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Immigration Regulations

Most international students at the University of Southern Indiana enter the United States on F-1 student visas. Some enter on J-1 exchange visitor visas. The information regarding immigration regulations is directed at students in F or J status. An international student holding another visa status has rights and restrictions different from the F-1 and J-1 students and should consult us for special information regarding that status.

Emi Zlatkovska in the Center for International Programs is the Designated School Official for F-1 students, as well as the Responsible Officer for J-1 exchange visitors. Please consult with her regarding immigration regulations and benefits. Please DO NOT submit I-102, I-539, I-765 forms to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) without consulting Emi in the Center for International Programs.

How to Update Your U.S. Address

Note: All announcements about immigration rules/policy are sent to you through your USI e-mail account. Upon admission, be sure to activate your e-mail account and check it weekly.

Choose your visa type:

Your F-1 status is valid for the duration of your program (the program end date is listed on your I-20 form under the "Program of Study" section), plus 60 days after your program completion, as long as you maintain your status (see below). During the 60-day grace period, you can transfer your SEVIS record to another institution to pursue another degree, you can apply for another program of study at USI (Change of Level), you can apply for Optional Practical Training, or you can prepare to leave the US.

Maintaining F-1 Status

  1. Attend the school you were authorized to attend. Enroll in and complete a full course of study during the academic year (12 credit hours for undergraduate and 6 credit hours for graduate students.) You must consult with the Center for International Programs before you drop course load to part-time or withdraw from all of your courses.
  2. Maintain a valid passport at all times.
  3. Do not accept employment off campus without seeking the proper authorization.  Unpaid internships or other unpaid work opportunities will still require you to obtain the proper authorization. Check with CIP for more information on obtaining the proper authorization. With authorized work permission, students may work up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session and full-time during the break periods.
  4. Report any change of address to the Center for International Programs within 10 days of moving.
  5. Leave the U.S. by the end of your authorized stay. If you will not complete your program of study by your listed program end date, apply for an extension of stay through the Center for International Programs before the program end date on your I-20 form.
  6. Apply through the Center for International Programs to continue from one educational level to another (for example, from bachelor's to master's) at USI.
  7. Follow transfer procedures if you plan to attend a new university.  Consult with Center for International Programs on transferring to another university.

Your J-1 visa status is valid for the duration of your program (the program end date is listed on your DS-2019 form, item #3), plus 30 days after your program completion. During the 30-day grace period, you can apply for Academic Training, or you can prepare to leave the US.

Maintaining J-1 Status

  1. Attend the school you were authorized to attend. Enroll in and complete a full course of study during the academic year (12 credit hours for undergraduate and 6 credit hours for graduate students.) You must consult with the Center for International Programs before you drop course load to part-time or withdraw from all of your courses.
  2. Maintain a valid passport at all times.
  3. Do not accept employment on or off campus without seeking the proper authorization. Unpaid internships or other unpaid work opportunities will still require you to obtain the proper authorization.  Check with CIP for more information on obtaining the proper authorization. With authorized work permission, students may work up to 20 hours per week when classes are in session and full-time during the break periods.
  4. Report any change of address to the Center for International Programs within 10 days of moving.
  5. Leave the U.S. by the end of your authorized stay. For students under USI sponsorship, if studies are not completed within the allotted period of time, apply for an extension of stay through the Center for International Programs before the program end date on your DS-2019.
  6. Apply through the Center for International Programs to continue from one educational level to another (for example, from bachelor's to master's) at USI.
  7. Follow transfer procedures if you plan to attend a new university.  Consult with Center for International Programs on transferring to another university.

Change of Address

Please keep us informed of your current address and phone number. Immigration regulations require that you update your address with the Center for International Programs within 10 days of moving. The Center for International Programs must then report the new address to the Department of Homeland Security through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Make sure to complete the following two steps whenever you change your local address:

  1. Update your address information in myUSI. Your local address is listed as your mailing address in myUSI.

  2. Complete the Change of Address Form and submit it to International Programs within 10 days of moving.