Immigration Documents

The Office of International Programs' (OIP) responsibility with respect to immigration regulations is to help you understand your obligations so that you can maintain legal status. The OIP does not have the responsibility or the authority to "enforce" immigration law. We may be required to notify CIS when a student or exchange visitor is in violation of his or her status. It is crucial that you maintain continuous communication with our office.

As a foreign visitor to the U.S., you carry several important documents. It is YOUR responsibility to learn what they are and what they mean for you. CIS regulations are complex, and they change often. The OIP will do our best to update you on relevant changes.

Upon your arrival, the OIP will make a photocopy of your travel documents. If you receive additional CIS paperwork during your time at Marietta College, it is wise to provide photocopies for your file.

Passport

The passport is a travel document issued by a competent authority showing the bearer's origin, identity, and nationality, if any, which is valid for entry of the bearer into a foreign country.

A passport:

permits its owner to return to the issuing country, usually their country of nationality.
shows the date of issuance and the date of expiration.

The period of validity varies among nations. F-1 students should keep a current passport throughout their stay in the U.S. For information on renewing your passport, contact your foreign consulate in Washington, D.C.

Visa

The visa is a multi-colored stamp placed in the passport at a U.S. Consulate. A visa is a "ticket" required for entering the U.S.

The visa indicates the traveler's name, specific classification, the number of valid entries, the location and date it was issued, and the visa's expiration date.

The validity date of a visa reflects permission to enter (or reenter) the U.S. rather than permission to remain in the U.S.

*Exception: When traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands for visits of 30 days or less, an expired entry visa is considered automatically revalidated if the traveler is carrying a valid passport, I-94, and I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 exchange visitors).

Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Card

This small, white card is issued to all non-immigrants and should be stapled into the passport at the time of arrival in the U.S. The I-94 indicates the visa classification and the length of authorized stay in the U.S. You will surrender your I-94 card when you leave the US and get a new one with a different number printed on the top when you return (except for trips to Canada and Mexico lasting less than 30 days). The length of authorized stay for F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors is noted on the I-94 as D/S, which stands for "Duration of Status." D/S allows the individual to remain in the U.S. as long as s/he carries a valid I-20 or a valid DS-2019. F-1 students are allowed a 60-day grace period following completion of their academic program, and J-1 exchange visitors are allowed 30 days.

Click here to download Form I-94 from USCIS.

I-20 Form "Certificate of Eligibility for Non immigrant (F-1) Student Status"

The I-20 is issued to you once you have made a commitment to attend a school in the U.S. It is used to apply for an F-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate in your country and is then presented to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry when you arrive in the U.S. The I-20 should not be surrendered upon entry or departure. To reenter the U.S., you must have your I-20 endorsed by a Designated School Official, and your visa must be valid.

DS-2019 Form

The DS-2019 is the equivalent immigration document held by a J-1 student or scholar.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

An EAD looks like a driver's license or state ID card. The card is issued by the USCIS as official documentation of off-campus employment authorization. For more information about off-campus work authorization, see Employment Issues.