Current International Students

F-1

Who are the “major players” involved with F-1 student status?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

DHS writes regulations and develops policies to implement the parameters, procedures, conditions, benefits, duties and restrictions of the F-1 category.  Students in F-1 status primarily interact with three Bureaus within DHS:

• USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is responsible for most application and petition adjudications. The nearest USCIS office is in Milwaukee. For more information, check out: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
• ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for SEVIS, immigration investigations, detention, removal, and intelligence.
• CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for immigration inspections at U.S. ports of entry, for the Border Patrol, and for the Customs Service.

DHS Approved U.S. School – Edgewood College

• Each U.S. School designates at least one Designated School Official (DSO). At Edgewood College Sara Friar is the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO).
• As the PDSO, Sara issues and signs Forms I-20, updates SEVIS, and assists in other immigration matters dealing with F-1 students. She also approves or recommends benefits for F-1 students and their families, and educates students and the school about their rights and obligations under F regulations.

The Student – YOU!

• Arguably, you play the most important role in the F-1 student visa process. It is your responsibility to understand and follow the benefits, conditions, duties and restrictions of the F-1 visa category.

F-1 Status Maintenance At-A-Glance

To maintain your F-1 student status:

• Report to CGE to have your SEVIS record registered in a timely fashion.
• Pursue a full course of study at the school listed on your valid I-20 during every academic session except during official school breaks. The only exception to this regulation is an authorized reduced course load.
• Notify CGE within 10 days of a change in your address.
• Fill out the Personal Information Updates (Addresses & Phone Numbers) form online.
• After the CGE updates your SEVIS record, we will route the form to the Registrar’s office on your behalf.
• Make normal progress towards completing your academic program BEFORE the program completion date on your I-20. Apply for an extension BEFORE the program end date if you will not complete your academic program by that date.
• Notify CGE if you change your major.
• Follow employment regulations – you can work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year (40 hours/week during breaks).
• Follow the grace period rules; you can remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days after completion of program or Optional Practical Training. Obey all federal, state, and local laws. Carry a valid passport (one that will not expire in the next 6 months).

J-1

Who are the “major players” involved with J-1 student status?

The Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs

• DOS issues J visas to exchange visitors and their dependents, and creates and administers federal regulations and policies governing the Exchange Visitor Program.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

• ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) manages SEVIS, immigration investigations, detention, removal, and intelligence.
• CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for immigration inspections at U.S. ports of entry, for the Border Patrol, and for the Customs Service.
• Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor – Edgewood College
• Each Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor appoints at least one Responsible Officer (RO) to perform the duties set forth in regulations and to represent the exchange visitor program sponsor. At Edgewood College Sara Friar is the RO.

The Exchange Visitor – YOU!

• Arguably, you play the most important role in the J-1Exchange Visitor Program. It is your responsibility to understand and follow the benefits, conditions, duties and restrictions of the J-1 visa category.

J-1 Status Maintenance At-A-Glance

• Report to CGE to have your SEVIS record validated within 30 days of the start of your program.
• Carry a valid DS-2019 and I-94 marked D/S, which stands for “duration of status.” Carry a valid passport (one that will not expire in the next 6 months).
• Engage in appropriate activities according to your exchange visitor category. For example, a student is expected to be a full-time student.
• Seek authorization from CGE before starting employment.
• Enroll in the required health insurance throughout your entire program.
• Notify CGE within 10 days of a change in your address.
• Fill out the International Student  Change of Address/ Name Form and submit it to the CGE.
• After the CGE updates your SEVIS record, we will route the form to the Registrar’s office on your behalf.
• Failure to maintain the terms and conditions of your non-immigrant status is a ground for removal from the United States (deportation) under INA § 237(a)(1)(C)(i).

