Immigration Definitions for Students

First things first! It is very important that you become familiar with the following terms, as they are used repeatedly in Coming to Columbia and other information from the International Students and Scholars Office. It is essential that you understand these definitions, not just as you prepare to come, but throughout your stay in the United States.

Certificate of Visa Eligibility - Students who (1) have been admitted to the University, (2) need a student visa to enter the United States to study at Columbia (except Canadian citizens who do not require a passport or visa), and (3) have documented their ability to finance their education, will receive a Certificate of Visa Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019). This document certifies eligibility for an entry visa obtained at a U.S. consulate abroad, and must be shown to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official at the time of entry into the U.S. in order to enter in student status. Also known as a Visa Certificate, the I-20 or DS-2019 are processed and issued through SEVIS.

SEVIS - SEVIS is an acronym for Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. It is a data collection and monitoring system that creates an interface between institutions of higher education, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), consulates and embassies abroad, and ports of entry. Schools are required to make regular electronic updates in SEVIS throughout each semester on the records of their enrolled students in F-1 and J-1 status-and their dependents-and their researchers and faculty in J-1 status. This includes, but is not limited to enrollment status, changes in address, changes in level of study, employment recommendations, and school transfers.

Form I-94 - This small white card is a record of your legal entry into the U.S. and immigration status. You complete it on a flight to the U.S. or at a border crossing, and it is then processed at a port of entry. An immigration inspector usually staples it into your passport. Form I-94 notes name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and the date and port of your arrival in the U.S. It also indicates how long you can stay in the United States. The notation D/S signifies "duration of status" and refers to the completion date on the certificate of visa eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019). The Form I-94 is also a record of your arrivals and departures. Each time you leave the country you surrender your I-94. Only in the case of short trips to Canada, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean do you keep this form. The I-94 is an important form; we recommend that you make a photocopy of both sides of the form to keep separately in case you need to replace it

Form I-20 - The Certificate of Visa Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status is commonly known as the I-20. This is the document issued by a school through the internet-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for presentation at a U.S. consulate abroad to apply for an F-1 Student visa; it must also be presented to an immigration official upon entry into the U.S. When traveling outside the U.S., those in F-1 status must carry either an initial or recertified I-20 and financial documentation if they intend to return to the U.S. to continue their studies or practical training. The I-20 and its corresponding electronic updates in SEVIS are a permanent record of one's activities as a student in the U.S. It is your responsibility to keep all I-20's issued to you throughout your student status, no matter how long you stay in the U.S. or how many times you travel abroad. The initial I-20 used when you enter the country and stamped by the DHS is a very important immigration document. Make a copy of both sides to keep with your records. If you were not issued an I-20, or if you lose it, please come to the ISSO or the IAO. Under most circumstances, we can provide you with a replacement form within five working days.

Form DS-2019 - The Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant J-1 Exchange Visitor Status is commonly known as the Form DS-2019 (formerly Form IAP-66). This is the document issued by the program sponsor - the university, government agency or other organization sponsoring the visit - through the internet-based Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for presentation at a U.S. consulate abroad to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa. It must also be presented to an immigration official upon entry into the U.S. It is your responsibility to keep all DS-2019's issued to you throughout your student status, no matter how long you stay in the U.S. or how many times you travel abroad. The initial DS-2019 used when you enter the country and stamped by the DHS is a very important immigration document. Make a copy of both sides to keep with your records. If you were not issued a DS-2019, or if you lose it, please come to the ISSO or the IAO. Under most circumstances, we can provide you with a replacement form within five working days.

Immigration Status - This is often confused with "visa" but y our immigration status, e.g., F-1, B-2, J-1, etc., is determined at the time of your entry into the U.S. by an immigration official and is noted on the Form I-94. You may have many visa stamps in your passport but, upon entry into the U.S., an immigration inspector will admit you in only one immigration status which is noted on the I-94 card (see above. Be sure the correct status is written on your I-94 card. Unlike your entry visa, your immigration status may be changed in the U.S. Refer to the U.S. Department of State web site at http://www.travel.state.gov/xtension.html for more information.

Several important differences between the F-1 and J-1 immigration status are described at the end of this section.

Passport - Students in F-1 or J-1 immigration status must keep their passports valid at least six months into the future at all times. You may obtain extensions of your passport through the nearest consulate or embassy of your country. The ISSO or the IAO will provide you with any appropriate documents your government may require.

Entry Visa - Your entry visa is issued by a United States Consulate abroad and affixed into your passport. The only purpose of an entry visa is to apply for admission to the United States at the port of entry. The entry visa itself may expire while you are in the U.S., but your permission to stay in the U.S. remains valid. All international students - with the exception of Canadian nationals - requesting F or J immigration status are required to have a valid F-1 or J-1 entry visa stamp in their passport at the time of entry into the U.S. Your visa specifies the type of immigration status you will hold (F-1, J-1, etc.), the date until which you may enter the U.S., and the number of entries you may make before you must apply for a new entry visa stamp. The length of validity of each visa type is determined by an agreement between your home country and the U.S. government and is not necessarily tied to the length of your program of study. Please refer to the State Department's Visa Reciprocity information on their website for more details.

