Student
- What is OPT?
- OPT is a year long work authorization program for F-1 students completing a degree. For further information, go to our OPT pages under Students>Immigration Issues.
- How do I get an invitation letter to my parents?
- Complete an application for a General Certificate, available either under forms on this website or at our front desk. The letter will be available in 3 business days.
- If I stay in the residents halls where do I stay during school breaks?
- For all housing concerns, contact housing@uiuc.edu
- I'm an international student. I have to go to another country for my reserch during the summer break. What should I do before I go there?
- ISSS cannot give any advice on entering a foriegn country- you need to check the entry requirements yourself. However to return make sure that you have a valid passport, valid entry visa and that you have had your I-20 or DS-2019 endorsed for travel by an ISSS advisor. International students are not required to register for summer unless it is their first or last semester so there are no registration issues when travelling over summer.
- Are there any steps that need to be taken if you have an internship over the summer?
- Absolutely. To work off campus you need authorization from this office- either CPT if you are an F-1 student or AT if you are a J-1 student. Without this authorization you are not legally allowed to work. Check Current Students: Immigration Issues for further information on work elegibilty.
- How can I request new I-20?
- Complete an application form that can be found under the forms section of this website or is available at our front desk. Submit it either in person or by fax and your new I-20 will be ready in 3 business days.
- Is it possible for a graduate student who currenly has a J1 visa to obtain a student loan in the US?
- F-1 and J-1 students have been able to obtain student loans from banks, however each bank has different requirements and rules that international students must meet. You should check with your bank. In addition, ISSS also provides loans, though these are not intended to help with tuition costs. Details of these can be found under Students: Campus Services > Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- What are the minimum credit hours registration requirements?
- International students must maintain 12 credit hours in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Students with an assistantship are allowed to register for only 8 credits. For further exceptions to the 12 credit rule, see Students > Current Students: immigration Advising > Guidelines to a Full Course of Study (http://www.ips.uiuc.edu/isss/pages/index.php?catID=2&pageID=31)
- What is the tuition for an international student per year?
- Tuition rates vary by year, department and program. You should consult http://www.oar.uiuc.edu/future/freshmen/tuition.html for international undergrads and http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/admissions/apply/begin/international.cfm for International graduate students.
- To how many credit hours do I need to register during the summer if I am going for an internship?
- If you are taking an internship under CPT, you are required to register for a class that is related to the internship. However, that class has no minimum credit restrictions- it can even be a 0 credit class.
- How do I add my wife as F-2 dependent?
- Complete an application for an I-20 and we will add your spouse to your record. She can then use the new I-20 we issue to either enter the US in F-2 status or change her status whilst already in the US.
- I am a PhD student, and I have transfered from one department to another. Should I go to ISSS and change my I20 by myself or someone would take care of it?
- You must take care of any changes to your I-20 yourself by applying for a new document from our office.
- I'm traveling abroad this summer. I had my I-20 endorsed last winter. Do I need a new I-20 endorsement for this summer's travel?
- Endorsements are good for one year, so if you will be returning less than a year after your previous endorsement there is no need for another.
- I am not going to come back to the University due to my military obligation, is there any paper or any process I have go thru? I already told LAS Office of my leave of absent..but Do ISSS has anything to do with me on this issue?
- You are required to submit a departure form, available on this website in the 'forms' section. This is important as it helps us close your immigration record in the correct manner- failure to do so can jepordize your future dealins with immigration.
- Where in this site can I make an appointment with an advisor?
- You can't- you must phone 217-333-1303.
- i am trying to fill out the I-765 form, in question 16, i am being required to go to "part 2 of the instructions, elegibility categories", i am kind of confused about where is part 1 or part 2? am i missing something?? or is it in the form?, thanks
- This code for OPT is (c) (3) (i)
- What is the cost of living in Champaign? Other wise stated how much does it on average cost to live there?
- The living expenses we report on the I-20's and DS-2019 is $14,522 per year.
- I'm an international student with F-1 status. If I do an internship over summer, do I have to come back to UIUC campus by the 1st day of Fall 07? Or can I stay in the outside institution until a couple weeks into September?
- Summer internships can only be PT after Aug 21st- you can still do your internship if you are authorized for PT after this date but the issue here is whether your classes will allow you to start attendence later than the first week, which you would need to check with your department.
- In last semester(2006 Fall), I taken 3 courses(12 credit). but i got a withrawal on one couse. I wonder that situation is under full credit semester? or not?
- Incompletes and pss/fail grades count as being fully registered. withdrawals do not- you should hold at least 12 credits in each semester you have studied unless you meet one of the exceptions. see Guidelines for a Full Course of Study for more on this.
- Is it always required for international students to register for a course when working as an intern (under CPT)? Is it still required even when one is working as a part-time intern?
- Yes. All students on CPT must be registered, regardless if the CPT work is PT or FT.
- What is the procedure to change the visa status from F-2 to F1? My wife just got accepted by a master program from UIUC.
