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Immigration Information for F-1 Students The information provided on this website is subject to change. It is recommended that you speak with an International Student Advisor for the most up to date and accurate information on immigration issues.
Maintaining Status New F-1 students must check-in with the Office of International Programs (OIP) as soon as possible after arrival. You must register each semester for full-time study (at least 12 credits) and MUST NOT withdraw from/drop a course without PRIOR notification of the International Student Advisor. Immigration regulations define full-time study for undergraduates as 12 credits per semester. Babson College also defines full-time study as 12 credits per semester all students. You may be considered to be maintaining valid F-1 status despite completing less than 12 credits in only a few circumstances. These include: Vacation
You are considered to be in status during the annual or summer vacation if you are eligible and intend to register for the next term. Medical
In the event of a medical leave of absence, you must provide the Designated School Official (DSO)/International Student Advisor with a statement from a licensed health-care practitioner requiring or recommending the interruption or reduction in studies in advance of the reduction in credits. Language/Course Placement
Initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods, or improper course level placement. Your Class Dean or the Dean of the Graduate School must provide a statement to this effect in advance of the reduction in credits. Final Semester
During the final semester, if you do not need 12 credits to complete your program of study, you may take less than 12 credits. However, if you fail or withdraw from one of these courses and must make it up the following semester; you may be considered to be out-of-status.
F-1 students who do not fall into any of the above categories and fail to complete 12 credits each semester generally are not in compliance with F-1 student regulations and will not be able to benefit from certain privileges associated with F-1 status. These privileges include:
- Signature on the Form I-20 for re-entry to the U.S.
- On-campus employment
- Optional or Curricular Practical Training
- Immigration transfer to another U.S. institution
Generally students who fail to maintain status may:
- Apply for Reinstatement
- Apply for a new Form I-20 to travel and re-enter the U.S. in F-1 Status
You must report a name change and an address change to ISSS and to the Department of Homeland Security within 10 days of the change. You must notify ISSS if you will complete your program earlier than expected or if you change your program of study. You must notify ISSS if you will not complete your degree by the end date stated on your Form I-20. If eligible, you may apply for an extension of stay before the end date. Travel Travel inside the U.S.
It is recommended that international students and their dependents carry photocopies of their Form I-20, Form I-94, F-1 Visa and the biographical page of their passport with them during their stay in the Boston area. When traveling outside of the metropolitan area of Boston, it is advisable to carry your original documents. Travel and return to the U.S.
Travel outside the U.S. is recommended only if you have all documents related to your immigration status in order prior to departure. These documents include: -
Passport
You must carry a passport that will be valid for re-entry to the U.S. Your passport should be valid at least 6 months into the future.
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Valid U.S. Visa Stamp
Citizens of all countries except Canada are required to have a valid U.S. visa stamp in their passports to re-enter the U.S. You should use the appropriate visa related to your current activities. As a student, use of a “visitor” or “tourist” visa may have serious consequences to your F-1 student status.
If the student visa stamp in your passport will not be valid at the time of reentry to the U.S., you will need to apply at a U.S. consulate or embassy for a new visa stamp before your return.
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Form I-20
The Form I-20 must be up to date and have a travel signature for re-entry on page 3. A travel signature is valid for one year while you are a student.
In order to obtain a travel signature, you must drop off the Form I-20 and a copy of your Form I-94 to the Office of International Programs (OIP) at least 24 hours in advance of your intended travel date.
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Proof of Financial Support
You may be asked to show proof of financial support at the port of entry. You should carry documents supporting the source and amount of financial support indicated on the Form I-20. Leave of Absence/Suspension/Withdrawal
Permission to be present in the U.S. in F-1 Student status is contingent upon full-time enrollment at the institution that issued a student’s most recent Form I-20. If an F-1 student takes a leave of absence, withdraws or is suspended, his/her permission to remain in the U.S. in F-1 status becomes void. If the student notifies an International Student Advisor (ISA) prior to the leave of absence, withdrawal or suspension, the government allows 15 days for departure from the U.S. If an ISA is not notified in advance, the student must leave the U.S. immediately. International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) is required to report electronically to the government within 21 days that the student is no longer maintaining status. The student must take one of the following actions:
transfer immediately to another USCIS-approved institution apply immediately for a change of status to another visa
category leave the U.S. immediately
If the student chooses to transfer or apply for a change of status, ISSS will assist with the process.
In order to return to Babson College after a leave of absence, withdrawal or having been suspended, it is necessary to obtain a new Babson Form I-20. A student cannot use the previous Form I-20 as it is no longer valid. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to contact ISSS at least 2 months prior to returning to Babson College to request the new Form I-20. Please also be aware that it may be necessary to provide financial documentation demonstrating ability to pay tuition and living expenses for at least one academic year.
