Immigration Documents
Immigration regulations and processes are constantly changing. Make sure that you contact the International Student Office regularly to find out about these changes.

Immigration documents for Foreign Nationals include the following:

I-20
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) document is mailed to your home country. The I-20 is taken to an American Consulate to obtain a student visa. Dates of attendance and financial information are included on the I-20. Carefully read page two of the I-20 and sign and date pages one and three. Important: If you plan to travel outside of the United States, even to Canada or Mexico, the International Student Adviser must sign the back of your I-20 form in order for you to re-enter the United States. The signature is valid for 6 months.

Visa
When you take the I-20 to the American Consulate you receive a student visa stamp, most likely an F-1 visa in your passport. The visa has an issue date and expiration date. You must have a valid visa to enter the United States.

Passport
Each time you enter the U.S., your passport must be valid for at least 6 months.  It is important to remember your expiration dates on important documents (such as your passport) before you begin any major steps that can take extended time to complete, such as applying for a visa or entering a country. Remember to renew early--your passport must be valid at all times!  Please note:  You may renew your passport in the U.S.

I-94 Card
Typically this small white card is stapled to your passport by an immigration official when you arrive in the U.S. This card lists your name, visa type, and departure number. This card is sometimes referred to as the Arrival and Departure Card.

Expiration dates are very important on all immigration documents. Please be aware of when your documents expire. Some documents take time and money to renew. Do not get caught at a border because documents have expired.

Please contact the International Student Adviser’s Office should you have any questions regarding your immigration status. It is usually in your best interest to contact the International Student Adviser’s Office before contacting the Department for Homeland Security (DHS). The International Student Office can often answer your questions.

Warning: Do not rely on your friends or colleagues for advice regarding your immigration status or employment. Each individual case, depending on your immigration history and your future plans, may need special treatment. Therefore, asking how someone else accomplished a particular immigration task may not help in your situation.