IMMIGRATION ESSENTIALS

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Fall 2013

TOPICS

Immigration Terms & Documents Maintaining F-1/J-1 Status Travel rules Overview of on-campus and offcampus employment eligibility Social Security Numbers and Tax-filing Obligations Importance of Staying Informed

IMMIGRATION TERMS & DOCUMENTS

SEVIS Entry Visa Admission Stamp in Passport and Electronic I-94 Arrival record Certificate of Eligibility (COE): I-20 for F-1 status DS-2019 for J-1 status

SEVIS

SEVIS = Student & Exchange Visitor Information System

Government database that contains information on:
F-1 students J-1 exchange visitors F-2 and J-2 dependents

SEVIS
Implemented in 2004 accessible to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Consulates, and U.S. universities Collects, maintains and tracks information pertaining to international students and J-1 exchange visitors F-1 and J-1 forms are processed through SEVIS

STUDENT INFORMATION STORED in SEVIS

Information on your Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) Your U.S. and Permanent Address Your Entry Visa Information Your Arrivals & Departures Your Enrollment Status each term, and employment , if any

ENTRY VISA

Visa Type # of Entries

Expiration Date

ENTRY VISA

Issued by the U.S. State Department at U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad. Cannot get visa in the U.S. Determines how many entries you can make into the U.S. during a specific period of time with a valid I-20 or DS-2019. M = multiple unlimited entries.

Does not determine how long you may stay in the U.S. in the status with which you entered

ENTRY VISA
Length of Validity of the entry visa depends on reciprocity agreement
between the U.S. and your country.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_3272.html

ENTRY VISA

5-year entry F-1 visa DOES NOT mean that you may stay in the U. S. for 5 years if your program is shorter.

1-year entry visa DOES NOT mean you must leave U.S. and get a new one when it expires. It is not a problem to have an expired entry visa in your passport while in U.S. maintaining your status

ADMISSION STAMP IN PASSPORT AND ELECTRONIC I-94 ARRIVAL

Date and place of entry Status (F-1, J-1)

How long you can stay

ADMISSION STAMP IN PASSPORT AND ELECTRONIC I-94 ARRIVAL

Electronic I-94 record if arriving by air or sea

Paper I-94 card if arriving by land border or changing status in the U.S.

ADMISSION STAMP IN PASSPORT

Should be marked F-1 D/S or J-1 D/S

D/S: DURATION OF STATUS

D/S stands for Duration of Status i.e. the duration of your authorized period of stay in the United States.

ADMISSION STAMP IN PASSPORT AND ELECTRONIC I-94 ARRIVAL If no D/S on passport stamp, dont worry if its in electronic record at

www.cbp.gov/I94. Access and print out your arrival record each time you travel. Keep paper copies.

I-94 ARRIVAL RECORD

D/S: DURATION OF STATUS

D/S= The length of your fulltime program as indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019 plus any period of authorized F-1 Practical Training or J-1 Academic Training following completion of studies (if you choose to apply for work permission after graduation)

D/S: DURATION OF STATUS

plus a grace period to prepare for departure F-1: 60 days J-1: 30 days
Duration of Status is NOT defined by the expiration date of your entry visa!

GRACE PERIOD

Grace period is the period of time used directly after the completion of program or after academic/practical training time.

No international travel or work during this time. This time is designed for you to prepare for your departure.

CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY (COE): I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)

Must be presented every time you enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status Columbia University students in F-1 status must use an I-20 issued by Columbia University.

I-20

DS-2019
Columbia University students in J-1 status must use a DS-2019 form issued by Columbia University OR a J-1 sponsoring agency such as IIE, OAS or LASPAU, but not a DS-2019 from another university.

DS-2019

MAINTAINING STATUS

Submit online SEVIS report form within 7 days of arrival.

https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/cu/isso/new_arrival_check_in.html Or tinyurl.com/issocheckin

Enroll full-time every term during normal registration period and make normal academic progress toward degree.

