester, and students must re-apply for each additional RCL authorization. The
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) website
explains the various eligibility categories for a Reduced Course Load (RCL), which are limited to:
Medical Condition
(12 months maximum):
Medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist in the U.S. is required.
May enroll in as few units (or 0 units) as recommended by the medical professional.
Academic Difficulty
(first semester only):
Reason #1: Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements.
Reason #2: Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods.
Reason #3: Improper course level placement.
Must enroll in at least 6 units.
Completion of Course of Study
(final semester only):
Must be graduating from SRJC with an Associate's Degree or approved Certificate (transfer students who do not complete an AA/AS are not eligible for RCL in final term).
May enroll in as few units as necessary to complete the program of study as indicated on the Form I-20.
Application Process
Make an appointment your Doctor or Counselor to obtain RCL recommendation.
Submit the
online request form
to ISP and attach any required supporting documentation.
Pickup your new I-20 with approved RCL authorization on Page 2.
Drop your classes or enroll in as few units as needed to graduate.
Authorized Early Withdrawal
If you need to withdraw from SRJC for a family emergency, financial issues, or personal reasons, you must notify ISP before you drop your classes. ISP will terminate your SEVIS record for the reason "Authorized Early Withdrawal." This termination reason is not a negative one and should not affect any future visits to the U.S.
After your SEVIS record is terminated, you will have a 15-day grace period to depart the U.S. To request an Authorized Early Withdrawal, please submit this
Request Form
to ISP. More information about the Authorized Early Withdrawal can be found on the
Study in the States website
If you withdraw from classes and fail to notify ISP, your SEVIS record will be terminated for the reason "Unauthorized Early Withdrawal," which is a negative termination reason with zero grace period that may affect future U.S. immigration benefits.
Leave of Absence
International students at SRJC who need to return to their home country for a semester may request a Leave of Absence (LOA). If your leave will be less than 5 months, you may keep the same Form I-20 and not have to pay another SEVIS I-901 fee.
After you submit your LOA request, ISP will terminate your Form I-20 for the reason "Authorized Early Withdrawal" which will give you a 15-day grace period to depart the U.S. At least 60 days before you plan to return to the U.S. to resume your studies, you must notify ISP so that your Form I-20 can be returned to Active status, which will allow you to re-enter the U.S.
If your stay outside the country is more than 5 months, the school must provide you with a new SEVIS I-20 for Initial Attendance to re-enter. You will have a new SEVIS ID number, and therefore will have to pay the SEVIS fee again. Whether or not your leave is more or less than 5 months, you must have a valid F-1 visa in order to return to the U.S. To request a LOA, please submit the Leave of
Leave of Absence
Request Form
to ISP. Once approved, you may drop or withdraw from your classes. More information about the Leave of Absence process can be found on the
Study in the States website
Program Completion/Grace Periods
At the beginning of your final semester of study, you should submit an
Application for Certificate
or
Application for Degree
. You should also check your Form I-20 to be sure that the Program End Date is aligned with the last day of the term. Contact ISP if this date needs to be adjusted. After you complete your academic program at SRJC, you have a 60-day grace period to remain in the U.S. Your grace period begins the day after the Program End Date on your Form I-20. Staying beyond the grace period is a serious violation and can lead to deportation. During the 60-day grace period, you can travel within the U.S., transfer to another school to continue your education, or apply for OPT.
SEVIS Transfers
International students in the U.S. may request a transfer of their SEVIS record from one
SEVP-certified school
to another. To be eligible for transfer, you must maintain F-1 status at your current school until the release date and follow the correct transfer procedures.
Current international students at SRJC
wishing to transfer out must provide evidence of their admission to the new school. Once you have received your admission letter, submit the
Transfer Out Form
to ISP.
Admitted international students
wishing to transfer in must provide evidence that they are maintaining F-1 status at their current school. Once you have been accepted to SRJC, submit the
Transfer-In Form
to ISP. More information about F-1 transfer requirements and procedures can be found on the
DHS website
Program Extensions
SRJC issues I-20s for 3 years for associate's degrees and 1 year for certificate programs. If you require additional time to complete your program of study, you must show that your delay in completion was caused by compelling academic or medical reasons, such as a change of major, or a documented illness. Financial difficulties, academic failure, probation or dismissal are not considered valid reasons for granting an extension. This process can take 1-2 weeks to complete. BEFORE your I-20 expires, you must
submit the Program Extension Request Form
and attach the required supporting documents to your request:
An updated Education Plan showing the classes you will take at SRJC during the extension. You must meet with your academic Counselor to obtain this document.
An updated bank statement showing
sufficient funding
for additional semesters of study. If you have a different sponsor from your original Form I-20, then they must sign a
Declaration of Financial Support
and attach it to their bank statement.
It will take time to gather these documents. We encourage you to begin this process at least 2 weeks before the Program End Date on your Form I-20.
