F-1 Visa & Immigration

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Important Documents

While studying on campus, we advise carrying a copy of your passport, I-20 and I-94 with you. Keep your original documents in a safe and secure location. 

• I-20: Your Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, is vital to ensuring your F-1 status. This document demonstrates why you are in the U.S.—to pursue your program of study, that you are financially capable of funding your study and the cost of living in the U.S., and that you agree and understand the terms of your admission to the U.S.
• Passport: Your passport should expire six months from now. If it is due to expire, you should plan to renew it on your next trip to your home country or if permitted by your country, make plans to renew your passport at your country’s embassy or consulate within the U.S. 
• Visa: Your F-1 visa permits you entry to the U.S. as an F-1 student and carries an expiration date. This expiration date is for the validity of your F-1 visa, which permits you to enter/re-enter the U.S.; the expiration date of your F-1 visa does not indicate the expiration of your F-1 status. Your F-1 status could end prior to or after your visa expiration. Canadian F-1 students do not require an F-1 visa.
• I-94: To study in the U.S., you must be in a status that permits study.  To prove you have entered the U.S. in F-1 status, you will need your I-94 record. Your I-94 record can be found here. This record not only proves your F-1 status, the date you entered the U.S., and your admission date. The admit-to-study date should state D/S for duration of status. Every time you re-enter the U.S., you should check and print your I-94 record.

If you are traveling within the U.S., you should bring the following original documents on your trip:

• Passport
• I-20

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Travel Signatures/Re-entering the U.S. as F-1

When traveling during school breaks and annual vacations, you must request a travel signature. A travel signature is an endorsement from a DSO that the F-1 student is currently maintaining F-1 status and is expected to return to the U.S. to continue their F-1 program. 

Please complete the Travel Signature Request in I-Service to apply for a travel signature. 

You will need the following information to complete a Travel Signature Request in IService.

• Travel destination.
• Travel dates.
• Brief information about the purpose of travel.
• Passport/visa info.

Students must confirm travel purposes if requesting travel during the semester

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Re-entry to the U.S.

F-1 Student

To be readmitted to the U.S. as an F-1 student, you must present the following documents to CBP:

• Your passport, which must be valid for at least six months on the day that you re-enter the U.S. If you recently renewed your passport, you may need to carry your old expired passport, too, if your F-1 visa is in it. As a reminder, you should always keep your passport valid while you are in the U.S.
• A valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport (except for Canadian citizens). Your currently valid I-20 with a recent travel signature on page 2 of your I-20. The signature must be less than one year old on the day you will re-enter the U.S. Please complete a travel signature request if you still need to get a recent travel signature.  You may wish to bring copies of financial documentation, your student transcript and course registration as an additional precaution when traveling.  For information, refer to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement SEVIS FAQs.

J-1 Student and Scholar

To be readmitted to the U.S. as a J-1 student or scholar (exchange visitor), you must present the following documents:

• Your passport, which must be valid for at least six months on the day that you re-enter the U.S. If you recently renewed your passport, you may need to carry your expired passport as well if your J-1 visa is in your expired passport.
• You must have a valid J-1 visa stamp in your passport (except for Canadian citizens). In most situations, the J-1 visa must be valid when you enter the U.S. 
• Your currently valid DS-2019 immigration document with a recent handwritten travel validation. The signature must be no more than one year old on the day you will re-enter the U.S.
• As an additional precaution when traveling, you may wish to bring copies of financial documentation and, if you are a student, your transcript.
• If you are a J-1 student in academic training, you should bring evidence of your academic training position and your academic training authorization letter.

F-2 or J-2 Dependent

To be readmitted to the U.S. as an F-2 or J-2 dependent, you must present the following documents:

• Your passport which must be valid for at least six months on the day that you re-enter the U.S. If you recently renewed your passport, you may need to carry your old expired passport if your F-2 or J-2 visa is in your expired passport.
• You must have a valid F-2 or J-2 visa stamp in your passport (except for Canadian citizens). In most situations, the visa must be valid on the day you will enter the U.S. 
• Your currently valid I-20/DS-2019 immigration document with a recent handwritten travel signature on page 2 of your I-20 or the bottom right corner of your DS-2019. The CGE should have signed it after you arrived. The signature must be less than one year old when you re-enter the U.S.   
• You may wish to bring copies of your financial documentation and the F-1 student transcript, or the J-1 scholar’s offer letter of the position, as an additional precaution when traveling.
• If the F-1 or J-1 is on post-completion Optional Practical Training or Academic Training , you should carry photocopies of the F-1 or J-1 documents indicating authorization for work permission. For F-1, this would include I-20, EAD card, and evidence of a job. For J-1, it would be the DS-2019, Academic Training authorization letter and evidence of a job.
• For more information, refer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement SEVIS FAQs.

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Reportable Events in SEVIS: F-1

F-1 students are required to report certain events to their DSO to maintain status within 10 days of the change. Please complete a request in IService if any of the following changes:

• Change of major/declaration of your major.
• Change of address or contact information.
• Legal name change (must be reflected in your passport).

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Extension of Academic Program: F-1

F-1 students are required to make standard academic progress. This means that F-1 students should complete their program by the program end date on their I-20.  However, sometimes an F-1 student will need to extend the program dates on their I-20. 

If you need to extend your program, please complete the program extension form in IService. You will need to present CGE with new financial paperwork to do so.

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SEVIS Transfer

A SEVIS transfer is when one SEVP-approved program transfers your SEVIS record to another SEVP-approved program. If you are planning on attending another institution after your studies, or after participating in OPT, please complete the SEVIS transfer form in IService. If you are a current UM-Flint student and wish to transfer mid-program, you must inform the Registrar’s Office that you no longer intend to study at UM-Flint in addition to completing the IService Transfer form. 

Please remember:

• Once your SEVIS record is transferred, you will lose any work authorization you may currently have (OPT, STEM OPT, CPT or on campus). 
• Once your SEVIS record transfers, you must contact your new program for F-1 advising.
• You are still responsible for any outstanding bills from UM-Flint.

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Grace Period

F-1 students have a grace period when their F-1 status ends. During the grace period, the F-1 visa holder can:

• Begin a new program of study.
• Transfer to another institution.
• Seek a different visa status.
• Leave the U.S.

There is a 60-day grace period for students who have successfully completed their F-1 program of study or whose OPT authorization has ended. There is a 15-day grace period for F-1 students who need to withdraw from UM-Flint and have been authorized to do so. There is no grace period for F-1 students whose records have been terminated.

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SEVIS Termination and Regaining F-1

SEVIS Termination occurs when an F-1 student no longer maintains their status. Some examples of no longer maintaining F-1 status are dropping below full course load, not taking the required number of in-person courses, working without employment authorization, no showing to UM-Flint, or suspension from your program. SEVIS termination is a serious matter. If CGE knows your F-1 status is at risk, you will receive emails regarding your status. Please make sure to check your student email account. 

If your F-1 status is terminated, you must leave the U.S. as soon as possible as there is no grace period. Upon termination, CGE and UM-Flint will work with you to regain F-1 status if this is an option for you.