International Students International Students in F-1 and J-1 Visa Categoriesin F-1 and J-1 Visa Categories

• How does an international student How does an international student come to UCSB?come to UCSB?

• They first have to apply for admission They first have to apply for admission as an undergraduate to UC or graduate as an undergraduate to UC or graduate to a UCSB Department.to a UCSB Department.

• Once a student is admitted, OISS sends Once a student is admitted, OISS sends either an I-20 form or DS-2019 form that either an I-20 form or DS-2019 form that a student presents at a US Consulate to a student presents at a US Consulate to apply for a visa.apply for a visa.

What is F-1 visa status?

• F-1 is non-immigrant status• F-1 visa is issued for someone to

pursue an educational objective that is privately funded and not part of an official government exchange program or government sponsorship.

• F-1 status allows for a temporary stay in the US until the stated academic program is completed.

What’s the difference between an What’s the difference between an F-1 visa and an I-20 form???F-1 visa and an I-20 form???

• A visa is stamped in a A visa is stamped in a passport and allows the passport and allows the student to enter the US student to enter the US during the period of time during the period of time indicated on the visa.indicated on the visa.

• An I-20 form allows the An I-20 form allows the recipient to study at recipient to study at UCSB for the duration of UCSB for the duration of an academic program an academic program (i.e. 5 years for (i.e. 5 years for undergraduates).undergraduates).

• THE END DATE ON THE THE END DATE ON THE VISA DOES NOT MEAN VISA DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE HOLDER HAS THAT THE HOLDER HAS TO LEAVE THE U.S. AT TO LEAVE THE U.S. AT THAT TIME– ONLY WHEN THAT TIME– ONLY WHEN THE I-20 FORM EXPIRES THE I-20 FORM EXPIRES AT THE COMPLETION OF AT THE COMPLETION OF AN ACADEMIC AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM!!!PROGRAM!!!

What is J-1 visa status?What is J-1 visa status?

• J-1 visa holders are part of an official J-1 visa holders are part of an official exchange program like the UCSB EAP or exchange program like the UCSB EAP or they are officially sponsored by the US they are officially sponsored by the US government (i.e. Fulbright fellows) or their government (i.e. Fulbright fellows) or their own government.own government.

• J-1 visa holders can be in degree granting J-1 visa holders can be in degree granting programs or not. They can be Students or programs or not. They can be Students or Visiting Scholars.Visiting Scholars.

• J-1 visa holders usually have an obligation to J-1 visa holders usually have an obligation to return to their home countries at the end of return to their home countries at the end of their program for a period of 2 years before their program for a period of 2 years before entering the US again.entering the US again.

Is UCSBIs UCSBan immigration policing agency?an immigration policing agency?

NO, NO, NO!!!NO, NO, NO!!!• The UCSB Office of International Students The UCSB Office of International Students

and Scholars has been authorized by the US and Scholars has been authorized by the US government to issue I-20 forms, DS-2019 government to issue I-20 forms, DS-2019 forms and other documents that assist forms and other documents that assist students and scholars in obtaining visas to students and scholars in obtaining visas to enter the U.S.enter the U.S.

UCSB OFFICE OF UCSB OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

AND SCHOLARSAND SCHOLARS

• OISS is here to facilitate the academic mission of OISS is here to facilitate the academic mission of UCSB in the area of international education and UCSB in the area of international education and exchange.exchange.

• OISS views its primary task as one of advocacy for OISS views its primary task as one of advocacy for our international students and colleagues in helping our international students and colleagues in helping them navigate the complex and often confusing US them navigate the complex and often confusing US immigration regulations so that they can have a immigration regulations so that they can have a productive and satisfying scholarly experience at productive and satisfying scholarly experience at UCSB.UCSB.

What’s so complex about theWhat’s so complex about theUS government?US government?

• What does an international student have to What does an international student have to negotiate?negotiate?

• How can we possibly help them through the How can we possibly help them through the process?process?

Entry to the US begins with Entry to the US begins with the Department of Statethe Department of State

• The State The State Dept. Dept. oversees US oversees US embassies embassies and and consulates consulates abroad that abroad that issue visas to issue visas to students and students and scholars.scholars.

Everything becomes more Everything becomes more complex after 9/11complex after 9/11

• Immigration services Immigration services become part of new become part of new Dept. of Homeland Dept. of Homeland Security.Security.

• Immigration regulations Immigration regulations become more become more restrictive.restrictive.

• US academic US academic institutions are now institutions are now required to register required to register international students international students through an electronic through an electronic reporting system.reporting system.

IImmigration & mmigration & CCustoms ustoms

EEnforcementnforcement• ICE becomes the

immigration policing arm of Homeland Security

• Some students can be specially registered at the port of entry to the US and obligated to periodically report to ICE in Ventura

What is SEVIS????What is SEVIS????

