You may need to update your immigration documents during your program of study at Portland State. The most common updates for each document will be addressed here. If you have questions about whether or not you need to update your immigration documents for a particular reason, please contact our office for advice.
I-20 and DS-2019 Updates
Change of Educational Level
If you will be completing one degree program at Portland State and plan to begin a new degree program after the first one, your I-20 or DS-2019 will need to be updated to reflect this change. Some examples of when this would be necessary include students who complete a bachelor’s degree and then decide to pursue their master’s degree at PSU or students who have completed one master’s degree and decide to pursue a second master’s degree in a different field. Review the Change of Educational Level page of our site for more information about this process.
Change of Financial Information
If your source of financial support changes during your program of study, you should notify an advisor in OISSS as soon as possible after the change. Some examples may include receiving a graduate assistantship after being funded through personal or family funds, or being awarded new scholarships that significantly change the source of your financial support.
Change of Major
Undergraduate students may change their major through myPSU. Graduate students may change their degree program by completing Form GO-19; students should speak with an advisor from their new department about whether or not a full application for the new degree program will be required.
Typically, your major is automatically updated in our records after the major is changed in the main Student Information System. In such cases, a new immigration document with the new major should be requested automatically from SEVIS and issued within 2-3 business days of the change. In some cases, this process may not be completed automatically.
If you change your major and do not receive an updated immigration document within 7 business days, please contact OISSS for assistance in obtaining the updated immigration document.
Program Extension
If you will not complete your program of study before the Program End Date on your I-20 or DS-2019, you must submit a Program Extension request before the Program End Date. Since this request will require input and verification from your academic advisor, it is a good idea to begin the extension request as soon as you know that it will be necessary and at least one month before the Program End Date on your immigration document.
The Program Extension request can be submitted using the appropriate Program Extension eform group in WorldLink. The Program Extension forms are found in the I-20 and DS-2019 Services menu. You may submit multiple program extension requests, as long as you are continuing to make normal progress toward your degree and have appropriate academic reasons for the additional delays.
If you have questions about the Program Extension process you may consult with an OISSS advisor for assistance.
Transfer Out
If you wish to end your studies at Portland State and continue your studies at another school, you will need to transfer your SEVIS record (I-20 or DS-2019 information) from Portland State to the new school. You are eligible to transfer your SEVIS record if you meet the following requirements:
- Your classes at the new school will begin in the next available academic session and no more than 5 months after your last day of classes at PSU.
- You complete your transfer request while you are in Active status in SEVIS.
For the first requirement, students who have graduated from PSU and are on post-completion OPT must begin classes within 5 months of the last day of their OPT period. This may be either the authorized end date on the EAD or the effective date of the transfer, if the transfer is requested before the student’s EAD expires.
For the second requirement, an F-1 student is in Active status while:
- they are enrolled and classes are in session, or
- during the authorized period of their post-completion OPT and during the 60-day grace period following the end of their program of study (or the end of their authorized post-completion OPT)
A J-1 student is in Active status while:
- they are enrolled and
- classes are in session and
- prior to their Program End Date, including periods of post-completion AT
You may request to have your immigration documents transferred to another school or Program Sponsor by completing the Transfer Out Request in WorldLink (found in the I-20 and DS-2019 Services menu). If the new school or Program Sponsor requires you to provide a transfer form verifying your eligibility to transfer, that form can be uploaded as part of the Transfer Out Request (even if you are not yet admitted or certain about your desire to transfer). You must provide proof of admission to your new school before we can transfer your SEVIS record to your new school.
As you prepare for your transfer, please review the Transfer Out Checklist for additional steps and information to help you prepare for a smooth transition from Portland State to your new school. If you have questions about the transfer process or the timing requirements for the transfer, you should consult with an OISSS advisor for assistance.
Passport
In most cases, you must have a passport valid for at least six months into the future in order to enter the United States. You should also maintain your passport for at least six months into the future throughout your stay in the U.S. This may require that you extend or renew your passport during your program of study.
If your passport is lost or stolen during your time as a student, it is important to file a police report as soon as possible after you notice the loss or theft of your passport. This is typically required when applying for a new passport and also helps protect you against unauthorized use of your passport.
In many cases, you can replace, renew, or extend your passport through the nearest embassy or consulate for your country in the U.S. This may require an in-person visit or may be completed remotely (for example, by mail). Please contact the nearest consulate for your country for more information or consult with an OISSS advisor for assistance.
Visa
The visa foil (also called a “visa stamp” or “visa sticker”) is a document that is issued by the Department of State to allow you to travel to the United States to request a particular nonimmigrant status. A U.S. visa is only needed for entering the U.S. Once you enter the U.S., the visa does not control how long you may stay and the visa is allowed to expire without impacting your immigration status.
Visas may only be obtained outside the U.S. It is not possible to renew or obtain a new visa within the U.S. This means that you must pay close attention to the validity of your visa when planning travel outside the U.S. after your first arrival.
If you will travel outside of the U.S. after your visa expires, you will need to plan time to apply for a new visa during your trip. You can find the most current information about visa application procedures on the website for the U.S. Embassy in your country or nearby countries. If you have additional questions about renewing your visa after it has expired, you may consult with an OISSS advisor for assistance.