Immigration, Visa & SEVIS Information
The U.S. government requires all international students studying in the United States to meet stringent eligibility requirements for not only entry to the country, but also for the right to remain here legally while they pursue their studies.
International Student Support advises students on the complexities of immigration compliance and mediates with various U.S. government agencies. International Student Support maintains and updates the SEVIS system and advises students on all issues related to SEVIS and maintaining valid student status. Whenever you have a question relating to your legal status or any aspect of compliance, come to International Student Support. We’re experts, and we’re here to help.
F1 Student Visa
If you intend to apply for an F-1 student visa, you will be required by the U.S. consular officer to present the immigration document form I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant Student Status).
How to Obtain Your I-20 and Apply for the F-1 Visa
STEP 1 Complete Merrimack’s application requirements.
- You must first be admitted to Merrimack College before the admissions office can process the I-20 on your behalf.
- After you are admitted, please submit the deposit required by the admission office. Please refer to the instructions provided in the materials supplied to you by Admissions.
STEP 2 Submit Merrimack’s Declaration of Finances Form and Supporting Financial Proof to Merrimack Admissions.
- All students are required to submit financial documents that demonstrate the ability to meet financial obligations for the first year of their program of study (including tuition, fees, and living expenses) before Merrimack College can issue the immigration document form I-20 needed to apply for an F-1 student visa.
- You must submit a completed Declaration of Finances form.
- Undergraduate Students: Please fill in the undergraduate version of the Declaration of Finances form.
- Graduate Students: Please fill in the graduate version of the Declaration of Finances form.
- You will need to include a letter from your bank certifying available funds. If we have all these materials at time of decision, we will be able to supply your I-20 with your offer of admission.
- If you are transferring to Merrimack College University from another U.S. institution, please go to Transfer SEVIS Record to Merrimack.
- Once you have submitted these documents, Merrimack Admissions will request to process your I-20. For questions on the admission process, please contact your admissions counselor directly.
STEP 3 Receiving your I-20
- Your I-20 will be issued within 2 weeks from the time Admissions office receives acceptable documents. Please be sure to follow all instructions from your Admissions counselor about next steps.
STEP 4 Pay the SEVIS fee
Before applying for an F-1 visa, all first-time visa applicants are required to pay the SEVIS fee AND the visa application fee. (They are two separate fees.) Please print and save the SEVIS fee payment receipt.
STEP 5 Apply for a Visa
After you receive your immigration documents and pay the SEVIS fee, you will apply for your F1 visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country. For how to apply for your F-1 visa, Go to the U.S. Department of State website. Do remember that the process takes time. See Visa Wait Times for more information.
SEVIS
What is SEVIS?
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s electronic database. As mandated by federal regulation, SEVIS tracks and monitors nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors during their stay in the United States. Specifically, SEVIS tracks:
- Biographical information (date of birth, country of citizenship, etc.).
- Local and overseas addresses.
- Academic information (including enrollment status, academic program level, major, start and end dates of programs).
- Employment authorizations and recommendations.
- Visa eligibility document issuance.
- Extensions of stay.
- Transfers to and from other U.S. educational institutions.
SEVIS requirements apply to all international students, scholars and their dependents in the U.S. with F or J nonimmigrant visa classifications. Changes in any of the factors above, without notifying the Office of International Student Support and/or receiving advance authorization for those changes, are a breach of SEVIS requirements, with serious consequences. So it is important that you understand the factors that affect SEVIS compliance.
SEVIS Compliance
International Student Support will assist you in complying with these regulations. Keep in mind, however, that it is your responsibility to make sure you are successfully following all of the immigration regulations.
International Student Support is required to comply with immigration regulations governing your student status and must submit information every semester, as required by Homeland Security.
Students who violate their immigration status may be subject to removal from the U.S. Violations of status will result in the need for reinstatement or re-entry to regain legal status. Losing your legal status will seriously impact or potentially end your studies at Merrimack College.
Maintaining Immigration Status
By maintaining immigration status and keeping school administrators and sponsoring officials well-informed, students and exchange visitors residing in America have the opportunity to benefit from the outstanding academic and cultural programs of the United States.
Failing to maintain your status could result in serious consequences and may affect your ability to remain in or return to the United States. Violation of status also can affect the prospect of readmission to the United States for a period of time.
If you’re an international student or exchange visitor studying in the United States, know your responsibilities. Work with your designated school officials or exchange visitor responsible officers to ensure that your data in SEVIS is accurate and current. In addition, these officials can help you better understand the requirements governing your immigration status and help you avoid making choices that might jeopardize your status.
Student Responsibilities
To remain eligible for all F-1 student benefits, such as on-campus employment, curricular practical training and optional practical training, F-1 students are responsible for following the regulations below:
- Attend the school for which you are authorized. Use only your most recent Merrimack College I-20 to enter the United States.
- Keep your passport and I-20 valid at all times. Request a new I-20 when any of the information on it changes: name, major, sponsor, etc.
- Check the expiration date of your I-20 regularly; you may extend your I-20 30 days before it expires.
- Carry a full course of study every term. Undergraduates must carry a minimum of 12 credits. Graduate students, a minimum of eight credits.