Form I-94 is the Department of Homeland Security’s Arrival/Departure Record for international students.  Upon admission to the United States, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will provide an admission stamp in your passport and will create an electronic record of both your arrival and departure from the country.  You should check your I-94 record information each time you enter and depart the U.S. Here are instructions for how to access your I-94 record:

1. Go to http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94-instructions
2. Click “Get I-94 Number Now” on the upper right side of the page.
3. Click “Get Most Recent I-94.”
4. Read the Department of Homeland Security Terms of Service.
5. Agree to terms, click “I Acknowledge and Agree.”
6. Fill in your information.
7. Make sure that all information is correct (spelling of name, visa type, etc.). In particular check the “Admit Until Date” to verify that it says D/S, which stands for duration of status.

*If your “Admit Until Date” is NOT D/S contact Sara Liang immediately.

If you travel abroad at any time during your program, you should repeat this process to ensure you are always admitted to the U.S. in the correct status and with the D/S notation.

To maintain your F-1 or J-1 visa status, anytime you change your address, you must complete this form within 10 days of moving.

This is an online form that will be automatically submitted to the Center for Global Education (for updating SEVIS) and Edgewood College.  You do not need to update any other office at the College.

Personal Information Update Form

1. You will need to log-in to the site using your Edgewood username and password.

2. Click on the circle/check mark next to your last name and then click on “Edit” in the upper left corner of the screen.

3. Update any information that needs to be updated.

4. Click “Save” to submit the form.

Extend Your Program

A student with an F-1/J-1 visa who is currently maintaining status and making normal progress toward completing his or her educational objective, but who is unable to complete his or her course of study by the program end date on the Form I-20/DS-2019, must apply for a program extension.

• Submit an Application for Extension of I-20/DS-2019 to the Center for Global Education at least two weeks prior to the program end date listed on your current I-20/DS-2019.  We recommend you start this process 3 months prior to the end date on your document. * You cannot extend your I-20 or DS-2019 once it expires. *
  • ISEP exchange students must contact their program sponsor for information on program extensions.
• Delays caused by academic probation/suspension are NOT acceptable reasons for program extensions.
• The maximum amount of time that you can extend your program is 12 months from the current program end date listed on your I-20. If you will need more than a 12-month extension to complete your program, you will need to submit two extension applications: one now and another in about 9 months.

Shorten Your Program

If you will finish your academic program before the end date listed on your current I-20 or DS-2019, you should submit an Application to Shorten Program to the Center for Global Education at least two months before you complete your program.  When the application is approved, Sara will print a new I-20 or DS-2019 for you with updated program dates.

If you plan to travel to a country other than your home country, make sure you have the necessary documents to enter the other country. Contact the consulate of that country in order to get information about visas and entry requirements documents.

If your U.S. student visa is expired or if you changed status while in the US, you will need to obtain a new visa at the US Embassy/Consulate in your country. Take with you all necessary documentation and allow plenty of time in your travel plans for obtaining the visa.

• U.S. Visa Resources: U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world
• U.S. Department of State’s Student Visa webpage

Prior to traveling outside of the U.S., Sara Friar, Co-Director of the Center for Global Education, needs to sign page 3 of your I-20 or page 1 of your DS-2019. This signature confirms to the inspectors at the border (when you re-enter the U.S.) that you have, in fact, been a student at Edgewood and are expected to return.
Follow the steps below no earlier than a month and no later than a week before your planned departure to request a signature on your I-20/DS-2019:

1. Register for at least 12 undergraduate credits or 6 graduate credits for the upcoming semester (this is important if you are traveling between semesters).
2.  Fill out the International Student Endorsement Request Form.
3. Print a copy of your class schedule for the upcoming semester OR complete an Enrollment Verification Request/Release form from the Registrar’s Office (Check the line “Verification of upcoming semester registration”).
4. Bring your I-20/DS-2019, the International Student Endorsement Request, and a copy of your class schedule for the upcoming semester (or for the current semester if you are traveling mid-semester).
5. Sara will review your request and sign your I-20/DS-2019. You can pick up your signed I-20/DS-2019 in the CGE within two business days.

