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I‐94I‐20

Download the International 

Student Handbook for insider tips on navigating UNC 

Charlotte!

Search ISSO homepage for “International Student Handbook”

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credentials

Welcome to UNC Charlotte!

International Student and Scholar Office(ISSO)

Meet the ISSO Staff

• Tarek Elshayeb, Director • Denise Medeiros, Associate Director • Monte Green, International Student and Scholar Advisor • Amy Mabery, International Student and Scholar Advisor • Madelyn (Maddy) Baer, International Scholar Advisor • Chau Tran, SEVIS Coordinator • Kadija Alkusaimi, Administrative Assistant • Student Assistants & Volunteers

ISSO Overview

Location: • College of Health & Human Services (CHHS), Room 202

ISSO OverviewBusiness Hours: • Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm

Walk-In Advising Hours: • Mon & Fri 10am-12pm• Tues & Thurs 2-4pm

Email and Phone Communication:• Inquiries to 704-687-7781 or intlsso@uncc.edu• 3 business days processing time for responses• ISSO uses Google group to communicate to all international

students via email

ISSO Services

• Immigration advising

• Programming

• Referral services

• General advising

• ‘Home away from home’

ISSO Programs

• Immigration Workshops • Information Sessions• Online Resources• Walk-in advising

• International Coffee Hour• Friendship & Culture Exchange• Cultural Ambassador Program• Charlotte Host Family Program• International Club• International Festival

Overview of Information Technology Services

• Writing Resources Center (writing & tutorial services)

• University Center for Academic Excellence (academic support services)

• Center for Graduate Life (academic & non-academic services)

• Atkins Library (library.uncc.edu)

• Computer Labs (labs.uncc.edu)

• Student ID Office (https://aux.uncc.edu) located in Student Union

International Student Handbook p.8

Important Academic Services on Campus

Important Services Off Campus

• Driver’s license (wait for SEVIS record activation)• North Carolina Identification Card• Public Transportation (Charlotte Area Transit System -

CATS)• Bank Accounts• ATMs on-campus = BB&T, Wells Fargo, Bank of America• Social Security Number (wait for job offer)

International Student Handbook p. 12-13

Immigration Overview• Understand basic F-1 and J-1 visa

regulations• Maintain valid F-1 or J-1 status• Legal employment eligibility and options• Travel and return to the U.S. in F-1 and

J-1 status

International Student Handbook p. 13-16

Valid Passport

• Should always be valid for atleast 6 months into the future

• Renewing your passport • Contact your home

country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S.

• 3-4 months before the expiration dateYour passport CANNOT

expire while you are in the U.S.

• I-20 generated by UNC Charlotte via SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) upon admission

• Determines your F-1 immigration status in the U.S.

• MUST remain valid at all times (see program end date for expiration)

• Valid travel signature on p.2 prior to travelling outside the U.S.

I-20

DS-2019• DS-2019 form generated by UNC

Charlotte (or other sponsor) via SEVIS upon admission

• Determines your J-1 immigration status in the U.S.

• MUST remain valid at all times (see program end date for expiration)

• Valid travel signature on p.1 prior to travelling outside the U.S.

Visa

• Your visa CAN expire while you are in the U.S. as long as your I-94, and I-20/DS-2019, are valid.

• If you leave the U.S. with an expired visa then you MUST apply for a new visa at a U.S. embassy in your home country in order to reenter.

Beware of ScamsScam – A dishonest scheme; a fraud ; a swindle

• You may receive calls from numbers that look like official offices such as 911 or the number for USCIS 

• They may possess personal information such as your I‐94 and passport numbers, birthday, address, etc. 

• May threaten to terminate your immigration status or deport you if you do not pay them a sum of money immediately 

o Money wire, Bitcoin, Western Union, gift cards

• May tell you not to contact UNC Charlotte officials or local police

Beware of ScamsScam – A dishonest scheme; a fraud ; a swindle

If you think a call may be a scam, take a number and hang up. Do NOT send any money and Contact ISSO during business hours! 

Visa Revocation

The State Department will revoke visas for anyone arrested (not just convicted) of DUI (Driving while Under the Influence of alcohol), marijuana possession, or other offense. Individuals are notified of their visa cancellation by email (address used on the visa application). You may not learn about this visa cancellation until you discover it won’t work. All consequences of the visa revocation are not clear.

DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL AND DRIVE!!!!

Clueless Joe

I-94 Form

• https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/

• I-94 Number

• Duration of Status

(D/S)

• Class of Admission

• Be Prepared

• You MUST get your I-20 or DS-2019 signed by an International Student Advisor (ISSO Staff) BEFORE you travel

• Valid passport, I-20 or DS-2019 and visa are required for re-entry to U.S.

• Contact ISSO 2 weeks prior to traveling to avoid complications

International Student Handbook p. 16

Travel & Re-Entry to U.S.

• Your visa CAN expire while you are in theU.S. as long as your I-94 number & I-20 or DS-2019 form is valid (Duration of Status: D/S)

• If you leave the U.S. with an expired visa, then you MUST apply for new visa at a U.S. embassy in your home country before returning to U.S.

International Student Handbook p. 14-15

Visa Clarification

Pursue a Full Course of Study • Undergraduate:

• 12 credits fall & spring semesters

• at least 9 credits face-to-face (in-person)

• Graduate: • 9 credits fall/spring semesters

• at least 6 credits face-to-face (in-person)

Final course in final semester MUST be face-to-faceSummer enrollment is not required4 exceptions, all require approval from ISSO prior to dropping below fulltime enrollment!

