U.S. Immigration functions are divided between the following:
- I.C.E. (Immigration Customs and Enforcement)
I.C.E. is responsible for immigration investigations, detention, removal intelligence and the S.E.V.I.S. This U.S. government agency works with travelers from other countries. The I.C.E. issues forms and procedures and is responsible for enforcement of the procedures and U.S. law regarding non-citizens. Officials at schools in the U.S. do not work for the I.C.E.
- C.I.S. (Citizenship and Immigration Services)
C.I.S. is responsible for most visa applications and petitions adjudications.
- C.B.P. (Customs and Border Protection)
C.B.P. is responsible for immigration inspections at U.S. Port’s of Entry, border protocol and customs services.
I-20
An I-20 form is the certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant students on F-1 or M-1 visas. It is issued by your school, and allows you to apply for a visa, and to enter or to re-enter the U.S. The I-20 shows where, what, and when you are authorized to study.
I-94
Upon entry into the U.S. every non-immigrant is given an I-94. This small card is usually stapled to the passport page opposite the visa stamp. The I-94 shows how long you are allowed to stay in the U.S. Someone in B-2 status (visitor for pleasure) is given a date, usually 6 months from their arrival. A student in F-1 status has D/S (Duration of Status) instead of a date. (Read more about Duration of Status on the F-1 Visa.)
TIP: This card is given up when you leave the U.S. to notify ICE of your departure. You don't have to give it up if you make a brief visit to Canada or Mexico.
<%--(Read more about Leaving and Re-entering the U.S. on an F-1 Visa.)--%>
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Passport
Your passport must be valid at all times. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. Talk to the consulate or embassy of your country (here in Seattle) to renew or replace your passport.
TIP: Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place, such as a bank safety-deposit box. It is also a good idea to keep a copy of your passport in a separate safe place. You can obtain a Washington State ID card to use for identification purposes.
Duration of Status (D/S)
To be "in status" means to be OK with immigration. If you are following the rules of your visa status, then you are in status. If you come into the U.S. on an F-1 student visa, you are allowed to stay in the U.S. for the Duration of your Status. If you have violated the rules of the F-1 visa, you are "out of status" and staying in the U.S. illegally. (Read more about the Period of Authorized Stay on an F-1 Visa.)
Employment
Employment refers to any work for which you are compensated, including money through a salary or tips, housing, goods, or other services.
Change of Status
To change your visa status from one type to another type of status. For example, if you enter the U.S. on an F-1 visa and change your status to an H-1B visa status to legally work in the U.S.
Visa
A visa is the stamp in your passport issued by a U.S. Consulate. It shows that the Consulate has "checked you out" in your country and recommends your admission into the U.S. It does not guarantee you will be admitted into the country. It shows you are allowed to apply at a port of entry for admission into the U.S. in a particular immigration classification (For example; F-1, M-1,B-2, etc).
REMEMBER: The visa stamp does NOT tell you how long you can stay in the U.S. The expiration date of the visa does not affect your length of stay in the U.S. (Read more about the
Applying for a Visa Regulations and Procedures.)
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Getting a Student Visa
In order to apply for a student visa, you must first apply and be admitted to a school in the U.S. When you are admitted to South Seattle Community College (SSCC), we will send you an I.C.E. I-20 form which authorizes your study period. You can take that I-20 to the U.S. Consulate in your country and apply for your student visa.
In order to obtain a non-immigrant, student visa, you must be able to prove the following:
- That you have strong ties to your home country which demonstrate your intention to return home after your studies
- That you have sufficient funds to pay for your financial needs while you are studying in the U.S., including tuition, health insurance, housing, travel expenses, etc.
- That you have legitimate intentions to study full time and gain education and training which will be useful in your home country
Once you receive your visa from the U.S. consulate in your country, you are eligible to come to the U.S. and "apply" for entry. A C.B.P. officer (usually the airport) will decide if you are admissible, looking for proof of the above criteria. Therefore, you may be asked to show your financial documentation again, or you might be asked to prove you really plan to study. You must also show the I-20 for the school where you intend to study.
Visa Types
Student Visa (F-1)
People with an F-1 visa are non-immigrant aliens who have not abandoned their residence in a foreign country and who are bona fide students coming temporarily to the U.S. to pursue a course of study at a DHS certified institution of education.
Visitor for Business (B-1) or Pleasure (B-2)
People on visitors visas are allowed to study part time as long as it is secondary to their purpose for being in the U.S. If you entered the country as a visitor, your primary purpose is business or pleasure, and you may study incidentally to that purpose. We recommend only part-time study for people on visitor’s visas.
NOTE: It is quite difficult to change visa status from B-1 or B-2 to F-1 here in the U.S. Do NOT plan to enter the U.S. on a visitor’s visa and then change to F-1.
Vocational Student (M-1)
This visa status is much more limited than the F-1 student visa, and is intended for people who are in vocational or non-academic training (other than language training) program. Some of the restrictions of the M visa include not being eligible for on-campus employment and not being allowed to transfer programs or schools.
Exchange Student or Scholar (J-1)
People on J-1 visas have a specific program they are participating in. According to that program, they may or may not be eligible to study at SSCC. Check with our International Programs Office for more information.
Dependents (F-2, J-2, M-2, etc.)
Family members of the principal visa holder are eligible to study part-time or full-time. They are not allowed to work.
Family members may engage in part time study that is "vocational or recreational" nature. A child with a F-2 visa may only engage in full-time study if the study is in elementary or secondary school.
Immigration Web Links
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