F-1 FAQ

F-1 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do I have to attend orientation?
2. Do I need to have medical insurance?
3. Do I need to schedule an appointment to speak to an advisor?
4. Can I take classes at another institution while studying at FIU?
5. Can I drop below full-time?
6. I am out of status. What should I do?
7. Can I take the Summer Semester Off?
8. I need an expense letter. Where can I get this information?
9. Do I have to attend an F-1 Employment Workshop in order to apply for CPT or OPT?
10. Can I work full-time on-campus?
11. Can I work in more than one place on campus?
12. Can I extend my OPT end date?
13. I need a Social Security number. What should I do?
14. Do I need a new signature on my I-20 every time I travel?
15. My I-20 was not stamped upon reentry into the U.S. What should I do?
16. What happens if my visa expires?
17. What happens if my I-20 expires?
18. What if my I-20 will expire before I complete my program?
19. I lost my I-20. What should I do?
20. Is there a problem if my I-94 does not say "D/S"?  
21. I want to travel outside the U.S. What should I do?

Do I have to attend orientation?
Yes. The international student Immigration Orientation is mandatory and all international students on F-1 visa are required to attend. At orientation, you will receive information regarding federal regulations affecting your immigration status, as well as have an opportunity to meet other international students and international peer mentors who can assist you with your transition. Visit our website at http://isss.fiu.edu/ for orientation dates.

Do I need to have medical insurance?
Yes. All international students in F-1 status must have medical insurance that meets certain requirements in order to register and continue their studies at FIU. You may purchase medical insurance through University Health Services with a cashier’s check or money order or you may go online to http://www.collegiaterisk.com/students/fiu/fiu.html and purchase with a Visa or MasterCard credit card. If you have your own insurance, your insurance company must complete an Alternate Insurance Form. The Alternate Insurance form is available in the University Health Center Office on the Biscayne Bay Campus (HWC) and on the Modesto Maidique Campus (UHSC 101). It is also available in the ISSS office on the Biscayne Bay Campus (WUC 363) and on the Modesto Maidique Campus (GC 355). If your policy meets the University’s minimum medical insurance requirements, it will be approved.

Do I need to schedule an appointment to speak to an advisor?
Yes. You must make an appointment with an ISSS advisor so that you can receive the necessary attention and appropriate advice.  However, the ISSS office does have walk-in hours on Wednesdays from 9:30am to 12:00pm on the Modesto Maidique Campus and from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on the Biscayne Bay Campus.

Can I take classes at another institution while studying at FIU?
Yes. If you have maintained your F-1 status you may be able take classes at another institution, but you must enroll for a minimum of six credits at FIU in the fall and spring terms.  If summer is your first term, then you must enroll for a minimum of six credits at FIU and six at the second institution.  You must enroll for at least 12 credits as an undergraduate student or 9 credits as a graduate student between the two institutions.  You must obtain a letter of recommendation from your academic advisor or a transient form and complete a document request form from ISSS. If all is in order, you will receive authorization from an ISSS advisor to study at the second institution; a copy of your grades/transcript from the second institution must be submitted to the ISSS office by the end of the term.

Can I drop below full-time?  
No. To maintain your immigration status you are required to enroll full-time during the fall and spring terms (12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 graduate level credit hours for graduate students). Exceptions to the full-time requirement must be approved by an ISSS advisor BEFORE dropping below full-time.

I am out of status. What should I do?
If you are out of status you must schedule an appointment to meet with an ISSS advisor immediately to review your options in returning to status.

Can I take the Summer Semester Off?
If you are enrolled full-time in the fall and spring semesters and intend to continue full-time studies the following term you are eligible to take the summer term off.

I need an expense letter. Where can I get this information?
You may obtain an expense letter from ISSS after you have registered for classes by completing a document request form. This letter will only indicate the average costs for attending FIU.

Do I have to attend an F-1 Employment Workshop in order to apply for CPT or OPT?
Yes. If you are planning to work off-campus in the U.S. you must get authorization for either Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). To apply for either of these F-1 employment benefits, you must view the online employment workshop on the ISSS website, or attend a live employment workshop hosted by ISSS. You must complete the workshop acknowledgement form and set up an appointment to meet with an ISSS advisor before engaging in any type of off-campus employment. The online workshop is available at http://isss.fiu.edu/workshop.htm.

Can I work full-time on-campus?
You can work up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring terms with authorization from an ISSS advisor. During the summer vacation, spring break and holiday season, you may engage in full-time on-campus employment starting on the Monday of the vacation period and ending on the Thursday before classes begin.

Can I work in more than one place on campus?
Yes, but the total hours cannot exceed a maximum of 20 hours per week between both employers. You must obtain authorization from an ISSS advisor.

Can I extend my OPT end date?
If you are on OPT after graduation, you are not eligible to extend the OPT end date unless you earned your post completion OPT degree in one of the STEM majors listed in Classification of Instructional Programs codes published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES CIP codes), that have been designated by ICE as science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) degrees. If you are on OPT following completion of a STEM degree AND working for an employer registered with E-Verify, you may apply for a 17-month extension of your OPT. You may visit http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm for a list of majors that qualify for the STEM extension. You may need to check with the ISSS office to find out if your program has a CIP code that is on this list.

I need a Social Security number. What should I do?
You can obtain a social security number once you have obtained employment and authorization from an ISSS advisor. You must apply for a social security number through your local social security office. For the location nearest you, please go to https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp and type in your zip code. You may also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10181.html. You may download the social security application (Form SS-5) online at http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

Do I need a new signature on my I-20 every time I travel?
No, the travel signature on page 3 is valid for 12 months.

My I-20 was not stamped upon reentry into the U.S. What should I do?
Generally, your I-20 is only stamped upon initial entry at the port of entry; it is not stamped each time you travel.

What happens if my visa expires?  
A visa is an “entry document” used to enter the U.S. If it expires in the U.S., there is no need for concern as long as you are maintaining valid F-1 status. However, if you plan to leave the U.S., you will need a valid visa for re-entry to the U.S. Visas are issued at the U.S. embassies/consulates abroad. Check with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your home country regarding visa renewal requirements. Students must obtain a new I-20 for visa renewal from the ISSS office.

What happens if my I-20 expires?  
You are considered to be out of status with the Department of Homeland Security if your I-20 expires. DO NOT LET THIS DOCUMENT EXPIRE. If it has expired, schedule an appointment to meet with an ISSS advisor immediately to discuss how to get back in status.

What if my I-20 will expire before I complete my program?
To maintain status, you must obtain a new I-20 showing a program extension BEFORE your current I-20 expires. You may request an extension of your I-20 no earlier than 120 days prior to the program end date listed on your I-20. You must schedule an appointment to meet with an ISSS advisor immediately to process the extension.

I lost my I-20. What should I do?
If your I-20 is lost, damaged, or stolen, you must request a new I-20 from ISSS by completing a document request form. If your I-20 is stolen, you should file a police report with the police department as soon as possible.

Is there a problem if my I-94 does not say "D/S"?  
YES. “D/S” means “duration of status” and all F-1 students must have an I-94 with this annotation. If your I-94 does not reflect this, you must meet with an ISSS advisor immediately.

I want to travel outside the U.S. What should I do?
If you want to travel outside the U.S. you must have a valid F-1 visa, a valid I-20 with a travel signature (travel signatures are valid for one year), and a valid passport (valid at least six months into the future). If you are planning to travel to a country other than your home country, view this link www.embassy.org for travel guidelines and visa requirements. For more information on travel and re-entry, you can also visit our website: http://isss.fiu.edu/travelrentry.htm.