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Understanding International Students' Responsibilities: Maintaining F-1 & J-1 Visa Status at MTU

As an international student at Michigan Tech, maintaining your F-1 or J-1 visa status is crucial for your educational experience. Your student status begins with the issuance of your immigration document; F-1 students receive an I-20, while J-1 students are provided a DS-2019. It is essential to understand and fulfill your responsibilities to retain your visa status while studying, ensuring compliance with U.S. immigration regulations and contributing to a successful academic journey at MTU.

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Understanding International Students' Responsibilities: Maintaining F-1 & J-1 Visa Status at MTU

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  1. International Students’ Responsibilities

    Maintaining F-1 & J-1 visa status while you study at MTU
  2. What is “Student Status”? You were issued an immigration document when you were admitted to Michigan Tech. F-1 students are issued an I-20. J-1 students are issued a DS-2019. This document verifies your “student status.”
  3. How do you maintain your visa status? Get familiar with the IPS web site. Keep critical information and documents up to date. Stay in good status as a student. Obtain required authorizations for work and travel.
  4. Get to know the IPS website. www.ips.mtu.edu
  5. How do you maintain your status? Keep critical information & documents up to date
  6. You are required by Federal law to carry your I-94 card with you at all times. A copy will not do.You should also have two photo IDs with you. If you choose not to carry your passport at all times, we advise that you carry a copy of your current passport and visa with your I-94. Your photo must be clear and visible.
  7. Keep track of critical information on your I-20 Form 
  8. Keep track of critical information on your DS-2019 Form 
  9. Keep critical information up to date! Inform the IPS office if you … Shorten or extend your program Change your major or course of study Change your academic level Withdraw from Michigan Tech And please, let us know about changes before they occur.
  10. How Do You Maintain Your Status? Keep your passport up to date. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months into the future. You cannot stay in the U.S. with an expired passport. When you renew your passport, provide a copy of the new passport or renewal to IPS.
  11. Expired visa? You may stay in the U.S. with an expired visa. If you travel outside the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to renew it before you can return to the US. No one can guarantee that your visa will be renewed.
  12. How Do You Maintain Your Status? Inform IPS any time you change your address. Report any change of address to the IPS office Report changes within 10 days of your move. Report every change of local address, even if you move to another apartment in the same building. Report every change of address while on CPT/OPT or student exchange.
  13. How Do You Maintain Your Status? Inform IPS any time you change your address. You must report your address changes using our web form:
  14. Questions?
  15. How do you maintain Your Visa Status? Maintain your status as a student
  16. How Do You Maintain Your Status? Enroll as a full-time student Register for courses each semester of the academic year Do not drop below a full course loadwithout prior approval from an IPS Advisor 12 credits for undergraduate students 9credits for graduate students
  17. How do you Maintain Your Status? Pay your bill by the deadline At the Cashier’s Office Online by credit card (even if you’re out of the country) “Confirm” your enrollment If you pay your entire bill, this is automatic BUT… it’s a good practice to ALWAYS check to see if this has been done Go to the Cashier’s window OR online to “confirm enrollment”
  18. How Do You Maintain Your Status? Attend School… Register for, and attend classes,at the school that issued your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019.
  19. How Do You Maintain Your Status? Vacation? Summer is the standard vacation term. You are allowed one vacation term during each 12-month period. This does not have to be summer! If you want to take a non-standard vacation term, you MUST complete the appropriate IPS forms and consult with an IPS advisor.
  20. How Do You Maintain Your Status? In order to maintain your VISA status, you must maintain your MTU student status. If you are suspended, you cannot register, and if you cannot register, you cannot stay in status for visa purposes.
  21. In order to maintain your VISA status, you must maintain your MTU student status … Keep your GPA at or above 2.0 every semester. Know and abide by MTU regulations: Violating the rules about harassment, computer use, drug & alcohol use, academic integrity, health insurance, and bill payment deadlines can cause you to fall out of status. Know and abide by Michigan and US laws: Violating State and Federal rules can cause you to fall out of status. File an income tax return. Do not drive without a valid driver’s license.
  22. Questions?
  23. How do you maintain your visa status? Obtain required authorizations for work & travel
  24. If you obtain employment while you are in the US, you must apply for a Social Security Card. You may NOT apply before you have a job. You should NOT apply before you have reported for work. You may NOT apply until you have been in the US at least 10 days.
  25. Warning! Having a Social Security card does not, in itself, mean that you may accept a job off-campus.
  26. Know the rules that govern student on-campus employment. Work hours are limited to part-time during the semester (no more than 20 hours per week no matter how many jobs you have). Full-time work (40 hours per week) is allowed during semester breaks, vacations, and summer. You may work full-time during the summer even if you’re registered for classes. “On Campus” means Michigan Tech issues your pay check.
  27. On-campus work opportunities: http://www.career.mtu.edu/students/jobresources.php
  28. Do not work off-campus without employment authorization. To be employed legally off-campus, you must obtain IPS and/or USCIS authorization before any employment begins. Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for internships and co-ops Optional Practical Training (OPT) for employment after completion of your program and/or coursework Economic Hardship authorization for extreme financial emergencies
  29. Traveling outside the US? Have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed for travel by an IPS advisor before you leave the US. Follow the travel guidelines on the IPS website so that your re-entry to the US goes smoothly. Give IPS a copy of your new I-94 when you return.
  30. The travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019… Date must be within 6 months of your return to the U.S.
  31. When you return, provide IPS with a copy of your new I-94. We are required by Federal regulations to keep these numbers on file.
  32. Questions?
  33. Tracking Your Status… Your student status is tracked by a federally mandated monitoring and tracking system: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System SEVIS Your Immigration Advisor will record progress to degree, term-by-term registration, off-campus employment, address changes, and other changes in your program through on-line access to the SEVIS system.
  34. If a spouse and/or child is coming to join you … Notify the IPS of any F-2 or J-2 dependents who may join you while you study. Provide proof of financial support for dependent Provide biographical and immigration information An F-2 spouse is not eligible to work or study. Recreation or ESL activities only are allowed. 
  35. If a spouse and/or child is here with you … Note that J-2 dependents are required by law to have medical insurance while they are in the US.
  36. HELP! Help!Help!Help!Help! This is our job… If you have any questions about maintaining your status while studying at Michigan Tech, or if you think you may be out of status, or if you just need to check to be sure, please visit the IPS Office and talk with an advisor. 131 Admin Bldg 487-2160 ips@mtu.edu
  37. Call the IPS office to schedule an appointment with an advisor – 906.487.2160 In emergencies, contact Public Safety – 906.487.2216 Email ips@mtu.edu Attend scheduled employment workshops. Use the IPS website …
  38. Get to know the IPS website. www.ips.mtu.edu
  39. A Most Important Request … Please read your MTU email regularly Please read ALL email from IPS staff jlpindra - JaneyPindral dlarmist – Donna Armistead emmurrel – Dr. Elizabeth Murrell gkgustaf – Greta Gustafson mjsteven – Mary J. Stevens mjvogler – Dr. Marilyn Vogler ips
  40. International Students Responsibility Contract Please read this contract carefully. It is a legal contract. Ask questions if you do not understand any part of the contract. After your questions have been answered, sign and date the document. The gold copy will be collected; keep the tan sample copy for your records.
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