If you have reason to believe you may take a leave of absence, withdraw or be suspended from Babson, please contact an International Student Advisor to discuss your options before the leave of absence, withdrawal or suspension become official. Program Extension If you are currently maintaining status and making normal progress toward completing your educational objective but will not be able to complete the program by the end date indicated on your Form I-20, you may request an extension of stay. Applications for F-1 Program Extensions must be made with a International Student & Scholar Advisor in the Office of International Programs (OIP) PRIOR to the expiration of the current Form I-20. (Preferably at least 30 days prior to the expiration date indicated on your Form I-20) To apply for a Program Extension you must: Obtain a letter requesting an extension of the program from your Class Dean or Academic Advisor. The letter must briefly explain the reason that you have not yet completed the program.
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Provide financial documents showing that you can support yourself for the extended period or 12 months, whichever is shorter. Financial documents cannot be more than 12 months old. Financial support documentation might include one or more of the following:
• bank statement • bank letter • affidavit from sponsor (notarized) • proof of assistantship and/or scholarship -
Submit a copy of current Form I-94 (front & back) -
Register for the upcoming semester -
Submit all of the above mentioned documents to ISSS. A new Form I-20 will be prepared in approximately 5 business days. Transfer The transfer process described below refers to an "immigration record transfer" between two U.S. schools. If you are transferring from Babson College to another U.S. school, follow the procedures outlined below: -
Contact the International Student Office of the school you have been admitted to and notify the International Student Advisor about your intention to transfer there. -
Notify your International Student Advisor at Babson College of your intent to transfer to a new school. -
Request your Babson International Student Advisor to transfer your record to your new school by completing the Transfer Confirmation/Release Date Form. -
Your new school may require you and/or your Babson International Student Advisor to complete a transfer form and provide proof of financial support. -
If all your documents are in order, the International Student Advisor at your new school will process your transfer by issuing you a Form I-20 from that school. This becomes your current Form I-20 and will indicate "transfer pending." Remember to keep all previously issued Form I-20s for your records. NOTE: Failure to follow these instructions may result in violation of your immigration status
Reinstatement If you have violated the terms of F-1 student status, U.S. federal regulations require that you must regain valid status in order to be eligible for any of the benefits of this status. Some of these benefits include Form I-20 travel signatures, and on-campus and off-campus work authorization. You may regain valid status by applying for a reinstatement or traveling outside of the U.S. and re-entering with a new Form I-20. If you apply for, and are granted a reinstatement, this means that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has “forgiven” the violation. Reinstatement cannot be granted to those who are employed without authorization, or to those who have been out of status for more than 5 months. Reinstatement may be granted to applicants whose violation was beyond their control, or to those whose violation was of a technical nature. It is your choice whether or not to file for reinstatement. You should understand that there is always the possibility that a reinstatement application may be denied, and that you could be required to depart from the U.S. on short notice. You should first consult with the International Student & Scholar Advisor and then with an immigration attorney if you have any concerns.
Some ways students may violate their F-1 status: -
Failure to complete 12 credits each semester without falling into one of the exception categories -
Failure to obtain a new Form I-20 before returning to Babson after a leave of absence -
Unauthorized off-campus employment -
Working more than 20 hours/week during the academic year -
Failure to request an extension of stay before the completion date of the current program How to apply for reinstatement: -
Request a new Form I-20 for reinstatement (note: If the financial documentation is older than one year, new proof of financial support will be needed) -
Write a cover letter addressed to USCIS explaining how and why F-1 status was violated -
Complete a Form I-539 -
Submit a check or money order for $300 made out to U.S. Department of Homeland Security -
Obtain an official transcript from Babson College -
Submit copies of passport, and visa -
Submit original Form I-94 -
Mail this information to the following address:
USCIS Vermont Service Center
ATTN: I-539
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479
If the application for reinstatement is approved, you must:
Upon reinstatement to F-1 student status, you will be eligible to work on campus, apply for off-campus work authorization (if you have completed at least two semesters of full-time study) or obtain a signature on the Form I-20 for travel and re-entry. If the application for reinstatement is not approved, you may be given a very short time to depart the U.S. Please keep in mind that reinstatement is a serious matter and, if denied, you will not be able to remain in the U.S. legally. Travel and Re-entry
Students who are out-of-status and choose not to apply for reinstatement from USCIS can request a new Form I-20 and use it to re-enter the U.S. New financial documentation may be required before the new Form I-20 can be issued. This option does not erase the past violation and there is a risk of being denied reentry to the U.S. Once this Form I-20 is stamped by USCIS in the upper right corner, and you have a Form I-94 stating F-1 status for D/S, you can begin working on campus and have the Form I-20 signed for travel. You will be required to be enrolled for one academic year before applying for Optional or Curricular Practical Training.