NOTE THAT ALTHOUGH F-1 ENTRY VISAS MAY BE ISSUED UP TO 90 DAYS IN ADVANCE OF A PROGRAM'S REPORT DATE, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER THE U.S. MORE THAN 30 DAYS IN AVANCE OF THE REPORT DATE.

F-1 or J-1 entry visas cannot be obtained within the U.S. Application for a new stamp generally must be made in person at a U.S. consulate or embassy outside the U.S. The validity period of your visa does not determine the length of time you may remain in the U.S. after you enter. Your length of stay is determined by the expected completion date of your program as indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019. You are admitted to the U.S. for "duration of status" in F and J. This is notated as "D/S" on your I-94 card. Refer to the Duration & Extension of Stay in the U.S section of the U.S. Department of State's website for more information.

Differences Between F-1 and J-1 Status

There are two types of entry visas issued to nonimmigrant students who intend to study full-time at Columbia University - the F-1 Student visa and the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa. A student's accompanying spouse and children are given an F-2 or J-2 visa.

• Source of Funding - J-1 Exchange Visitor status is available to those students who are supported substantially by funding other than personal or family funds. Such funding may include that which comes from the U.S. government or the student's home government, an international organization, or the University. Students who are supported by personal or family funds are ineligible for J-1 immigration status, and must come to the U.S. to study in F-1 immigration status.
  
  
• Foreign Residence Requirement - Students in J-1 immigration status and their J-2 dependents may be subject to a "foreign residence requirement". J-1 students who receive direct or indirect U.S. or home government funding, or who are studying in fields for which personnel are considered in short supply in their home countries (most developing nations have "Country Skills" lists of varying lengths), are ineligible to apply for a change to another nonimmigrant status (except A or G) or permanent residency in the U.S. until they have satisfied the "two year home country physical presence requirement". To see if your country is on the Skills List and which fields of study are included, consult the Exchange Visitor Skills List in PDF format.
  
  Only those in J-1 status with government funding or whose skills are on the Country Skills List are subject to the foreign residence requirement, which means that upon completion of the program of study they must reside in their countries of last legal permanent residence for two years before they are eligible to apply for entry into the U.S. on an immigrant visa or on specialized work visas (H or L). There is no foreign residence requirement for F-1 student status. Refer to the Department of State's web site for additional information on the Exchange Visitor Program.
  


• Medical Insurance - Students in J-1 status and their J-2 dependents are required to have comprehensive medical coverage in order to fulfill U.S. government regulations governing the J Exchange Visitor status. Currently the medical insurance offered by Columbia University (plus insurance provided by the IAO for the Health Sciences students) covers all requirements for those in J immigration status. If you purchase insurance other than the insurance offered through the University for your dependents or yourself, it may cost as much as $3,000 per year in excess of the usual living expenses.
  
  
• Work Permission - Students in either F-1 or J-1 immigration status may work part time (up to 20 hours per week) on campus with permission from the ISSO or the IAO. For both statuses, permission to work off campus based on economic need may be requested only after the first full academic year of student status, and only under extraordinary circumstances of unforeseen need. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorizes F-1 students to work off campus, whereas J-1 students submit an application for work permission to their visa sponsor, i.e. the agency or school that issued the DS-2019 form.
  
  
• Practical or Academic Training - Students in F-1 and J-1 immigration status are eligible to engage in differing lengths of practical or academic training during their studies and at the completion of their academic programs.
  
  Practical training, a privilege of F-1 immigration status if you are eligible, is employment in one's field of study. Those in F-1 immigration classification may be eligible for "curricular" practical training (which is authorized by the ISSO or IAO) during their programs, in addition to one year of "optional" practical training that may take place during or after one's program of study. Permission to engage in practical training may be granted only after you have been in valid student status for one academic year, except in a graduate program that requires it from the first term. The ISSO and the IAO recommend optional practical training and the USCIS authorizes it. Refer to the Practical Training Overview for complete information on both curricular and optional practical training.
  
  Academic training, a privilege of J-1 immigration status if you are eligible, is employment which is integral, not just related, to one's field of study. One is eligible to apply for permission to engage in academic training after one academic term in valid student status. A total of 18 months of academic training is possible during or following completion of a program of study, with the exception of some postdoctoral research positions that may qualify for up to 36 months. An application for academic training is made to the J-1 student's Exchange Visitor program sponsor. Refer to Academic Training Authorization for Those in J-1 Exchange Visitor Immigration Status for complete information.
  

• Dependent Employment - Immigration regulations allow no circumstances under which the spouse (F-2) of an F-1 student can apply for work permission while in the U.S. The spouse (J-2) of a J-1 Exchange Visitor, however, may apply to USCIS for permission to be employed, if he or she can demonstrate a need for supplemental support for self or children. The spouse cannot obtain work permission in order to support the J-1 student. Form I-765, required to apply for J-2 work permission, may be filed electronically. The form may also be obtained from the ISSO or the IAO.
  

Last Reviewed:10 June 2003 Last modified: 10 June 2003
International Students and Scholars Office
Columbia University