What You Must Know About Your Immigration Status Presented by the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

What You Must Know About Your Immigration Status

Presented by the Office of International Affairs (OIA)

What You Must Know About Your Immigration Status

Topics

• OIA Overview
• Maintaining Status
• Travel
• Work Authorization
• SSN/ITIN/Taxes
• Office Information
• Events
• Q &A

OIA Student Advising Staff

• Tamara Felden, OIA Director
• Chidimma Jones-Mubima, Coordinator for Student Services Policy &

Programming, International Student Adviser for Booth School of Business

• Mike Kegler, SEVIS & Technology Manager, International Student Adviser

for Humanities, Graham, BSD & PSD

• Jen Nafziger, International Student Adviser for College, SSA, & Pritzker

School of Medicine

• Dana Bouche, International Student Adviser for SSD, Harris, Law, & Divinity

OIA Overview

Our Role & Your Responsibility

• OIA provides information and advising on

immigration regulations, and we help you adjust to life in Chicago.

• It is YOUR responsibility to maintain your valid

F-1 or J-1 status while in the U.S.

OIA Overview

Services OIA Provides

• Immigration-related services for all F-1 and J-1

students sponsored by UChicago

• Immigration-related services for all J-1 non-students

and most H-1B employees sponsored by UChicago

• Educational programming & workshops
• Social events
• Assistance with social security and tax issues

OIA Overview

Services OIA Does NOT Provide

• Housing
• Health care and health insurance
• Transportation
• Childcare
• Visas to countries other than the U.S.
• Review of tax documents

Visit the Graduate & Professional Student Gateway for information: http://students.uchicago.edu/grad/

OIA Overview

MAINTAINING STATUS

Maintaining Your Status

• Check in
• Maintain valid documents
• Be enrolled full time
• Report changes
• Work ONLY with authorization

Maintaining Status

Maintain Valid Documents

• Keep all original Forms I-20 or DS-2019
• Make copies/scans of the following documents:

– Passport pages (bio page and entry stamp) – I-94 Departure Record Card (front and back) – F-1 or J-1 visa stamp – Form I-20 or DS-2019

Always check your documents immediately after you go through immigration at the port of entry!

Maintaining Status

Maintaining Status

Entry stamp: should show your visa status (F-1 or J-1) and also be marked D/S for “Duration of Status”

Maintaining Status

Still have entries available on visa Visa is not expired

Maintaining Status

SEVIS ID End date Entry stamp Write name and sign

Maintaining Status

SEVIS ID End date Entry stamp Sign and write place

Maintaining Status

Maintain Valid Documents

‘Visa’ vs. ‘Status’

• ‘Visa’: stamp in passport, request for entry
• ‘Status’: F-1 (I-20) or J-1 (DS-2019)

It is OK if your visa expires while you legally remain in the U.S., as long as your status (e.g. I-20 or DS-2019) is still valid.

Maintaining Status

Be Enrolled Full Time

• Be enrolled full time for at least three quarters

each academic year

• For most programs, full time is 300 units

Maintaining Status

• Report change of address within 10 days of

moving via cMore or the Booth Portal

Report Changes

Maintaining Status

Report Changes

• If you need an extension of your I-20 or DS-

2019, you MUST request it in advance.

It is NOT possible to extend your I-20 or DS-2019 after it expires!

Maintaining Status

Report Changes

Consult OIA before:

O

• Change of education level or academic program
• Transfer to another U.S. institution
• Early graduation
• Change in your immigration status
• Request for a Reduced Course Load
• Leave of absence

Maintaining Status

TRAVEL

Travel signatures valid for 1 year

Available at the OIA front desk.

Travel Signatures

Travel

Re-Entry into The U.S.

Necessary Documents:

• Valid Passport
• Unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa with unused entries
• Valid I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature

Review the OIA website & plan ahead!

Travel

I-515A

Travel

WORK AUTHORIZATION

DO NOT work without proper authorization!

Work Authorization

What is Employment?

• "Employment" is any type of work performed,
• r services provided, in exchange for money,

tuition, fees, books, supplies, lodging, or any

• ther benefit.
• Several types of employment authorization

exist for F-1 and J-1 students.