Maintenance of Status

Update Local Address, Phone Number and Email

You MUST report any change of address in your ‘My UNC Charlotte’ account within 10 days which will automatically update your SEVIS record

• Local/mailing address• Phone number• Personal email address

International Student Handbook p. 7

Maintenance of Status

On Campus vs. Off Campus = Big Difference! On Campus:• No employment ‘authorization’ necessary • Work does not need to be related to field of study• Search at University Career Center website• Not eligible for federal ‘work-study’ positions• Hourly Limits

• 20 hrs/week max while classes are in session (fall and spring semesters)

• Unlimited during vacation periods

• I-9 employment paperwork done at time of hire• Sessions at isso.uncc.edu/programs-workshops/

Student Employment

Student EmploymentOff Campus Employment• Employment ‘authorization’ by ISSO is ALWAYS

necessary

• Work DOES need to be related to field of study

• Only two ways to qualify!

• Curricular Practical Training, CPT

• Optional Practical Training, OPT

• Consequences of violation are severe – please ask ISSO before accepting any work!

Eligibility, Off-Campus Employment

Eligibility for CPT & OPT• Must be enrolled full‐time in a degree program for one full‐academic year (fall & spring semester)

Academic Training for J‐1 students• Similar to CPT or OPT. Contact the ISSO to find out if you meet the required criteria

International Student Handbook p. 16

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) (F-1)• Integral part of an established curriculum by regulation

• If eligible, apply for internship through:

1. University Career Center, or

2. Academic Department ‐ if required for a class or for PhD research toward degree completion

• Approval by ISSO

Student Employment

Student EmploymentOptional Practical Training (OPT) (F-1)• ‘Benefit’ of having completed a degree program (post-

completion)

• Seen as practical work experience based upon academic studies

• Extends F-1 status for 12 months, 24-month extension for students in STEM field

• ISSO workshop schedule will be available at http://isso.uncc.edu/current-students/employment

DO NOT RISK IT• Unauthorized employment• Less than full‐time enrollment (without ISSO approval)• Allowing I‐20 or DS‐2019 to expire prior to program 

completion• Remaining in the U.S. past your “grace period”

• F‐1 students ‐ 60 days after I‐20 completion date • J‐1 students ‐ 30 days after DS‐2019 completion date

Always consult ISSO – not your friends or professors –regarding your visa status!

Violations of F-1 or J-1 Status

• Violations of F‐1 or J‐1 status in the U.S. could result in ‘Unlawful Presence’ which carries 3 and 10 year bars for re‐entry to the U.S.

• ‘Unlawful Presence’ begins the day AFTER any status violations.

• Follow the ‘rules to the game’…• Fulltime enrollment• Work ONLY with permission• Pay attention to I‐20/DS‐2019 end date 

Unlawful Presence Memo

ISSO is your point of reference for any academic, cultural, immigration or financial issues you encounter that may have consequences on your legal F‐1 or J‐1 status. 

Remember

YOUR FIRST QUIZ!Multiple choice = 4 possible answers

1 - What government document do you use to get a F1 or J1 visa?

A. I-20

B. W-2 form

C. DS-2019

D. UNC Charlotte Student ID

Answer!A. I-20

C. DS-2019

2 - What is an I-94?A. The highway connecting Charlotte with Atlanta

B. The card or electronic printout with your port of entry information and admission number 

C. The statement you receive from the government when you file your taxes 

D. The work authorization card you receive when you apply for off‐campus employment

Answer!B. The card or electronic printout with your port of entry

information and admission number

3 - What does D/S stand for?A. Doctoral Student

B. Duration of Status

C. Dissertator Status

D. Duration of Study

Answer!B. Duration of Status

4 - What does USCIS stand for?A. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

B. United States Customs and Import Services

C. United States and Canada Immigration Services

D. United States Constitution and International Services

Answer!A. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

5 - Is it okay to remain in U.S. if your visa is expired?

A. No, you must leave the country immediately and return home to re-apply for another visa

B. No, you need to apply for another visa on-line on the USCIS website

C. Yes, as long as your passport and I-20 OR DS-20 are still valid

D. Yes – don’t worry, be happy

Answer!C. Yes, as long as your passport and I-20 OR DS-20 are still

valid

6 - How many credit hours does an int’l student have to take each

semester to maintain legal status (minimum)

A. 9 for graduates

B. 12 for undergraduates

C. 6 for graduates

D. Both A and B

Answer!

D. Both A and B

NOTE: Exceptions limited to initial difficulty with English language, severe medical, and final semester. Consult with an ISSO advisor BEFORE dropping below fulltime enrollment!

7 - When should you report your change of address?

A. within 30 days

B. within 15 days

C. within 10 days

D. within 20 days

Answer!

C. within 10 days

8 – When you have an immigration question, who do

you ask?A. Your best friend

B. Your academic advisor

C. An ISSO advisor

D. Any website or social media source

Answer!

C. An ISSO advisor

9 – You want to get a job as soon as possible. How many hours a week can you work

on-campus?A. 10

B. 20

C. 30

D. 40

Answer!

B. 20 (during fall/spring semester)

10 – When can you qualify for CPT (Curricular Practical

Training)

A. After 6 weeks

B. After 6 months

C. After 1 semester

D. After 2 semesters (1 full academic year)

Answer!

D. After 2 semesters (1 full academic year)