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Reporting Change of U.S. Address to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
All non-immigrants (except those in A or G status), 14 years of age or older, who will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer, are required by law to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 10 days of any changes to their living address in the U.S . The parent or legal guardian of a nonimmigrant child under the age of 14 is responsible for notifying the DHS of the child's change of address. Failure to comply with this regulation is a violation of immigration status that is punishable by fine or imprisonment and/or removal ('deportation'). Please report your change of address promptly to the International Student Office.
Note : The terms address, living address, physical residence and physical address are used interchangeably in the following text and should all be considered to mean the address where you physically reside in the United States.
Full-Time Enrollment
U.S. federal regulations require international students maintain a full-time course of study each academic term. At Cambridge College this is a minimum of eight credits for graduate students and a minimum of twelve credits for undergraduate students. Students cannot take a leave of absence or a reduced course load without permission from the International Student Office. The International Student Office will verify each student's enrollment at Cambridge College each semester. Students' status will be updated each term in SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor and Information System), the government system used to track foreign students and exchange visitors throughout their period of approved stay in the U.S. For more information on maintaining student status, please consult the Student and Exchange Visitor website .
Renewing Your F-1 Visa
Consular Policies and Procedures
You should expect that the visa application and issuance procedures might have changed since you last obtained a visa. Most U.S. Embassy and Consulate Websites offer good information on these procedures, but be aware that websites may not have been updated to reflect recent changes in policies and procedures. The most current information can be obtained by contacting the consular office where you would like to apply for a visa.
Applying in a Country Where You Are Not a Citizen
If you would like to apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate in a country that is not your country of citizenship, you should research the specific visa application requirements. You should also contact that consulate, inform them of your country of citizenship, and ask (1) if they will accept and consider your application, and (2) approximately how long it will take for the visa to be issued, if approved.
It is possible that it will be more difficult, and in some cases perhaps even impossible, to obtain a visa from a U.S. consulate which is not located in your country of citizenship or lawful permanent residence.
Click here to find out how long it will take to get a visa application appointment at a U.S. consulate.
Applying in Canada, Mexico or the Adjacent Islands
A nonimmigrant who applies for a visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate while in Canada, Mexico or (for those in F or J status) the adjacent islands, will not be allowed to take advantage of the Automatic Visa Revalidation provision to return to the U.S. If the visa is denied, the nonimmigrant will be required to travel elsewhere (most likely the home country) to apply for the U.S. visa stamp before returning to the U.S.
Documents
To renew your F-1 visa, you will need to submit the following documents to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate (forms can be downloaded, or obtained from any U.S. consulate):
1. Form DS-156, Application for Nonimmigrant Visa
2. Form DS-157, Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Generally required of all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45. Check with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you are applying for additional requirements.)
3. Form DS-158, Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant
4. Application fee (check with the Consulate for the current fee amount and how it must be paid)
5. One photograph (2 inches square [51 x 51mm], showing full face, without head covering, against a light background)
6. Passport
7. Your I-20 from Cambridge College (see below)
8. Proof of continued enrollment at Cambridge College (see below)
9. Original financial documents proving the availability of sufficient funds (see below)
10. If you have graduated and are participating in post-completion Optional Practical Training, you must show proof that you have a job in the U.S. to which you will return. It is recommended that you provide a letter from your employer verifying that you are currently employed.
11. Documents that demonstrate your “nonimmigrant intent” (i.e., proof that you will return home after your studies)
Preparations before you leave the U.S.
USCIS Form I-20 - You need to request a travel signature from the ISO if you do not already have one, or if you have a travel signature that will be more than a year old at the time you wish to return to the U.S.
Proof of Continued Enrollment - We suggest that you visit the ISO and request a Good Standing Letter that verifies you are a full-time student at Cambridge College. Also, we advise that you contact the Registrar's Office to obtain an official transcript.
Financial Documents - If the documents that prove you have sufficient funds to support your education in the U.S. will be more than twelve months old at the time you apply for a new visa, we suggest that you arrange for new financial documents to be submitted with your visa application. If all or any part of your funding comes from other sources (e.g., family funds, government scholarship, loan), we suggest that you obtain a letter or document verifying the amount and availability of funding, preferably for the semester or academic year when you will return to the U.S. to resume your studies.
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