Maintaining your status
As a non-immigrant visa holder, it is important for you to maintain valid visa status while in the United States and at UMMS. Please contact the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) if you have any questions or concerns about your responsibilities as a non-immigrant visa holder. We recommend that you do the following in order to ensure maintenance of status:
Always be aware of the expiration dates on your immigration documents. It is YOUR responsibility to keep track of the following:
Your passport should be valid for at least six months into the future. If you need to renew your passport while you are in the U.S., you should contact your local embassy for further instructions.
The end date on your immigration forms (I-20, DS-2019, I-797, etc.) should not expire while you are in the U.S. If you notice that your document is expiring within the next six months, you should contact the ISSO for information on how to extend the document. The ISSO sends reminders to department administrators, but ultimately it is your responsibility to keep track of this information. If you notice that your document has already expired, contact the ISSO immediately to determine if you may be eligible for J-1 or F-1 reinstatement to status. Continue with your studies, teaching and/or research.
If you are a UMMS employee, be sure to notify the ISSO if there are any changes in your appointment such as change of department, change of appointment percentage, change of title, change of funding amount our source, or if you plan to leave UMMS earlier than expected.
If you are a UMMS student, be sure you enrolled in a full course of study and making normal progress towards your degree. If any changes in your student status change, please notify the ISSO immediately. If you are on a period of approved Optional Practical Training (OPT), please review the additional responsibilities.
Always check with the ISSO several weeks before traveling outside the United States to make sure you have all necessary documents and signatures.
If you change your local U.S. address, you need to notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Human Resources and the Graduate School (if applicable).
Do not engage in activities not authorized under your nonimmigrant visa program, such as unauthorized work at another institution or employer. If you are not sure if an activity would be permitted, check with the ISSO before taking part in the activity.
Maintain health insurance, for yourself and dependents, which meets the requirements of your respective visa status.
Consult the latest ISSO Travel Information and Advice and be sure to maintain any required travel signatures or other documents in advance of planned travel.