Maintaining Visa Status

Students admitted to the United States on F-1 or J-1 visas must meet certain requirements set by the U. S. Government. As long as you continually meet each obligation, you are considered to be "in-status" or "maintaining status."

Requirements

1. Attend the school you were authorized to attend on your I-20 (F-1 visa document) or DS-2019 (J-1 visa document).
   • If you entered the United States on an I-20 or DS-2019 from Portland State University, you must complete at least one term at PSU before you can transfer to another school.
   • Likewise, if you entered the United States on an I-20 or DS-2019 from any school other than Portland State University, you must complete a least one term at that school before you can transfer to PSU.
   
   
2. Check in with International Student Services (ISS).
   • Bring your passport, visa, I-94 card, and I-20 or DS-2019 to ISS by the end of the second week of the term for which you are admitted to Portland State University.
   • Bring proof that you have health insurance if you do not intend to purchase insurance from PSU.
   • Keep you address, phone number, and e-mail address current with ISS.
   
   
3. Follow appropriate transfer procedures if you are transferring to Portland State University from another U.S. institution.
   • Ask your current school to complete a PSU Transfer Information Form and submit it to PSU.
   • After admission to PSU, ask your current school to transfer your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record to PSU.
   • Report to International Student Services as soon as you arrive at Portland State. Bring I-20s or DS-2019s from all previous U.S. institutions you have attended.
   • Tell an International Student Adviser in International Student Services that you are transferring from another U.S. institution.
   
   
4. Complete a full course of study each term.
   • Undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students must complete a minimum of 12 credits per term; graduate students must complete a minimum of 9 credits per term.
   • You are allowed one vacation term per academic year provided you enroll in the term following your vacation term. Students typically use the summer as their vacation term; however, you may take your vacation term during fall, winter, or spring if you have completed at least three consecutive terms of full-time enrollment immediately prior to your vacation term.
   
   
5. Keep your passport valid at all times.
   • You are required to keep your passport valid 6 months into the future. Your F-1 or J-1 visa may expire while you are in the United States as long as you maintain a valid I-20 or DS-2019 and maintain your student status. However, if you leave the United States, you will have to renew your visa before you can re-enter the United States.
   
   
6. Keep your I-20 or DS-2019 valid at all times. You must request an extension or update your I-20 or DS-2019 with International Student Services if:
   • you do not complete your program of study by the date specified on the I-20 or DS-2019,
   • you continue from one educational level to another (e.g., from bachelor to master's), or
   • you change majors at the same educational level (e.g., from Math to History).
   
   
7. Obtain authorization from International Student Services for all employment -- both on-campus and off-campus.
   • You are allowed to work a maximum of 20 total hours per week for an on-campus employer during the school term and a maximum of 40 total hours per week during school breaks or your vacation term.
   • Never work for an off-campus employer without proper authorization (not even for one hour)! Before even considering off-campus employement, talk with an International Student Adviser. The consequenses of working off-campus without proper authorization are extremely severe!

Consequences of Being Out-of-Status

If you fail to meet even one of the requirements listed above, you are considered "out-of-status" by the U.S. Government and will be required to file a request for reinstatement. This procedure is costly and if your request is denied, you will have to abandon your studies and leave the United States. Make certain you maintain status by always following each requirement.

If you have questions about any of these requirements, contact an International Student Adviser in International Student Services.