International Student Services maintains immigration records on all F-1 and J-1 students currently enrolled at the UA. ISS assists F-1 and J-1 students with the application processes and endorsements for various nonimmigrant benefits, such as practical training programs and economic hardship work authorization.
Read below for important immigration announcements:
Updated 4/5/2013
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) published a rule to automate the Form I-94. The Form I-94 is the little white card in your passport. The CBP is expanding the definition of I-94 to include an electronic Form I-94 based on the information in its databases. You can read more information here: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/i-94_instructions/i94_rollout.xml
Here is what to expect:
1. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) plans full implementation by the end of May 2013: Air and Sea Ports of Entry will be implementing the automated I-94 over a 4 week period beginning April 30. Land Ports of Entry (for example, those who enter by vehicle from Mexico or Canada) will continue to issue the paper Form I-94A.
2. Arrival to the United States: Make certain that the CBP officer stamps your passport and annotates the stamp with the class of admission (F-1 or J-1) and D/S (Duration of Status) or “admit to” date. The stamp in your passport will serve as proof of lawful admission. CBP will provide a handout with the CBP I-94 website.
3. After arrival to the United States: Use the CBP I-94 website provided on the CBP handout to enter data to access your electronic I-94 and print it on paper.
4. Departure from the United States: Individuals that entered the U.S. with the automated I-94 will no longer have a paper I-94 to surrender.
Additional information about the Form I-94: The admission of a nonimmigrant student to the United States is evidenced by the CBP immigration officer annotating the nonimmigrant's Form I-94 with the date and class of admission, and the expiration date of the period of authorized stay (for F-1 and J-1 students with proper documentation the expiration date is annotated as D/S, Duration of Status). I-94 is sometimes called the: Alien Registration Receipt Card; Registration Document; Admission Number; or Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document.
International Student Services will continue to post announcements regarding automation of the I-94, as more detailed information becomes available.
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Please read the information under the Concurrent Enrollment tab of the Maintaining Status page for important changes in our Concurrent Enrollment policy for Spring 2013 semester!
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ALERT: News Flash- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no longer provides admission stamps on the Form I-20 and Form DS-2019
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for immigration inspections at the Port of Entry. These officers annotate the form I-94 and I-20/DS-2019 with the period of authorized stay and nonimmigrant classification. CBP announces the following:
“As of Aug. 10, 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) no longer provides admission stamps on the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” and Form DS-2019, “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status,” for prospective and returning F, M and J nonimmigrants seeking admission to the United States. This change makes CBP processes consistent with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) recent change to stop stamping the Form I-20 and Form DS-2019.”
The CBP did encounter delays with their notice of not stamping documents reaching the different ports of entry. However, the CBP has now implemented their new policy of not stamping the I-20 or DS-2019.
Since your I-20 or DS-2019 will not be stamped by the CBP, you will need to rely on your properly stamped I-94 card as documentation of your F-1 or J-1 and Duration of Status (D/S). Additionally, the Port of Entry stamps a page inside of your passport with the same information as the I-94 card. If you apply for a driver’s license or non-drivers identification card with the Department of Motor Vehicles and they reject an unstamped Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, then you can take the document to the CBP office at the Tucson International Airport, in order to receive a stamp on the I-20 or DS-2019. However, the stamping of the I-20 and DS-2019 is a transitional step that will end on Nov. 21, 2012.
CBP and USCIS encourages F and J nonimmigrants who encounter issues with their state or federal benefit applications to contact the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at 703-603-3400 or SEVP@dhs.gov.
If you apply or renew your drivers license, or have applied for a Social Security Number, and receive a notice that refers you to your school sponsor, then meet with an International Student Advisor regarding a potential interface system problem.
Continue to check the International Student Services listserv regarding CBP and USCIS plans to automate some of their processes. We will provide new information as it becomes available.
Program Extension on I-20 or DS-2019:
If you thought that you were going to complete your degree in May 2012 and now realize that you are going to need more time, please note the expiration date of your document (item #5 for I-20 or item #3 for DS-2019). It is important to know that we cannot extend your document after it has expired. If an extension is necessary, please submit a complete program extension request at least 2 weeks before the end date on the I-20 or DS-2019 and register for subsequent terms. Failure to extend your I-20 or DS-2019 prior to the program end date is a status violation.
If you are graduating in May 2012 and your program end date is beyond May, please bring a letter from your academic advisor with program completion date. ISPS must shorten your I-20 or DS-2019 to reflect your actual completion date. Students who are planning to transfer to another U.S. school will need to contact ISPS regarding transfer procedure and timeframe.
F1 students who have successfully completed their program and graduated have a 60-day grace period after their program completion date. Visit with an ISPS advisor regarding available options during this timeframe (i.e. OPT, transfer out, change of level, change of status). J1 students have a 30-day grace period.
If you have any questions or concerns, please see an international student advisor at ISS. Walk-in advising is held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 1:30-3:30 pm.
You may view the advising schedule at: http://internationalstudents.arizona.edu/office-advising
If you prefer to schedule an appointment with an advisor, please call (520) 621-4627.
