What does it mean to be a full-time student?
To be considered a full-time student you need to be registered for at least 12 credits. You must also have at least a 2.0 GPA.

You may be considered full time and register for less than 12 credits if: you have permission from an international student advisor (this must be done before the quarter), you have a documented medical condition, or it is your final quarter before completing a degree.

How to Maintain Your F-1 Status
Applying For A Reduced Course Load
RCL Sample

Official travel advice from Immigration
Are you planning on traveling outside the U.S.? Attached is some travel tips provided recently (January 2005) by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are meant to assist you with your entry into the United States. Also attached is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding travel.

 Travel Tips
 FAQ about re-entry for F-1 students
 FAQ about re-entry for M-1 students

Can I work while I am a student?

Working on Campus

Working off Campus

When can I have a vacation quarter?
You may take a “vacation” quarter and remain in the United States if you have completed three consecutive full-time quarters. A student who arrives in the United States for the first time and begins study in winter or spring quarter may take summer as a vacation quarter.

You are eligible for a vacation after any quarter if you are planning to travel outside the United States.

What should I do if I do not maintain my student status?
If you fail to maintain your student status you may apply for reinstatement. Reinstatement is a process in which you must explain to immigration why you were unable to maintain your student status. They will then review your case and decide if you are allowed to stay in the United States to continue your studies. You will need to speak with an International Programs staff member to help with the paperwork.

What should I do if I plan to go home for vacation?
You will need to make sure that a staff member in International Programs has signed your I-20 within the last six months. You will want to check that your passport and visa are still valid. It may also be helpful to have a copy of your financial statement when you return to the United States. International Programs can also write a letter for you or give you a copy of your Shoreline transcripts to show when you re-enter the United States.

If you are doing practical training you will want to check with your advisor to find out what other things are required.

If you are planning on leaving the United States for more than one quarter you will also want to check with your advisor to see what other items are required.

What if I am in the United States on a visa type other than F-1?

If you entered the United States on a B-1 or B-2 visitors visa you are allowed to study as long as your primary reason for being in the United States is business or pleasure. You should only take part-time classes.

People who enter the United States on a B-1 or B-2 visa will have a difficult time changing status to F-1. Do NOT plan to enter the United States on a visitor’s visa and then change to F-1. This process can take up to one year, and you will not be allowed to study while immigration is reviewing your case.

If you are on a different visa other than F-1 please check with International Programs to review if you are eligible to study full or part time. We can also help determine which tuition you will pay.

Documents
Passport: Your passport must be valid at all times. Keep your passport and other documents in a safe place. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new one. To renew or replace your passport, contact your country’s consulate in the United States. For a list of foreign consulates in the United States you can check the U.S. State Departments web site at

http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/

Visa: A visa is the stamp that a U.S. Consulate Office placed on a page in your passport. You are permitted to stay in the U.S. even if your visa has expired.

I-20: Your I-20 must be valid at all times. Request a new form prior to the expiration date. You will need to have page two signed every six months. Please keep all I-20’s you are issued.

I-94: This is the small white card that was stapled in your passport when you entered the United States. Please make sure to keep this in a safe place, as you need to surrender it whenever you leave the United States (except Canada).

SEVIS
What is SEVIS?
SEVIS is an internet-based system that allows schools and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to exchange data on the visa status of international students. Accurate and current information is transmitted electronically throughout an F-1 student’s academic career in the United States, the U.S. Embassies and consulates also have access to SEVIS. The information that Shoreline Community College reports to SEVIS is the same information Shoreline has been recording in student files.

How does SEVIS work?
Once you have been accepted to attend Shoreline Community College we will share your information with SEVIS. SEVIS would then produce a new I-20. This I-20 would be mailed to the student. When you apply for your student visa the U.S. Consulate or Embassy would then confirm through SEVIS that the I-20 is valid. If everything were in order, the consulate would issue you a visa.

When the student arrives at the airport, the INS officer would report to SEVIS that the student has entered the United States.

When the student arrives on campus, they report to International Programs, and the school confirms through SEVIS that the student has enrolled for classes. Shoreline would then continue to provide information about each student with SEVIS.

Once a student graduates and leaves the United States, their departure is recorded in SEVIS.

What information is given to SEVIS?

• If the student has enrolled at Shoreline Community College, or failed to enroll.

• A change of the student’s or dependent’s legal name or address.

• Any student who graduates prior to the end date listed on their I-20.

• Academic or disciplinary actions taken due to criminal conviction.

• Whether the student drops below a full course of study without prior approval from the international student advisor.
• Termination date and reason.

• Other data generated by standard procedures such as program extensions, school transfers, changes in level of study, employment authorizations, and reinstatement.

• Any student who fails to maintain status or complete their program.

What happens if a student fails to maintain status?

All student records will be updated in SEVIS every quarter. Students who fail to maintain status lose the privileges of their student visa and become subject to deportation. Some specific consequences may include: denial of re-entry into the United States, denial of requests for practical training, denial of requests to change status, and possible denial of future visa applications.

Immigration regulations are very important to you during your studies at Shoreline Community College. We recommend that you understand the immigration regulations and learn how to maintain your status. Please remember that the staff of International Programs are here to help. We have access to the most up to date immigration information, so even if you hear from a friend an answer to your immigration questions, you should still come and speak with an International Programs staff member. We want to help you to have a success time at Shoreline both academically and with immigration!