For GSAS, fulltime means 1 full Residence Unit (RU) until RU requirements have been met.

MAINTAINING STATUS
EXCEPTION to RU applies to some MA programs. Fulltime is 12 credit points.
American Studies East Asian Studies French Cultural Studies in a Global Context Human Rights Studies Islamic Studies Japanese Pedagogy Jewish Studies Medieval and Renaissance Studies Modern European Studies South Asian Studies

MAINTAINING STATUS
Exception to fulltime requirement: Final term of non-RU MA programs, not required to be fulltime if 12 points not required to complete degree. Example: 30-point MA in 3 terms: 12 / 12/ 6

MAINTAINING STATUS

NEVER work without proper work authorization. Maintain a valid and unexpired passport at least 6 months into the future

Update your change of address with the ISSO within ten days of moving by submitting online form. https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/cu/isso/a ddress_change.html

MAINTAINING STATUS

Dont let your I-20 or DS-2019 expire! Apply for an extension if you qualify for more time to complete your degree program BEFORE the expiration date. Inform the ISSO if you are completing your program earlier than the date on your I-20 or DS-2019. Example: Finishing MA in May instead of December, or PHD earlier. Need timely information regarding deadlines.

TRAVEL REGULATIONS
To return from a trip abroad during your program, carry:

Unexpired Passport, valid 6 months into the future (some countries are exempt from the 6month rule. See http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htm#_ Toc81222003 ) Unexpired F-1 or J-1 entry visa, valid for further entries (except Canadians) Unexpired I-20 or DS-2019, with travel signature less than 12 months-old on date of return

I-20 TRAVEL SIGNATURE valid for 12 months

Travel signature

DS-2019 TRAVEL SIGNATURE: Valid for 12 months

Signature

TRAVEL AND RETURN TO THE U.S.

Check your I-20 or DS-2019 forms now to see if you already have a travel signature (which is valid for return to a U.S. for a year from date)

If not, well sign it at the ISSO table at the Resource Fair or come to the ISSO before your first trip abroad.
ISSO advisors also available for questions at Resource Fair.

TRAVEL AND RETURN TO THE U.S.

BE MINDFUL that your passport is stamped correctly every time you return to U.S.:
F-1 or J-1 for D/S
(and dependents F-2 or J-2 for D/S)

After arrival, go to www.cbp.gov/I94 to access and print out your arrival record each time you travel. Keep paper copies.

CANADIANS & TRAVEL

No visa requirement BUT you MUST present your I-20 or DS-2019 each time you re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status and have your passport stamped properly.

AUTOMATIC REVALIDATION

**Special considerations apply for travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. May be possible to return to the U.S. with an expired visa http://www.ice.gov/sevis/trave l/faq_f2.htm#_Toc81222014 Please check with the ISSO for details.

EMPLOYMENT in Student Status

On-campus work
OPT (F-1 Optional Practical Training) AT (J-1 Academic Training)

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
You are immediately eligible for oncampus employment once you are in F-1 or J-1 status. On-campus means it is work done for and paid by a Columbia office or department.

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
Includes work at Columbia such as:

Teaching or Research Assistants (TA, RA), work paid by the hour such as libraries, computer labs. Workstudy not allowed.
Restricted to part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the school year Full-time allowed during recess periods during the program of study

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Form required of everyone who is employed in the U.S. Columbia I-9 completed at 210 Kent Hall.
You will need: passport, I-20 or DS-2019, and paper print-out of electronic I-94 arrival record.

OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
F-1: Eligible for off-campus employment after you have completed one academic year (2 FT semesters) in lawful student status. J-1: CU-sponsored students may apply for permission to work after one semester. Other J-1 students must check with program sponsor (such as IIE)

OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT All international students, including Canadians, must have authorization to accept offcampus employment.
Working without authorization is a very serious violation of your status

OFF-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT
F-1 Students: usually done under the framework of Practical Training. J-1 Students: usually done on the basis of Academic Training.