To re-enter the United States you must travel with:

• A valid passport
• A valid F-1 or J-1 visa
• Your original I-20 or DS-2019 from Edgewood College with a valid travel signature
• For students on post-completion OPT:
  You should be returning the U.S. to resume employment and have a valid Employment Authorization Document with you.

It is recommended that you also travel with: 

• Sara’s contact information
• Current financial support documents
• Copy of your class schedule for the upcoming semeste
• I-90I SEVIS fees receipt
• For students on OPT and AT:
  A letter from your employer verifying employment status.

Form I-94:
Students who arrive to the U.S. at an air or sea port of entry will be issued an electronic Form I-94 record to document your official arrival and departure in the U.S.
It is a good practice to print your I-94 record after each entry to the U.S., both to check the accuracy of the record as well as to preserve the record of that particular arrival.

Travel to Canada, Mexico or one of the islands adjacent to the U.S. (except Cuba):
If you are in valid F-1 status, have a valid I-20, and a valid unexpired Form I-94, you can usually revalidate an expired visa automatically when returning from a visit of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the U.S. (other than Cuba).

*Before traveling, review the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for current entry requirements for international visitors.

F-1 students may transfer from one DHS approved school to another. Basic eligibility requirements include:

• Maintenance of F-1 status while at Edgewood
• Admission to another DHS-approved school and eligibility to receive an I-20 from the transfer-in school
• You must begin your studies at the transfer-in school within 5 months of the end of the last semester completed at Edgewood or the release date set by CGE, whichever date is earlier.

If you choose to transfer to another DHS approved school before you complete your program at Edgewood, you need to do the following:

• Talk with your academic advisor about your plans to transfer.
• Complete the Edgewood College Release of SEVIS Record form.
• If you have registered for classes at Edgewood for the upcoming semester, submit the Edgewood College Term Withdrawal form to Edgewood Central.
• Check with Edgewood Central to make sure you do not have any remaining bills to pay.
• If you live on campus, contact the Office of Residence Life to discuss your housing contract.
• If you have an on-campus job, talk to your supervisor about your plans to transfer. You must stop working at Edgewood when your SEVIS record is transferred to your new school.

If you have recently graduated from Edgewood, you are eligible to transfer to another DHS approved school until the end of your 60-day grace period.

• You must complete the Edgewood College Release of SEVIS Record form and submit it to CGE before the end of the 60-day grace period.

If you are on OPT, you are eligible to transfer to another DHS approved school until the end of your 60-day grace period after your EAD expires.

• You must complete the Edgewood College Release of SEVIS Record form and submit it to CGE before the end of the 60-day grace period. On the day that Edgewood releases your SEVIS record to the transfer-in institution, your OPT ends and you must stop working.

As you navigate the portals listed below, you will notice that some links will require you to enter your network username and password. If you have forgotten your username and password, please contact the Technology Assistance Center at technology-assistance@edgewood.edu or at 608-663-6900.

Edgewood Email
You should check your Edgewood email account on a very regular basis. CGE, along with other campus offices and professors, will use this account as a primary source of contact. You can access your account by using the campus Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA) system via any web browser. A link to Microsoft OWA can be found on Edgewood Express. Instructions for using campus email are available from the Technology Assistance Center and are also posted online at the Technology Assistance Center.

Center for Global Education Website
You can find the important information for students with F-1 and J-1 visas, the most recent International Student Newsletter, and a wide variety of information about the Center for Global Education on the CGE website.

Edgewood Express
You can access campus announcements and events, manage your student account (tuition payments), and register for classes on Edgewood Express. On the Student Events Calendar, all international students should subscribe to the Global Education Calendar by clicking on the box next to “Global Education Calendar” in the “subscriptions” section. By subscribing to this calendar, you will be able to see events sponsored by the CGE.

