This document provides information and guidance for international F-1 students attending Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). It outlines important policies regarding maintaining legal immigration status, including maintaining full-time enrollment, checking VCU email regularly, keeping immigration documents like I-20 and passport up-to-date, reporting changes to VCU promptly, and following employment and travel regulations. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and complying with immigration rules to have a safe and productive academic experience.

1. Federal F-1 Student Regulations How to have a safe, enjoyable and productive stay in the U.S.

2. GEO-Immigration Services Ingrid Mercer , Director [email_address] Meghan Barger , Immigration Advisor [email_address] Eduardo Vidal , Immigration Services Assistant, [email_address] 817 W. Franklin St. Room 221 Phone: 804/ 828-0595 [email_address]

3. VCU ID Numbers Your official VCU student identification number (known as the “V number” or “Banner Number”) is listed in the upper right hand corner of your admission letter. This number is always preceded by a “V” and contains 8 additional digits, e.g., V99999999. It is your unique identifier to the university community. You will need this number for housing, use of library, and library computers, gym and many other VCU related activities and facilities. Please memorize your V number or keep a copy of it with you in your bag.

4. VCU Email GEO-IS will only reply to VCU issued email addresses. We will not use any addresses from yahoo, hotmail, hanmail, etc… This is GEO-IS’s primary form of contact with you to tell you about immigration changes or problems with your personal situation. It is very important for you to check your VCU email every day.

5. Immigration Documentation Make photocopies (& digital if possible) of passport bio page, visa stamp, I-20 and I-94 card (front & back). Carry first set of copies at all times in your bag. Keep the originals and second set of copies in two separate safe places. NEVER THROW AWAY ANY immigration DOCUMENTATION! You will need it in the future!!

7. POP QUIZ What is the most important and useful student number at VCU? Your VCU card number Your car’s license plate Your “V” number

8. POP QUIZ What is the most important and useful student number at VCU? Your VCU card number Your car’s license plate Your “V” number

9. POP QUIZ What is the most used (and most efficient) communication method for GEO-IS? Smoke signals VCU Email account Morse code

10. POP QUIZ What is the most used (and most efficient) communication method for GEO-IS? Smoke signals VCU Email account Morse code?

11. POP QUIZ How often do you need to check your VCU email account? Every day Every 10 minutes Once a week

12. POP QUIZ How often do you need to check your VCU email account? Every day Every 10 minutes Once a week

13. I-20 Expiration Make a mental note of your I-20 expiration date. Mark it in a planner or calendar. Your I-20 must be valid at all times to maintain your legal status. If you need an I-20 extension to continue your studies, start the process at least one month prior to the expiration date shown on the form. Instructions are on our website at global.vcu.edu

15. Passport Expiration Make a mental note of your passport expiration date. Do not let it expire. If you will travel and need to extend/ renew your visa, the passport must be valid for a period of at least six months beyond the requested visa extension date. Check with your country’s embassy in Washington, DC, for extension instructions.

16. Full-time Study Federal regulations require that F-1 students maintain registration status at a full-time credit load (minimum 12 credit hours for undergraduates and 9 credit hours for graduate students) for spring and fall semesters. Winter and summer breaks are free time. Audited classes and withdrawals do not count towards this requirement.

17. Make Progress in Your Degree While you are in the US, you must attend your classes punctually. You must do your assignments and make reasonable progress towards your degree completion. If you are having trouble in your classes, there are a few, very specific, acceptable reasons for dropping below a full-time course load. Do not change your schedule without permission from GEO-IS first.

18. POP QUIZ What are your international student documents and which ones should not expire? _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

19. POP QUIZ What are your international student documents and which ones should not expire? I-20 (should not expire) I-94 card Passport (should not expire) F-1 visa

20. POP QUIZ If you need to renew or change your I-20 you must: Do it the day AFTER it expires A month BEFORE it expires You do not need to do anything at all

21. POP QUIZ If you need to renew or change your I-20 you must: Do it the day AFTER it expires A month BEFORE it expires You do not need to do anything at all

22. POP QUIZ Acceptable reasons to request a reduced course load are: failing a mid-term and oversleeping for too many classes trouble with English in your first semester breaking your leg

23. POP QUIZ Acceptable reasons to request a reduced course load are: failing a mid-term and oversleeping for too many classes trouble with English in your first semester breaking your leg

24. On-campus Employment On campus employment does not require prior GEO-IS approval for F-1 students. Students may work on campus no more than 20 hours per week during the spring and fall semesters. This includes graduate assistantships. Students may work on campus up to 40 hours per week during the winter and summer breaks.