Employment The following is an introduction to employment issues and options for international students in F-1 status. NOTE: You should not assume that you are automatically eligible to work in the United States. Unauthorized employment is one of the most serious violations of F-1 status. You should speak with an International Student Advisor before accepting any employment. F-1 international students maintaining valid status may be eligible for the following types of employment authorization: On-Campus Employment
Practical Training--Curricular & Optional
Economic Hardship Work Authorization We advise all students to attend an F-1 Employment Authorization Information Session to hear everything you need to know about employment in the United States. On-Campus Employment Current Babson students who are maintaining valid F-1 status are eligible for on-campus employment. On-campus employment is limited to 20 hours/week while school is in session and can be full-time during official college breaks. No special permission is needed from the International Student Advisor; however, in order to be paid you must first be issued a Social Security number by the Social Security Administration. For information on how to apply, please see our section on Obtaining A Social Security Number. To apply for an on-campus position, please contact Human Resources at 781-239-4128 or visit the Student Employment website. Off-Campus Employment International students must see an International Student Advisor (ISA) to apply for employment authorization to work off-campus. The most common off-campus employment options for F-1 students are Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization may be granted by the International Student Advisor (ISA) to F-1 students who are maintaining status and who have been approved to enroll in one of the courses mentioned below. To be eligible for CPT you must have been maintaining valid F-1 status for at least one academic year immediately before applying. You also must enroll in one of the following: CPT authorization is employer and date specific. This means that if the internship changes in any way (different dates, different employer, etc.) you must first obtain additional authorization from the ISA. Failure to do so may be a violation of F-1 student status. To apply for CPT: Call OIP at 781-239-4565 to schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor (ISA). Bring a completed Business Practicum (BP) Application from the Center for Career Development (undergrads), or a letter from the Office of Experiential Learning (grads). A photocopy of your most recent Form I-94
The BP application/letter should contain the following information: a. Verification that you will be a participant in one of the courses above and that you have been offered a position b. The name and complete address of the company location where you will work c. A brief description of the project d. The name of the course you will be enrolled in e. The course number f. The number of credits you will receive g. The exact start and end dates of the internship h. Indication of full-time (more than 20 hrs/wk) or part-time (20 hrs/wk or less) employment
If your application is approved, the ISA will issue you a new Form I-20 certifying your authorization, and will provide you with a letter you can present to your employer.
NOTE: Students who use 12 months or more of full-time CPT are not eligible for OPT. YOU MAY NOT BEGIN EMPLOYMENT UNTIL AUTHORIZED FOR CPT
Optional Practical Training Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 status that allows students to work off-campus in a field related to their area of study. Applying for OPT is a two step process which begins first with a recommendation for OPT from the International Student Advisor (ISA) and second, with approval of the application by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In order to maintain F-1 status while on OPT, students must report employer name and address and not be unemployed for a total of 90 days.
Eligibility
To be eligible for OPT you must be in valid F-1 status and have maintained valid F-1 status for at least one academic year immediately before applying.
OPT Limits There is a limit of 12 months of full-time OPT. OPT may be used before completion of studies, after completion of studies, or a combination of both time periods. OPT may be full-time or part-time, but any pre-completion OPT is limited to part-time during the school year. Any periods of OPT, whether part- or full-time, will be deducted from the total twelve-month period available.
Part-time OPT (20 hours per week or less) is deducted at half of the full-time rate (two months of part-time OPT = one month of full-time OPT) before the completion of studies. After completion of studies, part-time is counted at the full-time rate. Full-time OPT is training that is more than 20 hours per week. Full-time OPT can only be granted during official College breaks or after the completion of degree requirements.
On your application you must indicate part-time or full-time employment and you must indicate the EXACT DATES of your requested employment authorization, including a day, month and year for both start and end dates. The latest possible start date for authorization is 60 days after your completion of studies. *The 17 month post-completion OPT extension for certain STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) degree holders is not applicable to Babson students. When to apply for OPT OPT applications may be filed up to 90 days before the completion of all degree requirements and up to 60 days after the completion of all degree requirements. It takes approximately one week for the ISA to process an OPT recommendation. Your application must be submitted within 30 days of when OPT is recommended by the ISA. USCIS processing time for this type of application is between 60 to 90 days. It is a violation of F-1 status to begin working before authorization is granted, or before the start date on the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
How to Apply for OPT
Step I: Attend an OPT Workshop
Students who need to apply for OPT are advised to first attend an Employment Authorization Information Session and then must attend an OPT Workshop. Workshops are scheduled every week, with a variety of days and times to accommodate student schedules. During this workshop an Advisor will work with you to prepare your OPT application. You must bring copies of the required documents in order to participate in the workshop. Note: If you arrive to a workshop and are not prepared or did not register, you will not be able to participate and will need to sign up for a future OPT Workshop. When to attend a workshop:
Students should plan to attend a workshop about three months prior to their completion of studies (during their last semester). To sign up for an OPT Workshop: Visit "International Student Update" on Blackboard Click on "F-1 OPT Workshops" in the left hand menu Register for an OPT Workshop. Click 'View' and follow the instructions on the next screen. Review and download all handouts and forms On the day of your workshop bring all instruction handouts, forms and copies of your immigration documents as indicated in the OPT Step One instructions.