- There are 2 ways to accomplish a change of status from F-2 to F-1. After receiving an I-20 from international admissions, you can either apply via mail to USCIS or travel outside the US and return with an F-1 entry visa. For more information on change of status, you should contact an ISSS advisor.
- Do I need to complete any paperwork if i like to work part-time on campus during the school terms? I am currently on F1 visa. Thanks a lot!
- Part time on campus work is an automatic authorization as part of your F status and requires no paperwork to be filed with our office.
- I am graduate student on F-1 student visa and recently i got married and would like to bring my spouse on F-2 visa, what are the documents required to issue new I-20 and amount of time does it take to complete the process of issuing I-20
- You need to apply for an F-2 I-20 for your dependent. The way this is done is by filing application for I-20 with documentation of finances and submitting it to ISSS. It takes ISSS 3 working days to issue a new document.
- Hello, I need to extend my I-20 ASAP but I am now out of town and can not come back. Can I ask my friend to do that for me? Thank you.
- If you cannot submit the documents in person, you may fax them to ISSS (to 217) 244-0530. If you authorize someone else to take care of your documents, please make sure that they have something in writing from you that you are authorizing them to do so.
- I am F-1 student. Can I waive UIUC's international student medical insurance? Because I have better insurance option.
- You would need to visit the Student Insurance Office located on the 4th floor of the Illini Bookstore Building (809 S. Wright St, Champaign) with a copy of your insurance policy during the Enrollment/Change Period for the 2007 Summer Semester between 05/14/2007 - 06/22/2007. If your insurance policy meets or exceeds to the UIUC health insurance you will be exempt. However, this is a determination made at the Student Insurance Office. For more information visit their website: www.si.uiuc.edu. The Enrollment/Change Period for the 2007 Fall Semester begins 08/22/2007 until 09/25/2007.
- What is the I-94? I am a new international student at uiuc, but when I obtained my visa, last week, no one gave me any white card.
- An I-94 is a white card given to you either on the plane or at the first airport you land at in the US. It shows you entered the US in valid status. You are not given it in your home country.
- Can a F1 full-time student obtain a SSN.
- Yes, if they have an offer of employment. For employment restrictions, see Current Students:Immigration Issues.
- I am a UIUC student on an F1 visa. i have been offered a part-time teaching assistantship at parkland. Is this considered "on campus" work? can I accept the job?
- This is not considered on campus employment, you would require extra authorization such as CPT.
- My F1 visa will be expired on Jan. 2008. Is there a way to extend F1 visa here instead of going back to my country?
- Entry visas can only be renewed outside the US.
- Hi, I am on a PhD student (Jointly between UIUC and my home university) on J-1 visa currently. I am due to graduate next summer and my J-1 visa expires then as well. Can I ask for an extension of my J-1 visa to take up a post-doc position?
- Yes, this is called Academic Training and a post doc position can allow your J-1 status to be extended for up to 3 years. More information on Academic Training is available on our website or by making an appointment with one of our advisors.
- If I register only for 12 credits in the fall or spring semesters, could I still drop a class during the semester before deadline if I find it unsuitable?
- If you drop below a full course load of 12 credits, you are in violation of your non-immigrant status unless you either file for a Reduced Course Load or one of the exceptions to a full course load applies. Information on these can be found on our website under Students: Immigrations Issues > Guidelies to a Full Course of Study.
- How can a dependent on F2 status obtain permision to work?
- They cannot. F-2 status does not allow work permission.
- Is it possible to obtain OPT without a job offer?
- Yes. OPT does not require a job offer.
Faculty
- Please direct me to a person from whom I can ask and get answers to my problem with filing tax.
- Sadly, ISSS cannot give any tax advice or recommend any tax advisor. We do have the CINTAX program which can be of use- details can be found under 'income tax' in the 'about' section of our website.
Staff
- Can you tell me where to find procedure for faculty to get a Green Card; I can't find anything on this new website.
- If you look under Faculty, Staff & Scholars, General Information, you will find "University of Illinois Green Card Policies". You will then need to speak to your employing department about initiating the green card process.
Scholar
- how to apply for an international visiting scholar in UIUC? What are the steps and material required.
- The host department must contact ISSS to request the J-1 status document. ISSS will issue a DS-2019 for a visiting scholar at the request of the department. The DS-2019 will either be taken to a U.S. Embassy/Consulate to obtain a visa, or if the individual is in the U.S., it can be mailed to USCIS to request a change of status.
- I have a J-1 Visa and I will get a job in the university. How can I change my Visa status?
- You will need to speak to your employing department about your future status. Your department will work with ISSS to obtain the appropriate status for you, usually via submitting a change of status request to USCIS.
- I am going to transfer my J1 program. What should I do?
- If you want to transfer out of the University of Illinois into another J program, please complete and submit the Transfer Out Request Form, which can be found in the Forms section under the Faculty, Staff, Scholars link. If you wish to transfer from another J program into the University of Illinois, please contact your host department.