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International Student Regulations

According to federal immigration regulations, it is your responsibility to comply with all conditions of your immigration status during your time in the United States. Violating one of the following terms could cause you to fall out of status with Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), lose your F-1 student benefits, and face deportation from the US. The best way to make sure you are in status is to consult with the International Admissions Evaluator before you make any changes to your circumstances.

I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility)

Your I-20 is issued by your school and is the document that allows you to apply for a F-1 student visa. You must present the I-20 each time you enter and leave the US. Your I-20 must be valid at all times; you will need to request a new one before it expires. Do not ever discard old I-20’s. Keep them in a safe place for your records.

Visa

The visa is the stamp or sticker the US consulate placed in your passport. Student visas are usually valid for several years. The expiration date on your visa does not affect your status in the US. If your visa expires, you can legally remain in the US as long as you are otherwise maintaining status. If you need to travel outside the US, however, and your visa has expired, you will have to apply for a new visa before you can re-enter the US.

Passport

Your passport must be valid at all times for 6 months into the future. This means that 6 months before the expiration date on your passport, you must renew it with the consulate in your country. See the US State Department website for the location of all foreign consulates, http://www.state.gov/misc/10125.htm

Duration of Status

D/S is stamped in your passport when you arrive in the US and stands for duration of status. You are legally allowed to remain in the US for the duration of your studies or while you are engaging in authorized practical training after the completion of your studies. You are also allowed 60 days to depart the country following the completion of your studies or practical training.

Full Time Requirements

International students are required by CIS to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits each term. You are allowed to take summer term as a vacation term. There are a few exceptions to the full-time requirement; however, the International Admissions Evaluator must approve all exceptions before you enroll in less than 12 credits. You may be eligible to take less than 12 credits in the following situations:

A valid academic reason, as approved by the International Admissions Evaluator
A documented medical condition
If you are in the final term of your program and need less than 12 credits to graduate

Failure to enroll in at least 12 credits or failure to get approval before dropping classes will cause you to fall out of status with immigrations and lose your F-1 student benefits.

Payment of Tuition

Tuition payment is due the first day of class every term. International students are required to pay their tuition in full by the end of the second week of the term or they will be dropped from their classes.

Program Extension

If you have been making normal progress toward your degree, but are unable to complete it before your I-20 expires (the expiration date is item 5 on the I-20), you may apply for a program extension. You must apply before your I-20 expires and you must have a valid reason such as a change of major. Failing classes is not considered a valid reason to get an extension.

Transfer

You can transfer to another accredited US college or university at anytime during your studies. If you are transferring to another school, you must apply to the other school as well as contact the International Admissions Evaluator at MHCC of your intent to transfer.

Optional Practical Training

Upon the completion of your degree, you are eligible to work for one year in the field of your study. This year of work is called optional practical training (OPT) and must be approved by CIS before you begin work. You must apply for OPT prior to finals week of your last term. After completing a year of practical training, you have 60 days to either return to your home country or transfer to a four-year school to begin your Bachelor’s degree.

Change of Address

You are required by law to notify CIS when you move. Please give your new address to the International Admissions Evaluator, who will update your SEVIS record for CIS, as well as your MHCC student record. You will also want to notify the post office of your new address, http://www.usps.com/ as wells as the Department of Motor Vehicles if you have a driver’s license, http://www.odot.state.or.us/dmv/

Employment

International students are permitted to work on-campus 20 hours a week with the approval of the International Admissions Evaluator. During vacations, students are permitted to work on-campus full-time.

Off-campus employment must be approved by the CIS, prior to beginning employment. It is very difficult to get approval, so please do not plan on working off-campus as a means to supplement your income. Any work performed without prior approval will cause you to fall out of status and jeopardize your stay in the US.