Travel Authorization
Students who have valid F-1 visas are allowed to travel outside of the United States temporarily during their studies at SRJC. You must obtain permission to travel from ISP before departing the U.S. by submitting the
Travel Authorization
Request Form
online.
You will need to bring the following valid/unexpired documents with you during your travels:
Passport
F-1 Visa stamp (inside passport)
Form I-20 with a travel endorsement on Page 2
EAD card (if applicable)
Though not required, you could also bring a copy of your class schedule (or job offer for OPT) as additional evidence, in case you are asked for it at the U.S. Port of Entry.
If you have the necessary documents, you can travel internationally at any time during your studies, or during post-completion OPT, but you may not return to the U.S. during your grace period.
If you do not have an F-1 visa because you changed your nonimmigrant status with USCIS from inside the U.S., then you will need to obtain an F-1 visa in your home country before you may return to the U.S. after traveling.
Residency Reclassification
Many international students ask, "Is there a way that I can pay in-state tuition at SRJC?" Yes, it is possible, but
not
while you are in F-1 student status. According to your nonimmigrant visa, you are still a resident of your home country, and therefore you cannot also be a resident of California.
In order to be classified as a resident,
you must take the appropriate steps to obtain a change of status from
USCIS
to a classification which does not preclude you from establishing residency in the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The following statuses
CAN
establish residency:
U.S. Citizens
Permanent Residents and Applicants (
Form I-485
Asylees and Asylum Applicants (
Form I-589
Applicants for Temporary Protected Status (
Form I-821
Students granted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status (
Form I-821D
Students in the following visa statuses: A-1 to A-3, E-1, E-2, E-2C, E-3, G-1 to G-5, H-1B, H-1C, H-4, I, K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4, L-1A, L-1B, L-2, N-8, N-9, NATO 1 to 7, O-1, O-3, R-1, R-2, R-3, SIV, T-1 to T-6, U-1 to U-5, V-1, V-2, V-3
The following statuses
CANNOT
establish residency:
Anyone with unlawful presence
Anyone who has overstayed their visa (Undocumented or Out-of-Status)
Students in the following visa statuses: B-1, B-2, C-1 to C-4, D-1, D-2, F-1, F-2, F-3, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, H-4, J-1, J-2, M-1, M-2, M-3, O-2, O-3, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, Q-1 to Q-3, S-5, S-6, S-7, TN/TD, TWOV
For more information, please consult an
Admissions and Records
residency specialist.
You must also meet the one-year physical presence requirement.
The one-year duration may not begin until application has been made for a change of status as noted above.
If you have applied for another status and have met the one-year requirement, you can submit a
Residency Reclassification Form
and attach supporting documentation. You must also complete an
Authorized Early Withdrawal
request to terminate your SEVIS record before your residency reclassification can be approved.
Status Violations
International students at SRJC are required to maintain lawful F-1 status at all times. Violations of F-1 status may include: not attending school full-time, academic dismissal, working without authorization, and having an expired I-20. Any status violation is a serious problem for you and could lead to your deportation from the U.S.
Students with a
terminated SEVIS record
will have limited options:
Departure
When your SEVIS record is terminated for a negative reason, such as Failure to Enroll or Unauthorized Employment, you receive zero grace period to depart the U.S. You should make plans to depart the U.S. as soon as possible or an overstay could have a negative impact on future visa applications.
Reinstatement
If your SEVIS record has been terminated as a result of circumstances that were beyond your control, you can
apply to USCIS for reinstatement
of your lawful F-1 status. This must occur within 5 months of the status violation. To request reinstatement, please submit the
Reinstatement Request Form
to ISP. More information about reinstatement can be found on the
Study in the States website
. We strongly recommend that you consult with an immigration attorney for assistance:
SRJC's Dream Center Lawyer - VIDAS
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Lawyer Search
DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) List
Immigration Advocates Network
Travel & Re-Entry
If your F-1 visa is still unexpired, you may request a new Form I-20 from ISP, travel outside the U.S. (Mexico or Canada is okay), and re-enter the U.S. using the new I-20. This will wipe your record clean and give you valid F-1 status once again. Note that this method will reset the one academic year requirement for CPT/OPT eligibility. During COVID-19, this option will reset your F-1 status to initial, which will require enrollment in a course with in-person requirements.
Disclaimer: This school is authorized under Federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students. ISP is able to provide you with general guidance. However, any advice provided to you by our office does not constitute legal advice. Additionally, due to the fluid nature of governmental interpretation, USCIS may change its interpretation of immigration polices, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements for benefits at any time. This office will do its best to provide you with the most current guidance, but please be mindful that each case is fact-specific and it is advised that you contact an experienced immigration attorney if you have questions regarding your situation.
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ISP Hours and Location
Location:
Santa Rosa Campus, Plover 527
In-Person Service Hours:
MONDAY:
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
TUESDAY:
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
WEDNESDAY:
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
THURSDAY:
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
FRIDAY:
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Phone:
+1 (707) 527-4509
Email:
international@santarosa.edu
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