International Student | Safety and Security Resources

While studying in the United States, it is important to maintain your F or M student status. Your status relates to the purpose, or reason, for why you want to come to the United States. The U.S. Department of State issues you your visa based on your intended purpose. 

If the Department of State issues you an F or M student visa, this means that you are coming to the United States to study. You should not take any action that detracts from that purpose. Maintaining your status means:

• Fulfilling the purpose for why the Department of State issued you your visa.
• Following the regulations associated with that purpose.

F-1 and M-1 students share the same primary purpose for coming to the United States however, F-1 students enroll in more traditional academic programs, while M-1 students enroll in vocational programs. Because these two types of programs are different in nature, the types of benefits an international student may be eligible for and how long they may remain in the country depend on whether they are an F-1 or M-1 student. Learn more about these specific differences by reviewing the F&M Student Status: Know the Difference infographic.

Education

While studying in the United States, both F and M students must:

• Attend all your classes and maintain normal academic progress. If school is too difficult, speak with your DSO immediately.
• Maintain a full course of study each term. If you cannot study full-time , contact your DSO immediately. You may be eligible for a reduced course load in limited circumstances.
• Speak to your DSO before dropping a class.
• Talk to your DSO about requesting a possible program extension if you do not think you will complete your program of study by the end date listed on your Form I-20. An extension must be requested before your program's end date.

• Within the U.S.: F-1 students can travel within the U.S. without special permission, even to states like Alaska and Hawaii. 
• Recommended Documents: Always carry your passport, I-94 card (which you can print online), and I-20 when traveling outside your state. 
• State ID: Consider getting a state ID, as it's a more convenient form of identification for domestic travel compared to your passport. 
• DSO Consultation: It's always a good idea to consult with your Designated School Official (DSO) before any international or domestic travel to ensure your SEVIS record is accurate and up-to-date, and to obtain any necessary travel signatures on your I-20. 
• I-20 Endorsement: Make sure your I-20 is endorsed for travel and has a valid travel signature, as this is needed for returning to the U.S. after international travel. Travel signatures are valid for 12 months from the date of the signature. 
• Expired F-1 Visa: You can stay in the U.S. on an expired F-1 visa as long as you maintain your student status, but you need a valid visa to re-enter the U.S. 

To ensure a smooth entry into the United States as a student, you need a valid passport, a student visa, and your Form I-20, which is your "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status". It's crucial to keep these documents in your carry-on bag and not checked luggage, as you'll need them for inspection at the port of entry. 

Meet with your Designated School Official

Before you travel abroad, it is important to check in with your DSO. When you meet with your DSO, you should ensure that your record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status.

Make sure that your DSO has signed your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” within the last year, and that you are not leaving the country for more than 5 months. You should also make sure that you have your DSO’s most up-to-date contact information, including both a daytime telephone number at the school and a 24-hour emergency phone number, before you leave.

If you have a pending practical training application, it is not recommended that you leave the United States. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may send you a request for evidence while you are travelling, and you are expected to be able to send in the requested documents. USCIS will only send the requests to your U.S. address.

If USCIS approves your practical training application, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which USCIS will only send to your U.S. address. You are expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the United States. Visit the Travel page on ICE.gov/SEVP for more information about traveling with pending applications. 

and submit the proper documentation to SEVP. If you are issued a Form I-515A at a U.S. port of entry, visit the Form I-515A Overview page for instructions.

When you enter the United States, you will arrive at a port of entry and meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for primary and sometimes a secondary inspection.

The CBP officer may ask questions about your reason for travel and to inspect important documents like your:

• Student visa
• Form I-20
• Passport

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of your reentry. If you are an M-1 student, it is recommended that you bring your most recent Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” with you as well.

Be sure to hand-carry all of these items and do not put them in your checked baggage.

You do not need to repay the I-901 SEVIS Fee to reenter the United States after travel.

If you arrive at a U.S. port of entry and do not have all your signed required documents, have not paid the I-901 SEVIS Fee on your current Form I-20, or have a SEVIS status issue, a CBP officer may issue you a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor.” The Form I-515A admits you to the United States for 30 days while you obtain and submit the proper documentation to SEVP. If you are issued a Form I-515A at a U.S. port of entry, visit the Form I-515A Overview page for instructions.