To facilitate and ease your academic endeavor at South Baylo University, the information provided herein is very helpful to you as International Students.

IMMIGRATION TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet-based system that collects, maintains and tracks information on International Students on F-1 and J-1 status.
  
• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) includes:
  • US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
  • US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
  • US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
  
  
• Do not confuse Visa with the I-20 as a Visa is a permit to enter the United States. A number of entries (1, 2, M) is indicated and has an expiration date. A Visa can expire and you may stay in the US as long as your passport and I-20 are valid and you are a full-time student. A Visa is important when you want to enter or re-enter the US and it is not related to SBU.
  

MAINTAINING FULL-TIME STATUS

To maintain full-time status you must:

• Be a full time student by carrying a minimum of 12 units each quarter for the Master's degree program. However, the Time Limitation for Graduation cannot be less than 12 quarters (3 calendar years) or more than 24 quarters (6) calendar years. In the final quarter, need only to take remaining units.
  
• Hold a valid, current passport and valid I-20 form. Re-issuance of I-20 form requires a $20.00 fee.
  
• Never work without proper authorization from the International Student Advisor (ISA).
  

MAINTAINING LEGAL STATUS

To maintain legal status you:

• Are responsible for maintaining your F-1 status and a valid passport. Do not let your I-20 expire while you are still a student at SBU.
  
• Must report all address changes to the ISA within 10 days of the move. The ISA will enter the data into SEVIS as required by law.
  
• Must read and be familiar with the contents of the SBU Student Manual issued to you at time of enrollment or Orientation.
  

REDUCED COURSE LOAD

If you intend to withdraw from a class later in the quarter, you should discuss this with the ISA first and then fill-out an Add/Drop Form for submission to the Language Program Student Advisor. If not, any changes in your class enrollment must be completed by the Add/Drop Date (Wednesday of each quarter). A reduced course load can be for:

• Academic difficulty
  
• Medical Reasons (with submission of appropriate support documents)
  
• Final (terminal) quarter
  

TRANSFER PROCEDURES

After applying for transfer to a new college/university (B college), while being a student and maintaining status with a current school (A), the following must be applied:

• A student who applied for transfer to a college (B) should received acceptance to college (B) prior to release of his/her I-20 from school (A) to college (B). The transferring student should bring the Transfer Eligibility (TE) Form , the letter of admission/acceptance to college (B) to the International Student Advisor (ISA) of school (A) so that the ISA can fill-out the TE Form and set-up a release date for the student's I-20. The transferring student must submit the TE Form to the ISA of college (B) who will issue a new I-20 to the transferring student.
  
• A student who has completed a program from a school (A) will have 60 days to transfer to college (B). A new I-20 must be issued withing a 60-day period and the new program at college (B) will have to start within 5 months after the new I-20 release date.
  
• A student who did not complete a program and choose to withdraw from a school (A) to transfer to college (B) will be classified as a Withdrawal student (or a student on a Withdrawal status). The student has 15 days to transfer to college (B) so that a new I-20 can be issued by the college (B) within the 15 days period.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

In planning for a Leave of Absence (LOA), you must consult with the ISA and complete necessary forms before the LOA. A Leave of Absence (LOA) can be:

• Leave of Absence - Overseas or vacation
  
• Medical Leave of Absence - 12 months maximum; once per degree program.
  

The ISA must receive a LOA form no later than the Add/Drop date or you may jeopardize your student status.

ON CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT FOR STUDENTS IN F-1 STATUS

Students in F-1 status may not work off-campus during the first academic year. After have been in F-1 status for one academic year and be full-time students in good academic standing, they should request an on-campus work letter from the ISA prior to working, On-Campus employment, if available, is dependent on:

• During School year: Maximum 20 hours per week; full-time during quarter breaks.
  
• Being able to handle effectively work and a full-time academic load.
  
• Teaching Assistants or tutors can get paid prior to SSN issuance, but they must provide card to the Personnel office as soon as received. Others student workers must have SSN before placing them on the payroll.
  
• F-2 dependents are never eligible to work.
  