If the ISA determines that the student is eligible for OPT, a new Form I-20 will be issued with the appropriate recommendation. Your recommendation information will be entered in the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and you will be contacted by the ISA via email to pick up your OPT application materials.
Step II: Pick up the recommendation & mail application to USCIS. You are responsible for mailing your application materials to USCIS in a timely manner (within 30 days of receiving the ISA recommendation). We strongly suggest that you make copies of all documents before mailing and that you send your application via priority mail and request a delivery confirmation. Send application packets to:
USCIS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479
Maintaining F-1 Status While on OPTOPT is an extension of F-1 status. While you are on OPT you are still in F-1 status and must follow the regulations in order to maintain your F-1 status.Maintain employment during OPT--you must be employed or actively seeking employment. If you are unemployed for a total of 90 days during a 12 month period, you will no longer be maintaining your F-1 status.Report any change of address or name to the Office of International Programs within 10 days of the change. Log onto http://portal.babson.edu and click on "Immigration Information" in the Smart Tools section to access your record. If you no longer have access to the Portal, please complete the "OPT Information Reporting Form" on our website www.babson.edu/isss.Report the name of your employer and any changes to your employment (including termination of employment) directly to your ISA through the "OPT Information Reporting Form" on our website www.babson.edu/isss.
Travel and Re-entry to the U.S. while on OPTYou must have a valid travel signature on your Form I-20 to travel and re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.Pre-Completion OPTIf you have not completed your degree requirements and you have pre-completion OPT, you may travel and re-enter the U.S. with a valid passport, Form I-20 (with current travel signature), a valid F-1 visa, and financial documentation. Post-Completion OPTIf you apply for post-completion OPT you must consider your future travel plans to determine what you will need to do.
Before your degree completion, you may travel while your post-completion OPT application is pending.
Once you have completed your degree requirements, your OPT must be approved and you must have a job or job offer in order to re-enter the U.S. You should present the following documents when re-entering the U.S. while on OPT in F-1 status:
Valid F-1 visa (if your F-1 visa has expired and you must travel outside the U.S. you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate outside the U.S. Please note that you may remain in the U.S. with an expired visa as long as your EAD, Form I-94 and passport are valid.)Valid passport (passport must be valid until at least six months into the future) Form I-20 with OPT recommendation and with signature on page 3 that is less than six months old Valid EAD (The EAD is marked, "Not valid for re-entry". This simply means that the card *alone* is not sufficient for re-entry for those who have completed their degree requirements and have post- completion OPT)Proof of employment (A letter from employer, which should not indicate a permanent job but rather temporary employment for the duration of the OPT)
Note: If you should re-enter the U.S. through the visa waiver program or in tourist status, you will no longer be eligible for OPT. Elimination of the H-1B "Cap-Gap"While on OPT, if your employer files an H-1B petition (with Change of Status application) that requests an October 1st start date of the following fiscal year, your duration of status and OPT employment authorization will automatically be extended to October 1st, thus eliminating the "Cap-Gap." If your pending H-1B petition is ultimately denied you will have a sixty day grace period from the denial notification date to depart the U.S., obtain admission and transfer to another institution, or file an application for change of status.Economic Hardship Work Authorization
F-1 students who have found themselves in serious financial difficulty due to severe and unforeseen circumstances which are beyond their control and, as a result, may not be able to continue their studies, are eligible to apply to USCIS for employment authorization if they have maintained F-1 status for at least one academic year.
The purpose of employment in this case is to earn money (as compared to OPT where the purpose is to gain experience in a field of study). As a result, any type of job is allowable with this type of work authorization.
Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply. You must:Have been in valid F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year.Demonstrate unforeseen severe economic hardship due to circumstances beyond your control.*Receive certification from the International Student Advisor that no opportunities are available for on-campus employment or that on-campus employment is insufficient to meet your financial needs.
*Note: Examples of circumstances that might have been unforeseen include loss of an assistantship or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student; substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate; unexpected changes in the financial condition of a student's source of support; medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses. Documentary evidence supporting the hardship must be submitted (e.g. newspaper clippings showing currency fluctuation, affidavit from sponsor explaining inability to pay, verification from department regarding loss of assistantship, etc.) Assistance for this application is available by appointment with an International Student Advisor.
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