International Student Newsletter
Each month CGE will email all international students (to your Edgewood email account) an international student newsletter with important announcements and reminders. You can also find a copy of the current newsletter on the CGE website and CGE Facebook page. All international students are expected to read the newsletter monthly.

Mail Center:
The Mail Center is located in 126A DeRicci Hall and can handle all of your mailing needs. You can purchase stamps and send and receive packages both domestically and internationally. Please be sure to have all correspondence and packages include your complete first and last name, and the address: 1000 Edgewood College Drive, Madison WI 53711. You will be emailed when an item arrives for you. Please pick up your item at your earliest convenience. The Mail Center hours are 9:00am – 4:00pm.

As non-residents of the U.S., F-1 and J-1 international students are legally required to file tax forms with the U.S. government for every year that you are physically present in the U.S.  Even if you did not work or receive income in the U.S., you are still required to submit a Form 8843.

The Center for Global Education provides access to Sprintax for all F-1 and J-1 students.  Sprintax is an online non-resident tax preparation system that helps international students prepare federal and state taxes.  In February of each year, the Center for Global Education will send students information about how to access FREE or DISCOUNTED codes for Sprintax.

Edgewood College employees, including Center for Global Education staff, DO NOT provide individual assistance or advice to students about their tax returns.

How do I get my textbooks?

Go online to the Edgewood College Bookstore to order your books, or go to the bookstore located at 121 De Ricci Hall. You can also compare Edgewood College Bookstore prices with outside venders by using the comparison site listed below. Textbooks will be available for purchase approximately 3 weeks before each semester begins.

What do I need to purchase my books?

To make finding the textbooks you need as simple as possible, bring your student ID and class schedule to the Bookstore along with either cash or credit/debit card to purchase your books.

Why should I go to this comparison shopping site?

This site gives you access to online book retailers that sell and rent textbooks (Amazon, Chegg.com, Half.com etc.). It compares the EDGEWOOD COLLEGE BOOKSTORE prices side by side with the online retailers so you can see what the best price is for the textbook you want to purchase. If you decide to purchase from an online retailer or from the bookstore you will be able to do so from this one site simply by clicking on the retailer that offers the best price. There is no need to go from site to site trying to scope out the best price—this website does that for you. Using the Edgewood College Bookstore Comparison Shopping site will save you time and money.

Should I rent or buy my books?

Rental is almost always the most affordable option for obtaining your textbooks. By going to Verba Compare you will be able to see what books Edgewood has for rent and compare their rental prices to other on-line retailers who rent textbooks.

Can I sell my books back at the end of the semester?

The Edgewood College Bookstore offers textbook buyback at the end of the first and second semesters during finals week. This is a great option for books you can’t rent or decided not to rent.

Is there a problem with buying my textbooks from online retailers?

There can be. Online retailers don’t guarantee supplementary materials like access codes that you might need for your course. In addition, you need to wait to get the book shipped to you and this can be problematic with Amazon Marketplace orders. Also, books do change from time to time so what you order on-line might not end up being the correct book for the class you are taking. If you purchase the book from the Edgewood College Bookstore you will be able to return the book for a full refund if the book changes for any reason. Please understand that the bookstore cannot accept returns from online retailers.

Can I return the book to the Edgewood College Bookstore if I buy or rent a textbook and then drop the class or change my schedule?

You may return any book for any reason to the bookstore up to a week after classes begin. Books must be in new condition and have no writing, bent corners or show any signs of wear.

The Edgewood College Bookstore website has a complete listing of all textbooks, including ones that can be rented in the store. In addition, you can purchase Edgewood clothing or Insignia items directly from the website. Remember, the Edgewood College Bookstore is here to help you get the materials you need at the best prices possible. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit the Store at 121 DeRicci Hall or call 608-663-2213.

The Center for Global Education will publish an International Student Newsletter each month that contains helpful reminders and important information for students with F-1 and J-1 visas. Students are expected to read this newsletter each month.

Issues

May 2021

April 2021

March 2021

February 2021

January 2021