Legal Documents

An F-1 international student is responsible to maintain all documents required for legal status.

I-20

International students are expected to maintain all copies of the I-20’s issued to them. The I-20 in conjunction with the I-94 maintains the student’s legal status while studying the in the United States.

Passport

International students are expected to keep a valid passport at all times during their study in the United States. An expired passport is a status violation.

I-94

Form I-94 is the DHS Arrival/Departure records issued to international students who are admitted to the United States. This is an electronic form. Students can print a paper copy at www.cbp.gov/I94.

Visa

All visitors to the United States, including international students, must enter with a visa (unless their county is part of the visa waiver program). All international students must enter with a valid I-20. Once a student is admitted to the United States, status is maintained by the I-94 and the I-20 forms. Students who wish to leave the country and then return to the US may use the same visa to reenter as long as it has not expired. Students who leave the country and their visa has expired, must apply for a new visa in their home country. Always get a travel endorsement on your I-20 if you are planning to reenter the US.