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

Questions and Answers

www.hio.harvard.edu