Work Authorization

On Campus Employment for F-1 and J-1

Eligibility: Student must be in F-1 or J-1 status Weekly Hour Limit: 20 while school is in session, full time during breaks and vacation quarters Timing: Before program completion

• Max. Duration:

No Limit Authorization: Not Required*+

*If you’re not sure if a job is considered “on campus,” contact your OIA adviser.

+J-1 students not sponsored by UChicago must receive authorization from program sponsor

Work Authorization

Off Campus Employment for F-1

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Eligibility: After one academic year (9 months), must be maintaining F-1 status Weekly Hour Limit: 20 while class is in session, full time during vacation and after graduation Timing: Before and after graduation

• Max. Duration:

12 months per level of study Authorization: USCIS

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Eligibility: After one academic year (9 months), must be maintaining F-1 status Weekly Hour Limit: N/A Timing: Before graduation

• Max. Duration:

No limit* Authorization: OIA Work Authorization

Off Campus Employment for J-1

Academic Training (AT)

Eligibility: Must be maintaining J-1 status Weekly Hour Limit: N/A Timing: Before and after program completion

• Max. Duration*:

18 months, or length of program, whichever is shorter Authorization: OIA

*PhDs are eligible for additional 18 months after graduation

Work Authorization

Additional Off Campus Employment Options

F-1

International Organization

Eligibility: Must have offer of employment from

• rganization such as the UN, World Bank,

IMF, etc. Timing: Before Graduation Authorization: USCIS

F-1 & J-1

Severe Economic Hardship

Eligibility: Must be experiencing extreme financial difficulties that are out of your control Timing: N/A Authorization: F-1: USCIS J-1: OIA Work Authorization

F-2 & J-2 Dependents

J-2

Eligibility: Must be in the country in J-2 status when applying Timing: Before DS-2019 end date Authorization: USCIS For More Information: OIA ‘Spouses and Partners’ Page

F-2

There are currently no work authorization options for F-2 dependents.

Work Authorization

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, ITINS, AND TAXES

Social Security Number

• The Social Security Number's primary purpose is

to track employees in the payroll systems of their employer to make proper tax and other deductions to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the tax authority of the United States.

SSN, ITIN & Taxes

Social Security Number

• You are not automatically eligible for a SSN
• You must have a job offer & employment

authorization to apply

• Detailed information about the application

process is on the OIA website.

SSN, ITIN & Taxes

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

• An ITIN is required for students who receive taxable

income but are ineligible for a SSN, such as stipend recipients.

• If you will receive a stipend and will not have a job,

you will need an ITIN.

• Detailed information about the application process

is available on our website.

SSN, ITIN & Taxes

Taxes

• All F-1 or J-1 students and their F-2/J-2 dependents

MUST file IRS tax forms every year, regardless of employment or income.

• Tax forms are due April 15 for those with income, June

15 for those with no income.

• OIA will provide software and host tax workshops in
• March. You will receive email reminders in winter

quarter.

SSN, ITIN & Taxes

Our Role & Your Responsibility

• OIA provides information, answers questions, and

advises you

• It is YOUR responsibility to maintain your

F-1 or J-1 status If you have questions ask OIA, not your friends!

OFFICE INFORMATION

Contact

• Contact Information:

Email: international-affairs@uchicago.edu Phone: (773) 702-7752 Fax: (773) 702-3058

• Location:

International House 1414 East 59th Street Room 291 (second floor)

• Hours:

Monday – Wednesday: 9 AM-4:30 PM Thursday – Friday: 10 AM-4:30 PM

Office Information

Front Desk Services & Appointments

• Travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019
• Letter verifying your full-time enrollment
• Assistance in applying for SSN
• Reprint of I-20 or DS-2019
• Schedule an appointment with an adviser:
• Call (773) 702-7752 or Email international-

affairs@uchicago.edu

• In person, phone, and Skype appointments available

Office Information

How OIA Communicates with You

Online http://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu http://facebook.com/ucoia Mailing Lists

• InternationalStudents:

Immigration, important announcements, and events

• OIAGenInfo:

Weekly digest of events and activities for the international community

Office Information