This handout has been prepared by the International Students Office (ISO) to summarize some of the important rights and responsibilities you have as an F-1 student in relation to United States government immigration regulations. It also identifies some of the situations for which you should seek assistance from the ISO. This handout is meant as a guide; however, it is your responsibility to familiarize and be aware of necessary procedures of remaining in your non-immigrant status. The ISO staff is pleased to offer additional information, as well as counseling and assistance, to help you with any matter related to your immigration status. This handout outlines procedures for operating within the web-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) which was implemented on January 30, 2003. Please note that regulations and procedures continue to change. The ISO will inform you of substantial changes via electronic communication or on the ISO website, but we strongly advise you to contact the ISO any time you have a question or any time you intend to travel and reenter the United States.
Immigration Acronyms You Should Know
ISO - International Students Office SEVIS - Student and Exchange Visitor Information System: a tracking system for F-1 and J-1 students, exchange visitors and their F-2 and J-2 dependents DHS - Department of Homeland Security: an office of the U.S. government that houses, among other entities, the three immigration-related departments (USCIS, ICE and CBP) USCIS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: oversees SEVIS and charged with enforcement of immigration-related infractions ICE - Immigration and Customs Enforcement: oversees SEVIS and charged with enforcement of immigration-related infractions CBP - Customs and Border Protection: operates U.S. ports of entry DOS - Department of State: office of the U.S. government that oversees U.S. embassies and consulates abroad
Immigration Documents
The following documents are very important and must be valid at all times in order for you to maintain lawful F-1 status:
PASSPORT (should be valid for a minimum of 6 months into the future)
Form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (F-1) Status)
Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (white card usually stapled in passport)
Please keep your original documents in a safe place. We recommend that you make photocopies of these documents and store them in a location separate from the actual documents. If any of these documents are damaged, lost or stolen, you must have them replaced as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind that the F-1 visa stamp in your passport does not need to be valid at all times; but it must be valid when you reenter the United States after traveling outside the country. You should contact the ISO if you have any questions about the documents or if you need to have them replaced. Please bring all of these documents with you each time you visit the ISO.
SEVIS - Electronic Reporting System
The USCIS, ICE, and CBP utilize an electronic reporting system called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to keep track of international students and exchange visitors. All U.S. schools are required to use this system to report information on F-1 students and their F-2 dependents through secure, encrypted internet transmissions.
Cambridge College reports to the government only the information required by federal law. This includes all the information on your Form I-20 and information on 'reportable events' that affect your immigrant status.
These events include but are not limited to:
1. Registration/enrollment each school term
2. Leaves of absence, suspensions and withdrawals from school
3. Authorized and unauthorized drops below a 'full course of study', as defined by federal regulations
4. Resumption of a 'full course of study' after an authorized drop
5. Employment off-campus
6. F-2 dependent information
7. U.S. residential address changes
8. Completion/termination of studies
9. Changes in major, program of study, degree, completion date, etc.
10. School or program transfer
Since SEVIS is an electronic reporting system, it is very important that your information on record at the ISO, and in the Cambridge College Registrar's Office, be completely up-to-date at all times. Your name on your academic record at Cambridge College must match the spelling of your name as it appears on your passport. The SEVIS system will report information about your status from the ISO's records to the DHS. Failure to maintain accurate records with Cambridge College may result in technical violations of your status. If you fall out of status, and your violation is reported to the DHS, your F-1 status could be immediately invalidated and you may lose all F-1 status benefits.
When to Contact the ISO
To ensure that you maintain lawful immigration status, you must contact the ISO if any of the following events occurs:
If there is a change to your legal name, U.S. address, country of citizenship, immigration status, major, program of study, level of education, expected date of completion, information on F-2 dependents, or source of funding.
If you intend to travel outside the U.S. and need a travel signature from an ISO staff member on your Form I-20 or if you will apply for a new visa before reentering the U.S.
Any time you or your F-2 dependents obtain a new Form I-94 upon reentering the U.S.
If you lose any of your immigration documents, or if they are stolen.
If you intend to change your immigration status.
If you intend to take a leave of absence or transfer to another school.
If you need to request an extension of your Form I-20; contact the ISO before the Form I-20 expires.
If you are seeking prior authorization to drop below full-time study or withdraw from Cambridge College.
If you want to obtain on-campus work authorization, participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) (
7), or apply for off-campus work authorization.
If you want to have your dependent spouse and/or children join you in F-2 status.
If you are facing charges for any felony or misdemeanor criminal act.
If you need to apply for a U.S. Social Security Number.
Cambridge College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The College and all its degree programs are authorized by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. The College is authorized to operate and offer selected degree programs in their states by the California Bureau for Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education, the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission, the Council on Higher Education of Puerto Rico, and the Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Cambridge College is authorized for operation as a postsecondary education institute by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission in the state of Tennessee.
