Academic Essentials

Resources for Current International Students

International students are responsible for pursuing, securing, and maintaining appropriate student visa status through the United States government.

To attend a university in the United States, you will need a visa that permits you to study. To obtain a student visa, you will need to be issued an I-20. A Form I-20 tells the U.S. government that you are eligible for F-1 student status. It certifies that you:

Are or expect to be a student at a college or university
Meet our admissions requirements
Will pursue a full course of study
Have the financial support to study and live in the U.S.

Please visit the Admissions Policies page for information on applying as an International Student.

Study in the States U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

School Official Contact Information

Dr. Kelsey Wallace, Registrar, PDSO
kwallace@theseattleschool.edu
206-876-6110
Daniel Tidwell-Davis, Director of Student & Academic Services, DSO
dtidwell@theseattleschool.edu
206-876-6100

Forms

OPT Form

Request for Program Extension

Maintaining Visa Status

United States immigration law places responsibility upon the individual student to know and follow all relevant immigration regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may have very severe consequences for your ability to study, seek employment, or even remain in the United States. In addition to the information below, be sure to review the Department of Homeland Security fact sheet on maintaining visa status.

Make sure that your immigration documents are valid and/or unexpired.

An unexpired foreign passport valid at least six months into the future. A stamp in the passport marked “F-1 D/S” (usually appears on the page opposite visa stamp). An unexpired I-20.

You are expected to maintain full-time registration and make normal progress toward your degree. Full-time registration is 7 credits in the Fall and Winter terms, and 6 credits in the Spring term. You must obtain PRIOR authorization from a Designated School Official (DSO) BEFORE dropping below full course of study, withdrawing from classes, or taking a leave of absence. There are very limited exceptions to the full-time requirement – so you must consult the P/DSO in advance of any drop below full-time, or you will be in violation of your status.

Change of Address

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requires that you inform the P/DSO within 10 days of any address change. Contact the Registrar’s Office via email or in person with change of address information.

Transferring

If you are planning to transfer to another institution, you must notify the P/DSO before the end of the semester. The transfer of the SEVIS record must be completed within a 60 day period after completion of studies or a student’s last enrollment date. Your new school cannot issue you a Form I-20 until we have released your immigration record to them.

Work Authorization

Students must be degree-seeking students in valid F-1 status for one academic year to be eligible to apply for off-campus work authorization. Information regarding Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training is available below.

Graduating Students

Students who have graduated and are not doing OPT must leave the U.S. within 60 days of the completion of the program, or transfer to a higher level of degree program.

Program Extension

International students are admitted to the United States for “Duration of Status” (D/S) to complete a specific course of study (notation is made in the passport by the Customs officer upon entry). Students are expected to complete the academic program by the completion date on the Form I-20. If a student is unable to finish, they must request a program extension prior to the expiration date on the immigration document.

Please note: the visa stamp in the passport does not determine the length of time a student is allowed to remain in the country. The visa is an entry document, once a student is in the U.S., the I-20 must remain valid.

Low-Residency Students

Once you complete the residency requirements associated with your degree, your I-20 will be terminated. After this date, if you return to the U.S. for any reason you will need to enter under a tourist (or other relevant) status. In other words, if you want to come to campus to use the library, attend an event (such as graduation), etc. you will NOT be entering as a student.

If you want to attend graduation and anticipate needing additional documentation for your re-entry please give us 30 days notice prior to the event and we would be happy to write you a letter supporting your border entry for this purpose.

Travel

Please review the Reentry Information Section on the Immigration and Customs Enforcement website if you are traveling outside the country.

Travel Endorsement

Check the travel signature on your I-20. The signature is valid for 12 months unless you are on OPT or Academic Training and then it must be signed every 6 months. Please contact the Registrar/PDSO if you need a signature. We must confirm that you have been registered full-time each semester before we can sign the I-20.

Travel Documents

Students who travel back to their home country are responsible for carrying documents that are necessary for re-entry into the United States. To avoid any issues with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the ports of entry, it is important for students to hand-carry the following documents:

A valid passport (valid at least 6 months beyond your entry date)
A signed Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status.” This signature is valid for 1 year, so please check page 2 of the I-20 to see if a new signature is required.
Financial support documents, which are typically the same as those provided during the original visa interview with the U.S. Department of State
An acceptance letter or recent tuition payment receipt
An unofficial transcript printed from your Populi account
A designated school official’s name and contact information

If any information cannot be verified, the student may be directed to go through a secondary inspection for supplemental CBP research. To ensure a safe and easy return to the United States, students should keep all necessary documents with them at all times. For Visa Renewal, Travel & Re-Entry information, visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Working in the U.S.

Both on- and off-campus employment and internship opportunities are available to international students. Students requiring a visa to study in the United States must obtain special authorization in order to participate in off-campus employment and internships.

The Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs allow F-1 students to pursue part-time or full-time employment, respectively, in a field related to the student’s primary course of study.

Working on Campus

All students are eligible to apply for on-campus student employment. While international students are ineligible for federal work-study positions, students requiring a visa to study in the U.S. may work in other positions on campus without special authorization, part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year, and full-time during breaks and the summer months.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

CPT is defined by US Citizenship and Immigration Services as employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum, including alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the institution. You cannot begin working until the work authorization/internship is approved by TSS and a new I-20 is created. The MACP required internship qualifies as CPT.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT is an off-campus work authorization issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for work experience in your field of study. Students must be in F-1 status for an academic year to be eligible for OPT. Both pre-completion (to be used before graduation) and post-completion OPT may be available. However, students are eligible to apply for one year of OPT per degree level. If 12 months of OPT are used before graduation, post-completion OPT will not be available.

Students who have been in F-1 status for one academic year are eligible to apply for pre-completion OPT as early as 90 days before the employment start date. For Post-completion OPT, students may apply up to 90 days before the program end date (graduation or completion of studies for graduate students).

Students who are completing a degree program and are planning to do Optional Practical Training (OPT) must make an appointment with the P/DSO to discuss the application process (instructions and required forms are available here).

For OPT application procedures please set up a meeting with the P/DSO (Registrar’s Office).

For further information, consult the USCIS guidelines for OPT.