25. Off-campus Employment Students may not work off-campus without prior GEO-IS approval. Unauthorized work will subject you to severe immigration consequences. Off-campus work authorization is very limited. You can investigate the options at our website, global.vcu.edu.

26. International Travel Before you travel outside the U.S. (including travel to Mexico and Canada) you must bring your I-20 and passport to the GEO-IS office for a travel signature. We will check your passport, I-20 and visa validity dates as well as your academic and financial standing. Then we will sign the I-20. In order to avoid or deal with any potential problems or delays it is wise to bring your documents at least two weeks before you need them to leave or apply for visas or we cannot guarantee it will be signed in time.

27. Changes and Updates Federal law requires that your SEVIS records be current and accurate. Keep GEO-IS informed of any changes in your: Legal immigration status Living and mailing address- use “PR” address in Banner Phone numbers Field of study Level of study You can do this by sending an email to GEO-IS ( [email_address] ) or by coming to the office and completing a form within 10 days of any change.

28. POP QUIZ The important dates that you have to be aware of are: My birthday, independence day, and Christmas My birthday, my mother’s birthday, and Christmas Your visa expiration date, your I-20 expiration date, and your passport expiration date

29. POP QUIZ The important dates that you have to be aware of are: My birthday, independence day, and Christmas My birthday, my mother’s birthday, and Christmas Your visa expiration date, your I-20 expiration date, and your passport expiration date

30. POP QUIZ As an international student you can: Work off campus, anywhere you want (for example, delivering pizza) Work only 20 hours on campus during spring and fall semesters Not work on campus or off campus

31. POP QUIZ As an international student you can: Work off campus, anywhere you want (for example, delivering pizza) Work only 20 hours on campus during spring and fall semesters Not work on campus or off campus

32. POP QUIZ If you are planning to leave the US, you will have to: Bring your I-20 (along with your I-94 card and passport) to our office (best to give us a couple weeks) Bring the GEO staff some gifts from your home country Do not have to do anything at all

33. POP QUIZ If you are planning to leave the US, you will have to: Bring your I-20 (along with your I-94 card and passport) to our office (best to give us a couple weeks Bring the GEO staff some gifts from your home country Do not have to do anything at all

34. Graduation If you are in your final semester, please inform GEO-IS of your future plans as soon as possible. This will avoid lapses in immigration status and/or delay in requests for time-sensitive immigration benefits e.g., optional practical training, a school transfer, or a program level change.

35. Health Insurance Health care in the US is extremely expensive. All F-1 students are strongly encouraged to have health insurance. For more information about this, contact Pam Haney or Bob Wood. 804/ 828-0808

36. Social Security Numbers Social security numbers are only for paying taxes on earned income. F-1 international students are not eligible for social security numbers UNLESS they have an on-campus job. DO NOT find a job simply to get a social security number. That is considered FRAUD and illegal. There are ways around the social security requirement and Pam Haney and Bob Wood know a lot about this issue. 804/ 828-0808

37. Virginia Driver’s License or Identification Card You will need to take: Your original passport, I-20, and I-94 card One form of proof of VA residency that shows your name and street address of your current Virginia residence as it appears on the application. utility bill, bank statement, payroll check stub Richmond Central Office 2300 W. Broad Street

38. POP QUIZ Doctors and Hospitals in the US are: Free for you and everyone else Unbelievably expensive You do not know and you do not care because you will never get sick

39. POP QUIZ Doctors and Hospitals in the US are: Free for you and everyone else Unbelievably expensive You do not know and you do not care because you will never get sick

40. POP QUIZ When you have immigration questions you should: Ask the GEO-IS advisor Ask your teachers, parents and friends, because Hey, they know everything! Questions are for dummies

41. POP QUIZ When you have immigration questions you should: Ask the GEO-IS advisor Ask your teachers, parents and friends, because Hey, they know everything! Questions are for dummies

42. POP QUIZ What are the three “F”s of being an F-1 ? Do not fail a class, do not commit a felony , and do not falsify a visa application Fun, fun, and more fun Fast food, fast cars, and fast internet

43. POP QUIZ What are the three “F”s of being an F-1 ? Do not fail a class, do not commit a felony , and do not falsify a visa application Fun, fun, and more fun Fast food, fast cars, and fast internet

44. REMEMBER! GEO- Immigration Services is here to help you. We are open Monday – Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. When you have any questions about your immigration status, ask us. Do not ask your teachers, academic advisors, department chairs, or your friends. They may think they know what they’re talking about but if you get the wrong answer, you are only hurting yourself.