harvard international office (hio) · 2014. 9. 5. · visa stamp us embassy stamp in the passport...
Post on 17-Jun-2021
1 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Harvard International Office (HIO)
Presenter:
Elizabeth Capuano
Advisor to International Students & Scholars
Harvard International Office
Agenda
Things to Know Right Now:
1. Getting help from the HIO
2. Understanding your immigration status (F, J-1, J-2, H-4, H-1, TN, O, A, etc.)
Things to Remember for the Future:
1. Travel
2. Employment
Questions for you to consider: Will you apply for OPT or AT? Do you need a new travel signature? Do you have to file a U.S. tax return?
Harvard International Office
Part of Harvard’s Central Administration
Serves more than 9,000 students and
scholars, plus their family members
Advisors are your advocates and liaisons
with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, the
Department of Labor and various Harvard
University offices
Accessing the HIO
864 Smith Campus Center (8th floor),
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
8 Advisors to international students
Advisor On Call (“AOC”) for “walk-in”
service
HIO website
Office Hours at HSPH and
appointments in Cambridge
Advisor on Call (AOC)
At the HIO Office in Cambridge
Check-in
Basic visa and travel questions, and travel
signatures
General procedures for obtaining visa documents
General questions about maintaining visa status
Social Security and ITIN letters (ITIN for tax
treaty benefits)
HIO Advisor Contact Information
Elizabeth Capuano
Direct Phone: 617-496-2817
Front desk: 617-495-2789
E-mail: elizabeth_capuano@harvard.edu
HSPH Office Hours
Utilizing HIO Website
Web www.hio.harvard.edu to:
Read about in-depth topical resources
Download forms
Periodically check the “What’s New” section
Make an appointment. Use “Contact Us”, then “Make
an Appointment online” links.
All scheduled appointments take place in
Cambridge.
Appointment On-Line
Make your Appointment
Responsibility and Understanding
Students are responsible for understanding
immigration regulations and maintaining
lawful status in the US
HIO assists students with questions about
regulations.
If you are unsure of something, ASK! The
HIO is here to help you!
Responsibility and Understanding
Caution! Please note that….
regulations change.
friends and family may hold/have held a
different status… i.e., good intentions do not
equal current, factual information.
just because you read it on-line does not mean
it’s true!
Maintain Lawful Student Status
Always be registered as a full-time student – 15 credits/semester
Report address change within 10 days via HIO web site
Travel with correct immigration documents
No unauthorized employment! – Employment is only considered “on-campus employment” if you work at Harvard and are paid by Harvard University.
Get permission from HIO before taking LOA (e.g. maternity, medical…)
Request necessary extensions before immigration document expires
4 Documents that Confer Status
Your government’s passport – valid 6 mos into the future
F-1 or J-1 visa stamp issued by the U.S. Consulate
The immigration document* sent to you:
F status = Form I-20
J status = Form DS-2019
I-94 electronic record created at port of entry – access it and
check it at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html
NEVER throw away your imm. docs. – keep them
permanently.
Visa Stamp
US embassy stamp in the passport is only permission to seek entry to the US
It does not regulate how long one can stay in the US
May be expired while inside the US
Immigration Documents
SEVIS ID #
Visa Status vs. Visa Stamp
Immigration document expiration
Visa stamp expiration
I-94 Record
I-94 record (a paper card or, more typically,
the screen shot from the electronic record)
is the ultimate evidence of lawful status in
the US:
It shows that USICS
granted legal status
“D/S” Duration of status
I-94 Record – the electronic version
What to do Right Now
Check-in with the HIO – everyone done yet?
Fulbright, AMIDEAST, LASPAU…? Contact your immigration sponsor
Use HIO website to report any change of address after HIO check-in
Check your electronic I-94 record and save it; scan your I-20s
Applied for a Change of Status? Contact me when you receive the approval or if you need to travel.
Travel
Inside the U.S.: Carry all of your immigration documents for travel within the U.S.
Travel Outside the United States
For re-admission to the U.S., you will need your:
Passport
Valid F or J Visa Stamp
I-20/DS-2019 form with a travel signature given within the last year
Travel Outside the United States
Before you buy your plane ticket:
Look at visa stamp for expiration
Get travel signature on I-20 or DS-2019 form if needed
Travel Signature
Top Page 3rd Page
Visa Stamp Renewal
If the stamp is expired, re-apply for a new visa stamp while outside of the U.S.
Visa stamps cannot be obtained within the U.S.
Discuss with me before finalizing plans.
Employment
On-Campus Employment
On-campus? = located at Harvard and paid by Harvard
University
Federal regulations – 20 hours per week limit while school is
in session
Full-time during vacation periods
Sometimes Harvard affiliated hospitals are considered on-
campus. Before accepting a position with a Harvard-
affiliated hospital, check with me first. Additional
documentation and information is required.
Off-Campus Employment
• Permitted only after holding student
immigration status for 2 consecutive academic
semesters.
• Will likely require employment authorization
from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services.
Employment After Graduation
F = Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) - authorization
from USCIS
J = Academic Training (“AT”) – authorization from HIO
Both allow extension of stay in the US for:
Paid employment directly related to studies
Extension of stay in US for career reasons (e.g. Bar Review and
Bar Exam
Requires approval in advance by USCIS and/or HIO – e.g., apply for OPT 3 months
before graduation – Monday, March 2, 2015 is the earliest possible date (first
business day) to apply for F-1 OPT for Harvard graduates.
Information session this spring – you will receive e-mails about this.
Social Security Number (“SSN”)
Required for tax purposes (Yes, you must
file a U.S. tax return…)
Lived and worked in the U.S. before? One
SSN per lifetime
F visa = obtain job first, then apply for SSN
J visa = can apply now
Application details on HIO web
Social Security officials on Campus
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 and
Thursday, September 18, 2014
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
@ Harvard International Office
top related