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Maintaining Your Immigration Status

Maintaining your immigration status can be easy if you know the proper steps to take and keep track of deadlines. Review the information below. If you have any questions, please contact your ISSS advisor.

F-1 students

Report to School
1. A new international student's first immigration responsibility is to report to the school that they will attend.
2. At Emory, new F-1 students "report" by logging into ISSS Link and submitting the "New Student Reporting" e-form.
Attend the School Authorized to Attend
1. Although students might have been admitted to several schools, F-1 students must attend the school that issued the I-20 they used when traveling to the US.
2. Occasionally, students may change their mind about which school they want to attend. If so, these students should follow the transfer out process after reporting to Emory.
Enroll in a Full Course of Study
1. Each semester, international students are required to be enrolled full-time at Emory University, and they are limited in terms of the number of online or distance learning classes in which they can enroll.
2. In certain circumstances, a student may request a Reduced Course Load (RCL) and enroll less than full-time.
3. Review ISSS' Enrollment Requirements page for more information on credit requirements and RCLs.
Make Normal Progress Toward Program Completion
1. Students who will not finish their program by the end date on their I-20 may request a program extension in ISSS Link by submitting one of the following e-forms: "I-20 Extension Request". Extensions can be granted if the delay is caused by a legitimate academic reason or documented illness.
2. Students who will complete their degree earlier than expected should submit the "F-1 Student Shorten Program" e-form in ISSS Link.
Keep the I-20 Up-to-Date
1. Students must request an updated I-20 if there is a change to their academic program.
2. F-1 students can request an updated document by submitting one of the following e-forms in ISSS Link:
  1. "Change of Program I-20 Request:" For F-1 students who will pursue another program at Emory including programs at a different degree level.
  2. I-20 Update/Replacement Request: For F-1 students who have had a change in major, funding, or name.
Maintain a Valid Passport
1. Passport should always be valid 6 months into the future.
2. It is recommended that students request a new passport from their home country about 8 months before their current document expires.
Keep Contact Information Up-to-Date
1. Students must report changes to their address and contact information within 10 days of a change.
2. ISSS' Updating Contact Information includes directions on how to report these changes.
Get authorization before starting employment.
1. On-campus employment is a benefit of one's F-1 status. Students can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and full time during breaks.
2. F-1 students may also be eligible for off-campus employment and training during their studies and/or upon completion of their program.
3. Students who have secured on-campus employment or have been given off-campus work authorization will need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if they do not already have one.
4. F-1 students do not need separate employment authorization for on-campus employment. However, they cannot work off campus unless they receive authorization beforehand.
Be Aware of End of Program Options and Follow Grace Period Rules
1. Upon completion of an academic program, F-1 students receive a grace period.
2. F-1 Students have a 60-day grace period to leave the US or to do one of the following:
  1. Apply for a Change of Status.
  2. Apply for Optional Practical Training.
  3. Start a new program of study, either at Emory (Change of Program) or another institution (SEVIS Transfer Out).
Depart the US at the Right Time
1. Students have a grace period after completing their academic program or an approved period of post-completion OPT. Students must depart the US by the end of the grace period unless they have filed a change of status application with USCIS or have received a new I-20.
2. Students who have failed to maintain status and whose SEVIS record has been terminated early, are not eligible for a grace period. These students must leave the US immediately.

J-1 students

Report to School
1. A new international student's first immigration responsibility is to report to the school that they will attend.
2. At Emory, new J-1 students "report" by logging into ISSS Link and submitting the "New Student Reporting" e-form.
Attend the School Authorized to Attend
1. Although students might have been admitted to several schools, J-1 students must attend the school that issued the DS-2019 they used when traveling to the US.
2. Occasionally, students may change their mind about which school they want to attend. If so, these students should follow the transfer out process after reporting to Emory.
Enroll in a Full Course of Study
1. Each semester, international students are required to be enrolled full-time at Emory University, and they are limited in terms of the number of online or distance learning classes in which they can enroll.
2. In certain circumstances, a student may request a Reduced Course Load (RCL) and enroll less than full-time.
3. Review ISSS' Enrollment Requirements page for more information on credit requirements and RCLs.
Make Normal Progress Toward Program Completion
1. Students who will not finish their program by the end date on their I-20/DS-2019 may request a program extension in ISSS Link by submitting the “DS-2019 Extension Request” form. Extensions can be granted if the delay is caused by a legitimate academic reason or documented illness.
2. Students who will complete their degree earlier than expected should submit the "J-1 Shorten Program Request" e-form in ISSS Link.
Keep the DS-2019 Up-to-Date
1. Students must request an updated DS-2019 if there is a change to their academic program.
2. Before making any change to their academic program, J-1 students must discuss the change with their Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). J-1 students who are sponsored by Emory, should contact their ISSS advisor. Students sponsored by another organization (i.e. Fulbright) should contact their program sponsor.
Maintain a Valid Passport
1. Passport should always be valid 6 months into the future.
2. It is recommended that students request a new passport from their home country about 8 months before their current document expires.
Keep Contact Information Up-to-Date
1. Students must report changes to their address and contact information within 10 days of a change.
2. ISSS' Updating Contact Information includes directions on how to report these changes.
Obtain Health Insurance
1. All Emory students are required to carry health insurance, but J-1 students and their J-2 dependents must possess health insurance that meets the US Department of State's health insurance requirements.
2. Emory's Student Health Insurance Plan meets the federal requirements.
Report J-2 Dependent Early Departures
1. J-1 students must report the early departure of a J-2 dependent within 10 days of their departure.
2. Students should use the "Dependent Departure/Removal" e-form in ISSS Link to report the early departure of a J-2.
Notify ISSS (isss@emory.edu) Within 24 hours of Any Serious Problem or Controversy
1. This includes anything that could bring the Department of State, the exchange visitor, or Emory’s exchange visitor program into notoriety or disrepute, including conviction of a crime, potential litigation related to a Emory’s J-1 program in which the exchange visitor may be a named party, serious accident or injury, or sexual abuse allegations.
Get authorization before starting employment.
1. On-campus employment is a benefit of one's J-1 status. Students can work on-campus up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and full time during breaks.
2. J-1 students may also be eligible for off-campus employment and training during their studies and/or upon completion of their program.
3. Students who have secured on-campus employment or have been given off-campus work authorization will need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if they do not already have one.
4. Before starting any employment (on or off-campus), J-1 students will need to get authorization from ISSS.
Be Aware of End of Program Options and Follow Grace Period Rules
1. Upon completion of an academic program, J-1 students receive a grace period.
2. J-1 Students have a 30-day grace period to leave the US or to do one of the following:
  1. Apply for a Change of Status.
  2. Apply for Academic Training (AT). J-1 students must receive a new DS-2019 containing the AT authorization from ISSS before the end of their program or DS-2019 end date, whichever is earlier.
Depart the US at the Right Time
1. Students have a grace period after completing their academic program or an approved period of AT. Students must depart the US by the end of the grace period unless they have filed a change of status application with USCIS or have received a new DS-2019.
2. Students who have failed to maintain status and whose SEVIS record has been terminated early, are not eligible for a grace period. These students must leave the US immediately.