What Every F-1 Visa Holder Needs to Know:
You are required to maintain a valid passport (not expired) during the entire period that you are in the U.S. When you renew your passport, please bring it to the Office of International Programs so a copy can be placed in your record.
Form I-20:
- Bring your I-20 with you when you first come to the Office of International Programs or to the ELI.
- Bring new financial documentation when you need a new I-20
- for an extension - if your current form will expire within two months and you will not complete your program in that time. After the I-20 has expired is too late to apply for an extension. At that point, you will need to apply for a reinstatement using form I-539 and a new I-20.
- if you change programs: major, degree, or level
- if you lose your form
- if you want to bring your spouse and/or children here
- Keep all of your I-20's in a place where you can find them. If you later apply for OPT or another visa status, you will be asked for them.
- Keep your forms in a safe place, with your passport/visa/I-94. Present all of these documents to the proper authorities when traveling between countries.
If you need a letter issued by Mercer University, please allow at last three working days. If you need an I-20 for any reason, including CPT or OPT, please allow at least five working days.
In completing visa related forms:
- Read the instructions first. If you don't understand the instructions or still have questions, please ask your international student advisor for clarification.
- Print clearly in block letters when filling out forms. Fill in every blank. If a question does not apply to you, say so by writing N/A (not applicable) in the blank (if it's an online fillable form, and most are, please fill it in before you print it).
Your Local Address:
- The law requires that we maintain a record of your current local address. Please report your local address or any of your address changes to International Programs within ten days of your latest move.
Enrollment:
- Enroll in more than the minimum full-time course load (12 credit hours for undergraduates) so that if you drop a course, you will still have a full-time course load to satisfy your F-1 non-immigrant status. If you intend to drop below full-time for any reason, you must see an international student advisor before you drop any classes or register for less than the minimum required hours.
Other Reminders:
- Auditing courses will not maintain your full-time status. You may audit courses, but only if you are already enrolled full-time in credit-bearing courses for that semester.
- You may enroll for distance courses, but only one will count toward full-time (e.g. 2 on-campus courses plus one or more distance courses for a grad student).
- You may apply for permission to register less-than-full-time for your graduating semester, if you do not need a full load of courses in order to graduate.
- You may work off-campus only if you have specific permission from the Office of International Programs
- You may remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days after completion of your program.
- If you leave the U.S. after completion of your program of studies, in order to return you will need the following items:
- a work permit for Optional Practical Training,
- a letter from your employer stating when you are expected to return to your job, and
- an I-20 signed within the past five months by your international student advisor.
Links:
Student & Exchange Visitor Information
SEVIS Fee Information
Mercer International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan
Mercer University Immunization Policy
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