Compliance Form
All international students are responsible for complying with U.S. immigration laws and regulations. Read these requirements, then sign your name in agreement at the bottom.
International students and scholars with F-1 and J-1 visas must maintain their legal status in the United States by keeping their information updated with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of State (DOS) through the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Learn more about SEVIS from U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
To stay compliant with government regulations, students and scholars must be aware of and comply fully with the following:
Passport
You must maintain a valid passport at all times.
Institution
You must attend the educational institution named on your Form I-20/Form DS-2019.
Health Insurance
J-1 students and scholars and their dependents must maintain the mandatory health insurance that is required as part of their status at all times.
Transfer
You must complete an official immigration transfer whenever you change educational institutions.
-
F-1 students must notify your current institution of your intent to transfer, obtain an I-20 from the University of Richmond, and report to the University within 15 days of the program start date listed on the I-20.
-
J-1 students must notify your current institution of your intent to transfer, obtain a new DS-2019 from the University, and report to the University by the start date on the new DS-2019.
Course Load
F-1 students and J-1 students must enroll in and successfully complete a full-time course of study each semester (nine credits for graduate students; 3.5 units for undergraduates). Exceptions to this requirement can only be made with advance authorization from the Office of International Education (OIE). A student whose course-load drops below a full-time course of study without prior authorization from the OIE will be considered out-of-status. In the final semester of study, F-1 students are allowed to enroll in a reduced course of study if they need less than 3.5 units to complete their degree program.
Extension
You must apply for an extension of your program of study prior to the expiration date on your I-20 or DS-2019 if you cannot complete your program by that date. Requests for extensions, along with all supporting financial and academic documents should be submitted 30-60 days prior to the expiration date of the I-20 or DS-2019 so the extension process can be completed prior to the expiration date of the document.
Students and scholars applying for extensions must show new financial documents proving financial ability to continue their stay in the United States, as well as letters from their academic advisors and departments recommending the extension, explaining the reasons for the extension, and specifying a new completion date.
Changing Degree or Field of Study
You must obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 form before changing your academic program from one degree level to another (such as changing from bachelor's level to master's level), one school to another (such as changing from the Robins School of Business to the Jepson School of Leadership Studies), or one major or field of study to another (such as from math to physics). You must receive authorization/permission from the director of international student services in advance.
Work Authorization
You are not allowed to work in the United States without authorization. F-1 and J-1 students are allowed to work on campus up to 20 hours per week when school is in session and 40 hours per week during official school breaks (such as spring, winter, and summer breaks). The University requires a 2.0 minimum grade point average (GPA) and enrollment in a minimum of six credit hours each semester.
J-1 students are not allowed to work without their J-1 program sponsor's authorization. If you are a J-1 exchange student from one of the University's partner institutions, you must request authorization from the international student advisor at your home institution.
J-1 students with another program sponsor (such as the Fulbright Scholar Program or Global UGRAD program) should contact their J-1 program sponsor directly. J-1 scholars may only work in the position and for the department indicated on their DS-2019.
Requests for permission to engage in any additional employment, such as an occasional lecture, must be directed to the director of international student services prior to beginning any such employment.
Change of Address
You must report any change of address or residence in the United States and/or any change of name directly to the director of international student services by using Form AR-11 within 10 days of the change; she will then electronically notify the DHS of the change within 21 days using SEVIS.
Travel
You must notify the director of international student services prior to traveling outside the United States so that your I-20 or DS-2019 can be endorsed for travel, or a new form can be issued, if required. Students who are traveling and who need new forms must request these forms from the director of international student services at least one week prior to their anticipated travel date.
Dependents
F-2 or J-2 students must notify the director of international student services of any accompanying dependents in status and provide biographical information (such as full name, address, and country of birth) and immigration information (such as passport and visa information), as well as financial support documentation regarding those dependents. The director of international student services will then issue new SEVIS I-20 and DS-2019 forms for the dependents.
Documentation
Please keep your I-20/DS-2019, I-94 card, passport, and visa in a safe place. Keep these documents on your person when you travel and always use registered mail or other services that can track documents (such as Federal Express or DHL) if you must send your passport or other immigration documents in the mail.
Contact Information
J-1 visa holders should note the contact information for Exchange Visitor program services:
U.S. Department of State
Office of Designation
Government and Academic Programs Division
ECA/EC/AG - SA-5, Floor 5
2200 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20522-0505
This information is not exhaustive and is subject to change without notice. International students and scholars should contact the director of international student services to arrange an appointment to discuss any questions or concerns related to their legal status in the United States.
For current information on changes in U.S. immigration law and/or changes in University policy and procedures, please read all e-mail messages from the director of international student services. The Office of International Education also has important resources for a variety of information regarding your stay in the United States.
Signature
"I have read the information above about maintaining my legal status in the United States and understand that I must comply fully with these regulations in order to remain in legal status. I further understand that this information is not exhaustive and that I should direct any additional questions or concerns about my legal status to the International Student Advisor in the Office of International Education. I understand that by writing my name on this agreement, I am signing and submitting a legal document to the Office of International Education at the University of Richmond."