While you are a student in the United States you need to know and understand the immigration terms and regulations which affect you. OCU's International Admissions Office can give you information and help with immigration matters. These may include

Documents
Enrollment Requirements
Visa Status
School Transfers
Reinstatement of Student Status
Enrollment Verification and I-20 Requests
Travel Outside the United States
Practical Training
Employment

Every International Student must have an immigration file in the International Admissions Office. New students must bring their I-94 card (white), form I-20, and passport to International Admissions when they come to enroll.

If you have any problems or questions about immigration or any of your documents (I-94 card, I-20, or visa), see a Foreign Student Advisor. The advisor can handle most common immigration matters for you. If you have a more serious problem, the advisor can refer you to an immigration attorney.

DOCUMENTS

All students must have the following documents to enter the U.S.:

• passport,
  
• valid U.S. visa
  
• a SEVIS I-20 form (Students from Canada are not required to have a visa stamp to enter the U.S.)

Students must submit their I-20, admission letter, financial statements, and proof of payment of the SEVIS fee to the US consulate in their home country to apply for a U.S. visa. To pay your SEVIS fee or to get information on paying your SEVIS fee, please go to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) site.

At the time of entry to the U.S., students will be given an arrival/departure card called an I-94. This card shows how long students are allowed to stay in the U.S. I-94 cards for F-1 students and F-2 dependents should be marked "D/S" (duration of status). This means an individual is allowed to remain in the US while pursuing a full course of study or while in authorized practical training.

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

International students must be enrolled full-time during the academic year (fall and spring semesters). The minimum requirement is 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students. Summer study is optional. However, students who have an I-20 to start their program during a summer session must attend that summer session.

Students must also make satisfactory progress toward a specific program in order to remain in good student status. Students in F-2 status (dependents) do not have a full-time enrollment requirement.

VISA STATUS (Duration of Stay)

USCIS regulations define "duration of stay" as the period of time it takes a student to complete all of the following:

• A full course of study in any educational program
  
• Up to one year of practical training (The key to being "in status" is being enrolled as a full-time student every fall and spring semester).
  
• Undergraduate -- minimum twelve (12) credit hours
  
• Graduate -- minimum nine (9) credit hours.

SCHOOL TRANSFERS

When a student wants to transfer from one U.S. school to another, the new school handles the process. To transfer, the student must be "in status." The following steps are for international students wishing to transfer to OCU:

1. Please apply online.

2. Have your current Foreign Student Advisor complete an International Student School Transfer Request.

3. Submit a formal request to the current school to electronically transfer the student's SEVIS I-20 record.

4. A new I-20 will be available upon arrival at OCU.

NOTE: New students who enter the country on an OCU I-20 will not be allowed to transfer to another school until they have completed a fall or a spring semester as a full time student.

REINSTATEMENT OF STUDENT STATUS AND CHANGE OF STATUS REQUESTS
Students who are not "in status" and want to return to full-time study or students who wish to study and do not have student status must seek approval by the local USCIS office by doing the following:

1. Consult with a Foreign Student Advisor
2. Complete form I-539 (form can be obtained from the ISO or downloaded)
3. Obtain a new I-20 from your Foreign Student Advisor (new I-20 will electronically request reinstatement)

Download I-539 form and instructions

Please Note: You must bring the form to International Admissions to consult with an advisor.

The Foreign Student Advisor will send the student's letter, I-20, I-94, new financial documentation, OCU transcripts and copies of passport identity and visa pages to the local USCIS office. Reinstatements are sent to the district USCIS office in Oklahoma City and normally take a short time to process. Change of status applications are sent to the USCIS Regional Office in Mesquite, Texas, and may take up to three months or more for processing.

ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION (Good Standing Letter) and I-20 REQUESTS

Students may need enrollment verification and a "Good Standing" Letter:

• To transfer or apply to another school
  
• To provide proof to their sponsor or embassy that they are currently enrolled
  
• To verify their status with USCIS
  
• To send to their bank at home

If you need a Good Standing Letter, apply at the International Admissions Office.

1. Pick up an application at International Admissions and fill it out.
2. Take it to the Registrar's Office for enrollment verification.
3. Return it to International Admissions.
4. Wait 24 hours before returning to pick it up.

Download an Enrollment Verification Request (good standing letter)

Students will need to request a new I-20 for several reasons:

• Your I-20 has been lost or destroyed (there is a $10 charge to replace a lost I-20).
  
• Your major has changed.
  
• To extend the completion date on your current I-20 you must provide a letter from your academic advisor stating the new date of completion and extend your I-20 BEFORE the expiration date.

Download an I-20 request form

TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

If you are planning to travel outside the U.S. while studying at OCU, you MUST bring your form I-20 to International Admissions to be signed by a Foreign Student Advisor at least one week before your travel date. There will usually be a Designated School Official available to sign your I-20. If you will be traveling outside of the U.S. over winter or summer breaks, you will be required to enroll for the following semester before your I-20 will be signed.

View more information about traveling outside the U.S.

Note: Do not wait until the last day before you plan to leave the country to make your request!

PRACTICAL TRAINING

Practical training is an important part of your education in the United States. USCIS regulations allow you to have one year of practical training after completion of your degree program. You may also use part of the year of optional practical training during your studies or in the summer. You can then use the remainder of that year following graduation.

A student must obtain approval from USCIS. The application must be made through International Admissions, then be submitted to USCIS no sooner than 90 days prior to the completion of all degree requirements and MAY NOT be submitted after completion of all degree requirements.

Note: It is very important that your Practical Training application reach USCIS BEFORE your graduation date. Apply early!

General Information

• Practical training is available after each degree level is completed(example, bachelor’s, graduate, doctorate).
  
• Practical training spans the period of one year.
  
• No job is required to be granted prior to and within the one year of practical training.
  
• Expanded filing period is 90 days prior to graduation. You may NOT apply after graduation.
  
• You may request for your Employment Authorization to begin within 60 days after graduation.

How to Apply:

1. Obtain a letter from your academic advisor or department head recommending proposed training, stating your name, specific major, and expected date of completion of degree.

2. Obtain unofficial transcripts from the Registrar's Office, or you may print a transcript from your online student account.

3. Submit a I-765 form, recommendation letter, unofficial transcript, and I-20 to International Admissions for approval and processing.

4. Return in 2 days to pick up the approved application and new I-20. Note: It is very important that you get a new I-20 with an employment request notation on page 3.

5. Mail application and attachments to USCIS.

Download complete instructions and application


Note: USCIS approval can take up to 90 days. Once your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) has been received you may begin working off campus.

Traveling outside the U.S. while on practical training:

• You must have been issued the EAD card.
  
• You must have valid travel authorization on the third page of your I-20 by a Foreign Student Advisor, signed within the last six months.
  
• You must have valid passport.
  
• You must have valid visa.
  
• Be prepared to show proof of employment when returning to the United States.

View more information about traveling outside of the U.S.