INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IMMIGRATION ORIENTATION F O R N E W A N D T R A N S F E R S T U D E N T S O N F - 1 V I S A S
NLC FOUNDED 1977 PART OF DCCCD-DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
The International Center I N T E R N A T I O N A L S T U D E N T A D V I S I N G Located in A418 H O U R S Monday Thursday 8:30 am 6:30 pm Friday 9:00 am 4:30 pm Closed Weekends (972) 273-3155 PLEASE ARRIVE AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE CLOSING TO ENSURE FULL ASSISTANCE
I N T E R N A T I O N A L C E N T E R S E R V I C E S A D V I S I N G / R E G I S T R A T I O N Immigration and academic advising Intensive English Program (IEP) Educational planning and recommendations Class registration, add/drop classes I N F O R M A T I O N S E S S I O N S Optional Practical Training (OPT) Probation/PASSI retention information Degree Planning A D M I N I S T R A T I V E Enrollment/good-standing letters Endorsements for travel External and internal referrals Assistance with government applications
International Center Staff Our office is comprised of immigration advisors, academic advisors, and administrative staff. You may be assisted by part time and/or full time advisors. You will be referred to an immigration advisor regarding USCIS related issues.
U R E N H I L L Commonly Used Terms USCIS: P/DSO: FERPA: SEVIS: IC: DCCCD: POS: TPS: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Division of Department of Homeland Security Primary/Designated School Official or immigration advisor The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Protects the privacy of student educational records Student and Exchange Visitor Information System - A database that allows schools to exchange data on the status of F1 students International Center Dallas County Community College District Program of Study/Degree plan Temporary Protected Status - a benefit offered by USCIS for specific populations
Your General Responsibilities Maintain a full course load - a minimum of 12 hours Attend class regularly Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA Progress every semester toward completion of a program of study/degree or transfer credits necessary for a 4 year institution Take English Comp and college level math beginning in your first semester at NLC, unless exempted Fulfill financial obligations to NLC Work only on-campus with approval from the International Center and/or USCIS. Inform the International Center of any change of address, email and phone number within 10 days of change Contact the International Center immediately regarding any issues that may affect your academic/immigration status Keep ALL immigration documents and I-20s
Maintain Your Status You must abide by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations and NLC policies throughout your tenure as an F1 visa holder at NLC. There are consequences if you do not abide by stated regulations and policies. These consequences may include leaving NLC, having your SEVIS record terminated and/or deportation to your home country. We are held accountable by the school district and U.S. Department of Homeland Security to abide by USCIS regulations. Regulations often change so please visit the International Center with any inquiries about your status.
SEVIS Release Transfer students from a school in the United States must ensure that your previous school has released your SEVIS record to North Lake College. Provide your former school with NLC s acceptance letter so that they can release you in SEVIS. Contact or visit the International Center for registration deadlines. Missing the deadline may jeopardize your immigration status.
U R E N H I L L S L I D E 0 6 L A U R E N H I L L Examining Foreign Coursework NLC does not accept foreign coursework unless the courses have been evaluated by a U.S. certified credential evaluator. If you have a degree (or have taken college-level coursework) outside of the U.S., you may have it evaluated to determine transfer equivalency. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is the evaluating agency and you may visit www.naces.org. While some schools may provide credential evaluation services, NLC does not. However, we do evaluate U.S. transcripts. The Degree Audit office will review the documents and apply credits accordingly.
FULL COURSE OF STUDY IS CONSIDERED: Enrollment in Classes Minimums to Maintain Statusto 12 credits (fall and spring semesters) 6 credits (summer semester - lecture at NLC) FIRST SEMESTER STUDENTS AT NLC: Must take 12 lecture hours only at NLC. The only exception is if the class is not offered as lecture at NLC. Cannot take any on-line classes SECOND SEMESTER AND BEYOND: You must take 9 of the 12 credit hours (approximately 3 classes) at NLC You may take one off-campus class during your second semester You may take one 3 credit hour online class per semester.
Concurrent Enrollment Concurrent enrollment is when you are taking classes at two or more different colleges or universities. If you take classes within DCCCD (ex: Richland, Brookhaven, etc ), no permission form is required unless you are on probation. You must take at least 9 credits at NLC. If you take classes outside DCCCD, a permission form is required at beginning of semester and you must take at least 9 credits at NLC. An official transcript is required before registering for the next semester. L A U R E N H I L L 4
Grades and Classes For immigration purposes, you must have a final letter grade. Your final letter grade should be an A, B, C, D, or F. For academic purposes, an F is a failing grade. Receiving W, I, or E course grades may jeopardize your immigration status. Please meet with a DSO advisor. ESOL and developmental courses are designed to help you reach college-level in reading, writing, and math. Although these classes do not count towards your degree, they affect your GPA, so do your best. Texas state regulations allow a total of 6 dropped classes during undergraduate studies. You are not penalized if you drop before the class begins and/or if the situation is extenuating.