• SEVIS is the electronic reporting system that SEVIS is the electronic reporting system that tracks international students from the time tracks international students from the time they apply for a visa until they complete their they apply for a visa until they complete their academic program and leave the US.academic program and leave the US.

• International students have to pay a SEVIS International students have to pay a SEVIS fee. It will go up to $200 on October 1, 2008.fee. It will go up to $200 on October 1, 2008.

Why should I care about SEVIS?Why should I care about SEVIS?

• OISS needs accurate information from OISS needs accurate information from departments to issue I-20 and DS 2019 forms, departments to issue I-20 and DS 2019 forms, keep students in status, and process internship keep students in status, and process internship and employment requests that are allowed for and employment requests that are allowed for both F-1 and J-1 visa holders.both F-1 and J-1 visa holders.

• All this is reported by OISS through SEVIS! This All this is reported by OISS through SEVIS! This enables students to exercise their full rights and enables students to exercise their full rights and options under current US immigration options under current US immigration regulations.regulations.

How do F-1 and J-1 visa holders How do F-1 and J-1 visa holders stay in good status?stay in good status?

• They must be enrolled full-time – undergraduates They must be enrolled full-time – undergraduates must take at least 12 units and graduates 8 units.must take at least 12 units and graduates 8 units.

• Exceptions can be made for academic difficulties, Exceptions can be made for academic difficulties, medical reasons, or if it is a student’s last quarter.medical reasons, or if it is a student’s last quarter.

• Students must be making normal progress towards Students must be making normal progress towards their degree objective.their degree objective.

• Students must have a valid unexpired passport.Students must have a valid unexpired passport.• Students can only be engaged in authorized Students can only be engaged in authorized

employment.employment.• Students cannot remain in the US beyond the date Students cannot remain in the US beyond the date

entered on their I-20 or DS 2019 forms.entered on their I-20 or DS 2019 forms.

What challenges do our What challenges do our international students face?international students face?

US Embassy in BeijingUS Embassy in Beijing

• Long waits for appointmentsLong waits for appointments• Long waits on the day of the visa Long waits on the day of the visa

interviewinterview• Unfriendly embassy staffUnfriendly embassy staff• Long delays for visa issuanceLong delays for visa issuance• Arbitrary denials that cannot be Arbitrary denials that cannot be

appealedappealed• High visa and SEVIS fees that are an High visa and SEVIS fees that are an

economic burden to familieseconomic burden to families

What happens upon arrival in the What happens upon arrival in the US?US?

• Passport ControlPassport Control• Finger printingFinger printing• QuestioningQuestioning• Some students or scholars can be put Some students or scholars can be put

on a watch list, specially registered, on a watch list, specially registered, and be obligated to periodically report and be obligated to periodically report to ICE.to ICE.

• Missing your connecting flight to LA or Missing your connecting flight to LA or Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara

What happens when you have What happens when you have reached the promised land?reached the promised land?

• The food is strange and it’s too expensiveThe food is strange and it’s too expensive• There is no affordable housingThere is no affordable housing• There is no affordable housingThere is no affordable housing• There is no affordable housing!There is no affordable housing!• Everyone speaks too fastEveryone speaks too fast

WHAT CAN WE WHAT CAN WE DO TO DO TO

HELP?????HELP?????

CONTACT OISS AT ext. 2929CONTACT OISS AT ext. 2929

• We can handle any immigration issue or We can handle any immigration issue or emergencyemergency

• We can advise you on the legal requirements We can advise you on the legal requirements for a student to remain in statusfor a student to remain in status

• We can help with cultural adaptation issuesWe can help with cultural adaptation issues• We sponsor an English conversation We sponsor an English conversation

programprogram• We have a weekly film seriesWe have a weekly film series• We sponsor an international friendship We sponsor an international friendship

programprogram• We can point you in the right directionWe can point you in the right direction

GET STUDENTS CONNECTED!GET STUDENTS CONNECTED!

• OISS sponsors the International Students OISS sponsors the International Students Association, and country associations for Association, and country associations for China, India, Japan, and TaiwanChina, India, Japan, and Taiwan

• The Student Resource Building (SRB) has The Student Resource Building (SRB) has regional student resource centers for Africa, regional student resource centers for Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle EastAsia, Latin America, and the Middle East

GET STUDENTS ADVISED!GET STUDENTS ADVISED!

• Make sure that international students meet Make sure that international students meet with the departmental academic advising with the departmental academic advising staff right from the start like in Computer staff right from the start like in Computer ScienceScience

• Graduate students need empathetic Graduate students need empathetic faculty mentoringfaculty mentoring

Get students to theGet students to theCommunity Housing Office!Community Housing Office!

Invite your international Invite your international students and scholars to any students and scholars to any

events involving food!events involving food!

S-P-E-A-K S-P-E-A-K S-L-O-W-L-Y!S-L-O-W-L-Y!