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Maintaining F-1 Visa Status
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This is a significant time in your life. You have been accepted into a school in the United States and have been approved for an F-1 visa, and it should be period of excitement. As you prepare to come to the United States and start your educational program and while you are here, you should be keep in mind that it is important to maintain your F-1 visa status.
Maintaining your status is crucial to continuing your education in the United States. Be aware of what the requirements are and what you need to do if changes need to be made. The following are some pointers on how to maintain your status.
- Plan to enter the United States 30 days or less before your program begins.
- Contact the designated school official (DSO) to inform him or her of your arrival in the country.
- Contact the DSO when you arrive at the school, prior to the start of the program of study.
- Remain a full-time student throughout the length of the program of study. For an undergraduate course of study, a full-time student needs to take at least 12 credits every semester. For graduate programs, check with your school for the requirements to be a full-time student.
- Attend all your classes and pass them.
- If you are having difficulty with your program, need to drop a class or find that you are unable to be a full-time student, contact your DSO as soon as you can and explain your circumstances. From there, you can figure out what your options are.
- If you anticipate that more time is needed to complete the program, talk to your DSO to obtain a new I-20 Form so that you can file an extension. Be sure to be prompt in addressing this situation.
- If you plan on starting a new program of study, you need to file a new I-20 Form. This should be done 60 days or more in advance of the completion of your current program.
- If you must work, make sure that you obtain the proper authorization. You may choose to work as part of curricular practical training or optional practical training. Speak with your DSO about which would be the right option for you.
- Other than what’s already been mentioned, you need to talk to your DSO to:
- Change majors or programs,
- Transfer to a new school,
- Take time off for medical or other reasons,
- Travel outside of the country, and
- Change addresses.
- Once you have completed your program of study, you need to leave the country within 60 days of program completion. Applying for optional practical training or changing your visa status will allow you to remain in United States.
Maintaining your F-1 status is essential. If there are any situations that arise, address them with your DSO first. You may also consult an experienced immigration attorney to figure out what your options are.
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I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Justin Burton! He is an outstanding specialist in his field and an attorney who quite literally changed our family’s life. Mr. Burton demonstrated a highly professional approach and exceptional dedication to our case. He stands out for his extensive knowledge of immigration law and, beyond that, is a person of great integrity. I can wholeheartedly recommend Mr. Justin Burton and…
I would like to start this review with a big thank you for the immigration lawyer, Nicole Provax, who has done a successful and amazing work on my dad’s case! She was dedicated in walking us through the whole process, keeping excellent communication with us, and despite the little hurdles that came up along the way, she was able to get the case to continue progressing! I’m forever grateful of…
I had the pleasure of having Brittni Rivera as our attorney working on our immigration green card process for my Husband and I .... from beginning to the end.. the best most professional guidance you could ask for. I highly recommend her ... and Donald Rogers too.. thanks again for all your help.
We had the pleasure of having Justin Burton on my parents case. From the moment we reached out, his staff was incredibly welcoming and took the time to really listen to our concerns. We never felt rushed or like just another case, Justin made sure we understood every step of the process and answered all our questions with patience and clarity. What really impressed us was how Justin and staff…
If your case is complicated and you have suffered enough time to get your positive result, Justin Burton is the man. My case was very complicated and I had lost all hopes but Justin got me approved. Me and my family are very thankful to Justin and his staff.
Justin Burton is the best for your legal issues.
Brittni Rivera, es una excelente abogada profesional y muy eficiente en su trabajo. En lo personal ha sido una gran ayuda y gracias a ella obtuvimos nuestra Residencia, y en lo que ocupes no dudes en contactarla. Es lo máximo 🙂. Gracias Abogada🙏
I had the pleasure of working with Brittni Rivera for my immigration case, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. From start to finish, she was incredibly professional, attentive, and knowledgeable. She took the time to explain the entire process, answered all of my questions, and ensured I felt supported every step of the way. What stood out most was her ability to simplify complex legal language and…
Justin Burton is very professional, constantly communicates and provides all the details. My father’s case was complicated, but from the start Justin made us believe we can achieve the results. He is the best immigration lawyer you can get, we tried few and no one could help.
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