APPLICATION FOR A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

The Social Security Card and number are issued by SSA for employment purposes only. It is used by other agencies/organizations such as DMV, DWP, cell phone vendors, credit cards, landlords, health insurance, opening a bank account. To secure a SS card and number the following steps must be followed:

• Complete a Social Security number Letter Request form from the ISA
  
• Provide a job offer letter
  
• Provide a copy of the passport (Picture Page)
  
• Provide copy of I-94 card
  
• Provide printout of registration for current quarter
  
• Take all the above to the Social security office nearby at 300 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 310, Anaheim, CA 92805, 12912 Brookhurst Street, Suite 130, Garden Grove Ave., CA 92840 or 3836 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010. Other offices are located in Brea, Laguna Nigel, Newport Beach, Santa Ana, Glendora, Downey, Ontario, Huntington Beach, Lakewood, etc.
  
• It takes up to 10 business days to secure a Social Security number
  

Do not lose your SS card as proof of employment will be necessary to secure a replacement.

FEDERAL TAXES AND FORM 8843

• F-1 students must file Federal Tax forms every year they are in the US regardless of whether they worked or not. The deadline is April 15.
  
• All students (and their spouse and dependents), who were admitted to the US on an F, J, M or Q Visa must file FORM 8843, even if there no US earned income.
  
• If you had no US source income, FORM 8843 is the only form you file. If you had US source income, you must attach FORM 8843 to your 1040NR-EZ or 1040NR form. Otherwise, it should be sent by itself.
  

US bank interest received by nonresidents is not considered US source income. So if your only income in US was interest earned by your US Bank account, you may still use only FORM 8843.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)

To apply for OPT, please consult the ISA.

• OPT is the opportunity for students in F-1 status to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus.
  
• OPT can be used before or after graduation for a period of up to 12 months full-time.
  
• OPT must be authorized by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
  
• Students need to be in F-1 status one academic year to apply
  
• Need Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card - A fee of $180.00 is required and payable to the CIS.
  

OPTIONAL POST-COMPLETION PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPCPT)

• Optional Post-completion practical training is a CIS provision which allows you to be employed in the United States, within your area of study after completion of your studies.
  
• Optional "post completion" practical training employment is authorized by CIS when it issues the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a processing fee of $180.00 if:
  
  • An application is submitted before completion of the course of study (120 days).
    
  • The applicant (student) has been in valid F-1 status for one academic year.
    
  • The intended employment is directly related to the student's field of study.
    
  • And the job is commensurate (appropriate) with the student's educational level.
    
  • However, the student does not have to have a job in order to apply.

• To apply for OPCPT, you must submit your application to CIS before your graduation date. An application may be accepted as early as 120 days before your graduation date. After your completion date is past, you are no longer eligible to apply for OPCPT .
  
• Completed Form I-538, Certification by ISA. Complete all of Section A on Form I-538. The ISA will complete Section B. Section A # 4: the "date first granted F-1 or M-1 status" is the date that you first arrived in the U.S. in F status. Section A # 7: "describe the proposed employment" - describe the type of employment (in your field of study) you have found or expect to find. Section A # 7: the "beginning date" is the day of completion of studies, OR any other date within 60 days after the graduation date. The "ending date" will be up to 12 months from the date of completion of studies but not later than 14 months after the date of graduation.
  

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING (CPT)

To apply for CPT, please consult the ISA.

• CPT is an employment option available to F-1 students where the practical training (employment) is considered to be a mandatory or integral part of the OM doctoral academic program.
  
• According to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship, cooperative education job, a practicum, or another work experience that is either required for a degree (as defined in the catalog) or for which academic credit is awarded. The job offer must be related to the field of study.
  
• There is no limitation upon the length of time you may participate in full-time CPT, however if you participate in twelve months or more of CPT, you will not be eligible for post-completion practical training.
  
• CPT is authorized by the ISA
  
• Notification must be sent to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)
  
• Students must have been in a full-time status and be in F-1 status for one academic year prior to application.
  
• The ISA office may offer workshops on CPT.
  

Approved by Management Council: 7/19/06

Last modified on July 30 2007.