Immigration Advising for International Students

Start with your immigration category

Most of the information below concerns F-1 students. J-1 students should work with the sponsor listed on their DS-2019 and OIP. Other immigration categories have different study and employment rules.

Canadian students must still follow the immigration requirements that apply to their student status. Special rules apply to students admitted as border commuters; ask OIP about your classification before relying on the general enrollment or employment information below.

A designated school official (DSO) supports F-1 student records in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Contact your DSO when you are unsure whether a change affects your record.

Keep your documents and records current 

Keep copies of your passport, visa if applicable, I-94 arrival record, current and previous I-20s or DS-2019s, and any employment authorization documents. Store them securely and keep your passport valid.

Your visa and your immigration status are different. A visa is generally used to request admission to the United States. The visa expiration date alone does not determine how long you may remain in the country. Your admission record and compliance with the conditions of your status matter.

After each entry into the United States, review your I-94 record and contact OIP promptly if the name, immigration category, or admission information appears incorrect. Ask OIP to help you understand an unfamiliar date or notation rather than assuming it is correct.

Access your I-94 record through U.S. Customs and Border Protection

SVSU's published F-1 enrollment guidance for fall and winter is at least 12 credits for undergraduate students and 9 credits for graduate students. Ask OIP to confirm your program's requirements, including any special graduate enrollment arrangements.

For F-1 students in degree programs, no more than the equivalent of one online class or three online credits may count toward the full-course-of-study requirement per term. Course format matters as well as credit total. English language training has different rules, and online courses cannot count toward its full-course requirement.

Ask OIP to review your schedule if it includes online or hybrid courses, enrollment at another institution, a reduced course load, or only a small number of credits in your final term.

Get authorization before reducing your course load
Some students may qualify for a reduced course load for specific academic, medical, or final-term reasons. OIP must determine eligibility and complete any required authorization before you drop below your required enrollment.

Speak with your academic advisor about your degree plan and OIP about your immigration record. A faculty member's permission, a medical note, or submission of a request is not itself immigration authorization.

Plan semester breaks and leaves with OIP
Do not assume that every spring or summer term is an eligible vacation period. Eligibility depends on your academic calendar and student record. Contact OIP before taking a term off, withdrawing from SVSU, or leaving the United States for an extended period.

F-1 students must report changes of address and legal name to their DSO within 10 days. Use the OIP request process and contact OIP if you cannot find the appropriate request. Updating another university record does not necessarily update SEVIS.

Contact OIP about changes to your major, degree level, funding, expected completion date, or immigration status. Students on OPT or STEM OPT also have employment and other reporting responsibilities. 

Find request instructions

Work authorization depends on your immigration category, enrollment, the type of work, and your individual
eligibility. A job offer, Social Security number, or academic internship approval does not by itself authorize
employment.
Contact OIP before beginning an internship, unpaid placement, freelance work, app-based work, self-employment,
or remote work for an employer outside the United States while you are in the United States. The location of an
employer or the absence of pay does not settle the immigration question.

On-campus employment
Eligible F-1 students generally may work on campus for no more than 20 hours per week while school is in
session. Count the total across all on-campus jobs. Different arrangements or exceptions require individual review.
Full-time on-campus work may be available during eligible school breaks or annual vacation. Confirm eligibility and any SVSU employment limits before increasing your hours. Check with OIP before working after program completion, changing schools, or working as a border commuter.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT is a form of authorization for eligible training that is integral to an established curriculum and related to your major. OIP and your academic department must review the proposed experience.
Do not begin CPT until you have received the I-20 showing the DSO's authorization and the authorized start date has arrived. Work only under the authorized employer, dates, and other conditions. Ask OIP before changing them.

Start with the CPT request instructions.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is employment authorization for eligible F-1 students for work directly related to their major. The process includes an OIP recommendation and an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Meet with OIP early to review eligibility, deadlines, and the correct filing sequence. For initial OPT, do not begin work until USCIS has approved the application, you have received your Employment Authorization Document, and its start date has arrived.

STEM OPT and reporting
Some students with qualifying science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees may qualify for a STEM OPT extension. Eligibility involves more than a degree title; the degree, employer, training plan, and filing requirements must all be reviewed.

If you are on OPT or STEM OPT, follow OIP's instructions for reporting employment, address changes, unemployment, and any required training-plan validations or evaluations. Contact OIP before your authorization expires or your employment changes.

Other employment circumstances
CPT and OPT are common employment options, but they are not the only categories that may apply to an eligible F-1 student. If you experience unexpected financial hardship or believe another authorization applies, discuss your circumstances with OIP before working.

Review federal student employment information.

Before booking travel, discuss your situation with OIP, especially if you have a pending application, a change in your program, an expired visa, or employment authorization. Review the documents you may need for your return, including:
- Your valid passport and any required visa.
- Your current I-20 or DS-2019 with an appropriate travel endorsement.
- Evidence of current study or authorized training, as applicable.
- Additional documents relevant to your immigration category and circumstances.
Travel endorsement requirements differ for enrolled students and students on OPT. Visa exceptions also exist, including for many Canadian citizens. Do not assume that a short trip or travel to Canada removes the need for an individual document review.

Entry is decided by U.S. border officials. OIP cannot guarantee visa issuance or admission.
Review the federal travel guidance for students.

Check the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 and compare it with your academic plan. Contact OIP well
before that date if you may need additional time. An academic schedule change does not automatically extend
your immigration record.
Before completing your program, meet with OIP to discuss departure, practical training, a transfer, a new degree,
or another immigration option. Do not use the commencement ceremony date as a substitute for confirming your
actual program completion date.
Grace periods and filing deadlines depend on your situation and the rules in effect. Confirm your individual
deadline with OIP. A grace period does not itself authorize employment.

Contact the responsible officer or alternate responsible officer of the sponsor listed on your DS-2019 for questions about enrollment, travel endorsements, employment or Academic Training, program extensions, and required insurance. F-1 CPT and OPT instructions do not apply to J-1 students.

Coordinate with OIP as well if your sponsor is another organization. Review the health insurance information for the separate requirements that apply to J-1 students and J-2 dependents.

Contact OIP promptly if you missed a reporting deadline, dropped below required enrollment, worked without the
expected authorization, lost a document, or received a government notice you do not understand. Explain what
happened and when so the appropriate next steps can be reviewed.
If an unexpected caller or message threatens your immigration status or demands payment, pause and verify the
request through OIP or the government agency's independently located official contact information. Do not share
passwords or verification codes.
For immediate danger or a medical emergency in the United States, call 911.