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The following information will help you maintain legal non-immigrant status
in the U.S.
Immigration Documents
As an international student in the U.S., you have (or should have!) in your
possession certain very important papers. You should always keep these
documents safe and make photocopies of them just in case they are lost. The
International Office will also take copies of these documents to keep in your
file. They are listed as follows:
- Current passport
- F-1 student visa - this stamp or sticker in your passport allows you to
enter the U.S. for the primary purpose of studying. Canadian citizens note: You
are exempt from the visa requirement. It does not matter if it expires while
you are in the U.S., but if you leave the country when it has expired, you must
get a new one before you return to the U.S. The visa is only used to enter the
U.S. - it does not have anything to do with permission to remain in the U.S.
You may apply for a new visa either in your home country, or you may make an
appointment at one of several consular offices in Canada to apply for a new
visa. See the International Office for details.
- I-94 card - this is a card given to you on the airplane when you fly into
the U.S. You must fill it out and present it to the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services (CIS) representative at the airport when you land.
They will stamp part of the card and give it back to you. It should remain in
your passport at all times. It will have a long number on it; this is your
Admission number. Even when you leave the U.S. and the card is taken from you,
you will get the same "old" number written on your new I-94 card when
you return to the U.S. This is one of your most important documents - do not
lose it!
- I-20 form - this is the form issued to you by Dartmouth to allow you to
apply for an F-1 student visa and enter and remain in the U.S. for as long as
you maintain good F-1 student status (see below). You may not remain in the
U.S. past the expiration date on the I-20 form that is listed in #5. When you
sign the I-20 form before applying for your visa, you are swearing to the U.S.
government that you have read and understood all the information on the back of
the form. Before leaving the country for a vacation or break, you must receive
a travel endorsement from one of five signing officers on campus. See the
International Office for details.
- D/S endorsement: When you come through customs, the immigration officer
should inspect all your documents and endorse your I-20 (top-right corner) and
your I-94 card with "F-1; D/S". This means that you may remain in the
U.S. for the "Duration of your Status" - for as long as you are
maintaining legal student status, and you have a valid I-20. You should always
check that your endorsement reads "D/S". If it does not, please
contact the International Office immediately.
Do not lose any of these papers. Please contact the International Office if
you have any questions.
Immigration Status
Remember, it is very important to maintain your legal non-immigrant F-1
status. Please ensure that you:
- Maintain a valid (not expired) passport.
- Maintain a valid (not expired) I-20.
- Take a full course-load each term.
- Follow correct procedures if transferring, changing academic goals, or
extending your program of study.
- Work no more than 20 hours per week if you work on campus.
- Do not work off-campus without the required authorization from the
International Office.
- Keep all your immigration documents in a safe place, including your old
I-20 forms. Do NOT discard old copies. Please feel free to come to us with any
questions or concerns you have about your immigration status.
Travel to Canada
Citizens of some countries are required to apply for visitor visas before
entering Canada. The International Office has information on applying for a
Canadian visa, or you may click on the following links:
Canadian visitor visa application information: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html
List of countries whose citizens need visas to travel to Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.html#exemptions
F-1 Visa Applications
A valid F-1 visa is only required to enter the U.S. Once you are within the
U.S. and are maintaining legal status, your visa may expire without consequence
to your immigration status. If you need a new visa, you may either apply for
one when you travel to your home country, or you may make an appointment with
the American Consulate in Montreal and apply for the visa there. The
International Office has information on how to make the appointment and apply
for the visa, or you may click on the following link to access the U.S. State
Department website. http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1260.html#TCN
Additional Notes
Please use the International Office as your on-campus resource for
information concerning your visa status. Do not rely on friends, relations, or
other students for information, as they are often mistaken.
Although the International Office will make every effort to keep you
informed of pertinent CIS regulations, you are ultimately solely responsible
for maintaining legal F-1 status. The results of falling out of legal status,
since the passage of recent new immigration laws, can affect your career and
your life for years to come. Please be careful in all matters concerning your
legal status here as international students.
Our office is more than just a repository for immigration information. We
encourage you to use us as an international cultural and social programming
resource as well. We can also help you develop programming ideas - come see
us!
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