J-1 ACADEMIC TRAINING

May take place during and/or after the completion of studies Authorized by J-1 sponsor. ISSO or agency such as IIE. AT may not exceed the time earned as a full-time enrolled student, up to 18 months (except PHD may be up to 36 months)

F-1 PRACTICAL TRAINING OPTIONAL (OPT) Can be used during the program (after a year in status) and/or after graduation.
[Doctoral students may be eligible for another type of employment authorization-Curricular Practical Training (CPT)-- if required for dissertation research]

F-1 OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)

F-1: OPT is employment in your field of study for up to 12 months per degree level.

Exception: Some students are eligible for an additional 17-month STEM extension following post-completion OPT.

Any OPT authorized during the academic program is deducted from the 12-month total after graduation

F-1 OPT Employment

ISSO and GSAS will offer information sessions in the spring term, for

summer OPT for students continuing in the fall Post-completion OPT for students graduating in May

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER SSN issued by Social Security Administration (SSA), federal agency given ONLY for authorized employment

Note: 9-digit Columbia University ID numbers are for use within Columbia and are NOT Social Security numbers.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

An SSN is used by employers to withhold relevant taxes with the tax authorities and by employees to file a tax return. Employment for SSA application means you are getting compensated for providing services, such as being paid to be a teaching assistant (TA) or for hourly work in the library.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Not eligible to apply for SSN without a job, but one important exception: Doctoral fellowship recipients who are getting stipend the first year without working. Letter of admission and fellowship offer must outline future work component

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

For on-campus job (such as TA or hourly work on-campus:
1. obtain an SSN verification form completed by the hiring office or department printed on their letterhead 2. Bring the form to the ISSO with your documents--passport, print-out of I-94 arrival (www.cbp.gov/I94), I-20 for ISSO endorsement and instructions for application to SSA.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/F-1/SSN.pdf

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

For fellowship stipend without working the first year: Bring your admission letter with fellowship offer to the ISSO with your documents--passport, elecronic I-94 arrival (www.cbp.gov/I94), I-20 to get ISSO letter to SSA and instructions for application to SSA.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/F-1/SSN.pdf

TAX TREATY BENEFITS

You may be eligible for tax benefits if there is a relevant tax treaty between the U.S. and your home country.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p901.pdf

Ask your department about filing IRS Form 8233 with the payroll office to claim a tax treaty benefit for any earnings at Columbia.

FILING A U.S. 2013 TAX RETURN

All individuals employed or receiving U.S.-based income in the U.S. during any part of 2013 will be required to file a U.S. tax return between Feb. 1 and April 15, 2014.

FILING A U.S. 2013 TAX RETURN

All F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents who are nonresidents for tax purposes---even those without any US income must file one Federal tax form (8843) by June 15, 2014.
If no U.S. income other than interest from U.S. bank account, 8843 is the only form you will file.

FILING A U.S. 2013 TAX RETURN

The ISSO provides access to a webbased Nonresident Federal tax return preparation system The ISSO provides workshops in March and April by tax professionals to assist you with the NY State Tax Return (if you had income in NY State in 2013).

FILING A U.S. 2013 TAX RETURN

Information on how to comply with your tax filing obligation will be sent to you through the
ISSOnews email broadcasts between February and April.

ADVICE

Maintaining your immigration status is YOUR responsibility. Stay informed!

READ ISSOnews, which is sent to your CU email address

ATTEND ISSO workshops

Contact the ISSO (not your friends) for current and reliable information about your immigration status Always bring your document--passport and your certificate of eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019) when visiting the ISSO

524 Riverside Drive in International House North

ISSO LOCATION

ISSO CONTACT INFORMATION

Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10:30 4:00 pm. Closed on Wednesday

Address and Phone Number

524 Riverside Drive in International House North, between 122nd Street and Tiemann Place (212) 854-3587

Website
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/

E-mail Address
isso@columbia.edu