Common Immigration Terms
SEVIS Form I-20 for F-1 Students
This “Certificate of Eligibility” is issued to students when they are accepted to study at a college / university in the United States. It is presented to the U.S. Consulate for obtaining an F-1 visa and to immigration officers at the port of entry upon arrival in the U.S. The officer will stamp the form with a red entry stamp when you enter. Once you enter the United States, you are required by law to provide OISS with a copy of this endorsed form I-20, your I-94 and F-1 visa stamp for our records.
SEVIS Form DS-2019 for J-1 Students
The “Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status” is the document issued to students on an exchange program, or to students with special sponsorship after they have been accepted to study at a U.S. college or university. It is presented to the U.S. Consulate for obtaining a J-1 visa and to immigration officers at the port of entry arrival to the U.S. The officer will stamp the form with a red entry stamp when you enter. Keep it with your passport at all times. Once you enter the United States, you are required by law to provide OISS with a copy of this endorsed form DS-2019, your I-94 and J-1 visa stamp for our records.
I-94 (Arrival / Departure Record)
A small white card given to all non-immigrant visitors to the United States, and must remain stapled in your passport at all times. The 1-94 indicated the visa classification and the length of authorized stay in the United States.
The length of authorized stay for F-1 students and J-1 exchange scholars is noted on the I-94 as “D/S,” or duration of status. It allows F-1 students, as long as they maintain their status, to stay in the U.S. for the length of time indicated on their initial I-20 form, plus 60 days of grace period. It allows J-1 students or scholars, as long as they maintain their status, to stay for the amount of time indicated on their DS-2019, plus 30 days of grace period.
F-1 Visa/ J-1 Visa
The F-1 or J-1 Student Visa, which is placed in your passport by an American consulate or embassy in your home country, enables you to enter the United States. It may be valid for up to five years, and for multiple entries into the U.S. The visa is used only to enter the US and should not be confused with the length of time you are allowed to remain in the United States. The visa DOES NOT have to remain valid once you have entered the U.S. if you are otherwise maintaining your full-time status. However, your visa must be valid if you plan to leave and re-enter the U.S. F-1 and J-1 visas may be issued only outside the United States at an US embassy or consulate.
SEVIS (Student and Exchange VIsitor Information System)
A web-based system for maintaining information on international students and exchange visitors in the United States. SEVIS is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).