Government Regulations
The following summary of U.S. immigration is provided to give you basic information about your non-immigrant visa status. Be sure to carefully read the sections below that apply to you. Please remember that it is your responsibility to know and follow the regulations under which you may study, work, or stay in the U.S. If you have any questions about your visa status, contact either the ELI main office on the Atlanta campus at 678-547-6151, or the Office of International Programs on the Macon campus at 478-301-5964. An International Student Advisor will answer your questions or refer you to the appropriate office or agency for information. Friends, faculty advisors, and others may be well intentioned in their advising on visa inforn1ation, but they are not always dependable sources of information on matters so crucial to your stay in the U.S.
Your Passport
Your passport is an international travel document issued to you by your government. The U.S. government expects you to keep your passport valid at all times. Check the expiration date on your passport. If you have less than six months remaining on the passport, you should request an extension. If needed by your embassy, your international student advisor will provide, at your request, a letter to affirm your student status. If your U.S. visa is still valid and you are being issued a new passport, you should request the return of your expired passport. By keeping the passports together, the valid visa can be used for reentry to the United States. Otherwise you will need to apply for a new visa the next time you leave the country.
Your Visa
This is a stamp or seal placed in your passport by a U.S. Consular officer abroad. The visa notes the purpose of your visit, the last date you can enter the United States, and how many entries you will be allowed. The visa is a permit to enter the United States. The visa does not indicate how long you will be permitted to stay and a visa does not have to be valid in order to remain in the United States. A visa can be obtained ONLY at U.S. Consulates outside the United States. The exception to this is for individuals who have adjusted their status to H-1 while in the United States.
There are many different categories of visas. The type of visa is determined by the purpose of the visitor's entry into the U.S. Most of Mercer's international students are on F-l student or J-1 exchange visitor visas.
Your I-94 (Arrival/Departure Card)
This small white card was issued by the immigration officer at the port-of-entry and stapled to the passport. It confirms that you were lawfully admitted to the U.S.
The I-94 shows how long you are permitted to stay in the United States. For F and J visa holders, "D/S" is noted instead of a specific date in the right hand- corner. "D/S" stands for "duration of status" and operates in conjunction with the I-20 or DS-2019. This means you are permitted to stay as long as you are maintaining your status as a student. (See section on 'maintaining your student status'.)
Other visa holders will have a specific date in the right-hand corner. To remain past this time, you must file for an extension before the expiration date. Be sure not to confuse the I-94 with your visa.
Student or Exchange Visitor Status
An F-1 visa (and F-1 student status) may be granted to an individual "who is a foreign student qualified to pursue a full course of study" at an academic or language institution authorized to admit foreign students. When applying for an F-1 visa, the individual must prove to a U.S. consular official that he or she wishes to enter the U.S. temporarily and solely for the purpose of study. The applicant must have a permanent residence in a foreign country and have no intention of abandoning his or her home country. F-2 visa holders are dependents of F-1 students.
A J-1 visa (and J-1 exchange visitor status) may be granted to exchange students and other categories of exchange visitors. The guidelines for applying for a J-1 visa are similar to that of the F-1 visa, though a two year home residency requirement may be imposed on J-1 exchange visitors and their J-2 dependents, according to the exchange visitor's home country and their area of skill. J-2 dependents may apply for a work permit once they are in the U.S.
Maintaining Your Student Status
After entering the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status, the student must satisfy certain requirements to remain in status. You must:
1) keep your passport and I-20 (or DS-2019) valid all at times; (See your immigration counselor if you need to extend the completion of studies date on your document.)
2) attend the school to which you were authorized by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS);
3) register for and complete a full-time course of study in the fall and spring semesters;
4) limit employment, both on campus and off, to a total of 20 hours per week while school is in session;
5) never work off-campus without written authorization from your International Student Advisor and/or INS.
A Full Course of Study
A full-time course of study is defined at Mercer as 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduate and 9 credit hours for graduate students. Students enrolled in English Language studies are required to enroll in courses which include at least 20 clock hours in class or lab each week. Mercer Law School and Medical School students should contact the school directly for these requirements.
Note: Failing to maintain your status can result in serious penalties! Be sure to see your international student advisor before dropping a class that would leave you with less than a full course of study.
Exceptions to the Full Course of Study Requirement
There are some situations in which F-1 students are considered to be maintaining status even if they are not registered full-time; for example: summer vacation, medical problems, teaching or research assistantships, etc. If you have any questions, you should consult your international student advisor.
When Dropping a Class
If you register for a class but do not attend, or if you stop attending class without officially dropping, you are likely to receive an "F" in the class and lower your GPA. Legally, whether you attend or not, you are financially responsible for classes not dropped. From the perspective of the University, a seat is reserved for each student within each class. There may be other students on a waiting list who are denied the opportunity to register, even though a registered student has no plans of attending or paying.
In other cases, a student may register and attend classes, but make no payment arrangements. This results in the student's account becoming delinquent and his/her records being placed on hold so that he/she isn't eligible to register for more classes, receive transcripts, or graduate.
In order to prevent this from happening, we are enforcing the University policy that is stated on page 40 of the official University bulletin. Specifically, the class schedules of students who do not make acceptable payment arrangements with Mercer One by the last day of drop/add, are subject to cancellation. Should a student seek, and be granted reinstatement, he/she will be assessed a $25 reinstatement fee and a $25 late payment fee. Either full payment, an official third-party billing voucher, enrollment in a Mercer Payment Plan, or proof of sufficient approved financial aid will be required at the time of reinstatement.
We sincerely hope you will understand why the enforcement of this policy is necessary. With the cost of quality education soaring, we must assure that those who wish to enroll in, and pay for classes, are assured that a seat will be available to them.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Mercer One office for clarification.