- Request a new I-20 when continuing from one education level to another within the college, i.e., associate degree to bachelor’s degree, or bachelor’s degree to master’s degree.
- Limit on-campus employment to a total of 20 hours per week while school is in session.
- Apply for immigration authorization before working off campus. Please visit the Office of International Student Support to learn about eligibility requirements.
- Obtain a signature on the back of your I-20 from a member of International Student Support to re-enter the United States when traveling abroad. Make sure you have all necessary travel documents before leaving the country.
- Report a change of address to International Student Support and the USCIS, within 10 days of the change.
- File an income tax return on or before April 15 each year you reside in the United States. Both working and nonworking students must comply with this regulation.
- Information available at: http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/maintain-your-status
Important: If SEVIS does not receive a timely report each semester confirming that you are enrolled, your SEVIS record will be automatically terminated by the government and you will be expected to either apply for reinstatement to lawful F-1 or J-1 status, or leave the U.S. within 15 days.
Mandatory SEVIS Registration
SEVIS regulation 8 CFR § 214.3(g)(3)(iii)(A) requires periodic reporting on student status as follows: (iii)
Each term or session and no later than 30 days after the deadline for registering for classes, schools are required to report the following registration information: Whether the student has enrolled at the school, dropped below a full course of study without prior authorization by the DSO, or failed to enroll; The current address of each enrolled student; and the start date of the student’s next session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter.
For additional information go to: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2017/11/students-follow-these-steps-to-maintain-your-status
I-20 Update Requests
I-20 Reprint Request
Your I-20 is an important document that you need in order to re-enter the US. It also validates any authorized employment (CPT or OPT) you have been approved for. If your I-20 is lost, stolen, or damaged you may request a reprint of your I-20. You may also request a reprint of your I-20 if your travel signature page is full or if there are any changes to your program of study. To request an I-20 reprint, please click on the button below.I-20 Extension
Sometimes students may need to extend their F-1 status for an academic reason, a medical reason, or a designated school official (DSO) error. The completed request must be received by ISS at least 15 days before the program end date on the student’s current I-20 form. Failure to submit a timely application may result in violation of the student’s F-1 visa status. To begin your request, click on the button below.Add New Dependent
F-1 students may invite a dependent spouse or child to join them in the US in F-2 status. Please note that only a spouse or child(ren) can have F-2 status—no other family members are eligible. To begin the request, click on the button below.Change of Level
Sometimes an F-1 student will continue their studies at the same institution after completing one program of study; for example, a student moving from bachelor’s to master’s. In these instances, a student must then request a change of level for their F-1 visa status. To begin this request, click on the button below.Transfer Out
If you have an active F-1 SEVIS record with Merrimack and you are currently studying at Merrimack or on Post-Completion OPT and have been accepted to another institution, you can request a transfer of your F-1 SEVIS record from Merrimack to your new school. To begin this request, click on the button below.
Immigration Documents
Passport
A valid passport must be maintained while in the United States. It should be valid for a minimum of six months beyond your period of stay in the U.S. You must have a valid passport to apply for an I-20 and a visa. If the name shown on your passport has changed for any reason, carry official name-change documentation with your passport, i.e., an original marriage certificate documenting a name change. If you need your passport renewed, passport renewal is conducted at the embassy of the student’s home country.
F-1 Visa
An F-1 visa is the certification issued by the United States consulate or embassy granting foreign nationals legal permission to present themselves for inspection for admission at a port of entry to the United States. It is represented by a multicolored stamp in your passport. It is important to note that immigration officials at any United States port of entry can deny admission to any foreign national with a valid visa issued by a United States embassy. The visa may be issued for single or multiple entries up to the date of expiration indicated. An American embassy or consulate abroad must renew a single entry visa to re-enter the United States. With a multiple-entry visa, departure and re-entry to the United States is allowed up to the expiration date indicated on the visa. In addition to a valid visa, you must always travel with a valid I-20 that has been signed by the designated school official.
No visa is extended or issued from within the United States. You should obtain a NEW VISA from your home country if you plan to reenter the United States after your visa has expired, or if your visa status has changed while you have been in the United States.
I-20 Form
The I-20 indicates that an international applicant has been accepted as a full-time, degree-seeking student to study at a U.S. academic institution. The I-20 is used to obtain an F-1 or F-2 visa. The information on your I-20 must be kept current at all times. If it needs to be renewed or adjusted due to a change of major, contact International Student Support. The USCIS requires that before traveling, you must have your I-20 signed by a designated school official at the Office of International Student Support.
I-94 Card
Form I-94 is the DHS Arrival/Departure Record issued to aliens who are admitted to the U.S., who are adjusting status while in the U.S., or who are extending their stay, among other reasons. The visitor must exit the U.S. on or before the departure date stamped on the I-94.
In order to increase efficiency, reduce operating costs and streamline the admissions process, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has automated Form I-94 at airports and sea ports of entry. The paper form will no longer be provided to a traveler upon arrival, except in limited circumstances. Travelers will be provided with a CBP admission stamp on their travel document. Copies of I-94 forms (record of admission) for verification of alien registration, immigration status or employment authorization can be obtained online.
