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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to sponsor the "F" visa for eligible international students. The Office of International Affairs is the sole designated Office for the university to issue the Form I-20 for qualified international students; however, the Office of International Affairs has no involvement in the admission process. Please contact the Registrar’s Office (http://registrar.uth.tmc.edu) and/or the School (http://www.uthouston.edu) you applied to regarding your admission application.
Report on International Students on F-1 and J-1 Visas Enrolled at UTHSC-H during the Fall 2008, Academic Term
F-1 New International Students
Students admitted to a program of study at UTHSC-H must follow an established process and provide a set of original forms and documents to the Office of International Affairs (OIA) for determination of eligibility to obtain Form I-20.
F-1 Program Extension
An F-1 student who has
continuously
maintained legal F-1 status and is making normal progress towards completion of educational objectives but is unable to complete the academic program within the end date of the Form I-20, must follow a procedure to
submit
a request for program extension to the Office of International Affairs within 30 days prior to the program end date.
F-1 Program Transferring
Students admitted to a new program of study at a different academic institution must complete a request form providing the UTHSC-H Office of International Affairs the information needed to release corresponding SEVIS record to the new sponsoring program. Likewise, students admitted to a program of study at The UTHSC-H who will be
transferring
from another institution must provide information required to confirm release of a SEVIS record from the current sponsoring program.
Employment in F-1 Status.
- On Campus employment: student in F-1 status are
eligible
to work on-campus incident to status.
Length
of authorized work authorization is based on the end date of the Form I-20, actual completion date, or transfer release date, whichever occurs first.
- Practical Training: Many students may be eligible for a period of work authorization
at the conclusion of their studies. This temporal work authorization is referred to as 'practical training'. This employment authorization is limited to a specific
length
of time according to specific regulations. Employers considering hiring a foreign student with work authorization for practical training should be aware that such authorization expires as the practical training period ends and therefore continuation of employment would require employer sponsorship for an appropriate employment-authorized visa type. F-1 students enrolled at The UTHSC-H may be eligible to participate in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and/or Optional practical Training (OPT) provided the F-1 student meets eligibility requirements set by federal regulations for each case.
Maintenance of F-1 Status
All students on an F-1 visa must maintain valid status by enrolling in a full course of study (i.e. 9 credit hours) each semester until graduation. F-1 students are subject to mandatory health insurance, to include coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation. Employment must be authorized from an International Visitor Advisor prior to the start of employment. F-1 students are required to report a change of address within 10 days of the move to the Office of International Affairs and submit form AR-11 to The Department of Homeland Security. Students must file for timely extension and/or transfers of their F-1 SEVIS records. All students must maintain a valid unexpired passport, Form I-120, I-94 card endorsed F-1 “D/S” (duration of status), and comply with NSEERS “Special Registration” requirements, if necessary. Please consult with your International Visitor Advisor in the Office of International Affairs (OIA) if you have any questions regarding the maintenance of your status.
Travel and Reentry in F-1 status
Travel abroad on an F-1 or F-2 student visa requires the signature of the Designated School Official (DSO) at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC). If you are attending one of School of Public Health’s Regional Campuses, please allow sufficient mailing time in order for travel endorsement to be processed at UTHSC-Houston. To secure the proper travel endorsement on the Form I-20 prior to traveling abroad, schedule an appointment to meet with your International Visitor Advisor at OIA. Failure to obtain the appropriate signature prior to travel abroad could prevent readmission to the U.S. F-1 student are required to present a passport valid at least six months into the future, a valid F-1 visa stamp (except for Canadian citizens), and original Form I-20 containing travel endorsement located on the third page of the Form I-20 upon reentry into the United States. If you will require a new F-1 or F-2 visa stamp to re-enter the U.S., please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at which you plan to obtain a visa in order to confirm its hours of operation and application procedures prior to your departure.
F-2 Visa Status for Dependents
If an F-1 student is married and will be accompanied by a spouse or unmarried minor children (under the age of 21), the dependents of the F-1 student will need to apply for the F-2 visa. F-2 dependents are issued a dependent Form I-20 in his/her own name but are not required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. U.S. immigration regulations do not permit individuals in F-2 status to engage in employment under any circumstances. Federal immigration regulations also restrict F-2 spouses from engaging in full-time studies at the university level. F-2 unmarried minor children may only engage in full-time study at the K-12 level. Part-time study is permitted provided that the study is avocational or recreational, such as study to pursue a hobby or study of an occasional or casual nature. If an individual in F-2 status would like to work or study full-time, please discuss other possible visa options with an F-1 International Visitor Advisor at the Office of International Affairs.
Any questions related to the issuance of Form I-20 should be directed to the International Student Advisors by email utoiahouston@uth.tmc.edu or by fax: 713/500-3189 or by telephone: 713/500-3176.
Back to Nonimmigrant Visas Overview
Last updated, July 24, 2009
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