Academic Difficulty If you run into academic problems, meet with your instructor regarding difficult or unclear assignments well before the semester ends. You may attend free tutoring if you need assistance in a subject. Please also visit the International Center. We may be able to guide you to helpful resources. You must make academic progress every semester toward a program of study/degree. You must also attend all of your classes. USCIS does not state that car trouble or transportation issues are valid reasons for missing class. You must make arrangements to attend class on time. There are consequences for class non-attendance and failure to make academic progress. The consequences may include your SEVIS record being terminated, you returning to your country or you transferring to another school.
Probation and At Risk An overall GPA below 2.0 places you on Academic Probation. You are considered at risk if your semester GPA falls below a 2.0, even if your overall GPA is above a 2.0. Your SEVIS record may be terminated for failure to make progress during any semester. A DSO will review each case individually to assess your status. Probation and at risk students are required to meet a DSO in the International Center. Be aware that probation students have separate registration deadlines. Please visit the International Center for dates and more information.
Associate Degrees Part of your F1 responsibilities is to show academic progress. The state of Texas strongly encourages completing the core and/or the associate s degree before transferring to another college or university. In order to graduate from NLC, you must complete 25% of credit hours through classroom/lecture instruction at NLC. BENEFITS TO COMPLETING YOUR ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE: More likely to earn a bachelor s degree Guaranteed admission to our partner institutions Helps with the transition of your transfer credits Helps you qualify for a job or promotion May help you qualify for tuition discounts and scholarships at DCCCD partner institutions Classes at community colleges are usually less expensive
Associate Degrees F1 visas cover degrees only. It is acceptable to earn a certificate during the course of earning a degree. The following degrees are offered at NLC. AVAILABLE DEGREES: Associate in Applies Sciences Degree (AAS) Associate in Arts Degree (AA) Associate in Sciences Degree (AS) Associate of Arts in Teaching Degree (AAT) If you are interested in the nursing program, you will eventually need to transfer to El Centro College, but you may take your Pre-Nursing courses at NLC.
Transfer Coursework Transfer coursework is an option should you decide not to earn an associate s degree at NLC. These are courses that will transfer to another college or university toward a bachelor s degree. Y O U M U S T : provide desired university degree plan mark the classes that NLC offers register each semester in the IC with a DSO a block will be added to your account as a reminder to check in with a DSO.
I-20s Your I-20 will be processed as quickly as possible once you pay for your classes or establish your payment plan. You must provide a local address in order for your I-20 to be processed. Your I-20 will be signed by a DSO advisor in the International Center. You will be contacted when it is ready to be picked up. Once you pick up your I-20, please check the spelling of your name and country before signing the I-20 and inform us of any incorrect information. Your I-20 will have an expiration date. You must complete your program of study/degree before the date expires on your I-20.
I-20 Extensions Apply by completing the extension form at least 3 weeks before the end date on I-20. You will be required to provide new financial documents. In most cases, we must review your current grades before endorsing. Requesting an extension does not guarantee approval, so always have a back-up plan if denied.
Special Requests Special requests may include the following: Please come to the International Center to request the appropriate form. Upon review, it is not guaranteed that your request will be approved. If you request medical leave, you must provide current, detailed documentation from a licensed U.S. doctor. Medical leave Early withdrawal Reduced course load Other leaves of absence
Employment A DSO advisor must approve the Verification of Eligibility form before you begin work on campus. Work is limited to 19.5 hours per week while school is in session. You will not be allowed to work on campus if you are not in good standing with your immigration status and/or academics. Per USCIS, you may work off campus if Economic Hardship is approved Eligible to change your status (must see immigration attorney) Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Optional Practical Training (OPT, post degree completion) Temporary Protected Status (approved by USCIS) If you work off campus without authorization, you will be in violation of your F-1 status. Whether on or off campus, do not begin working until you receive approval from a DSO, even if you are asked to start sooner. This could severely jeopardize your immigration status.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) NLC only offers post OPT, which means you may file your USCIS application in the final semester in which you are completing your studies. OPT is adjudicated by USCIS, therefore, we have no influence over approval or denial of your application. OPT has many guidelines, therefore, you must attend a mandatory information session. Several sessions are offered and you may sign up in the International Center during your final semester of studies. You will be given a deadline to submit your OPT documents. If you miss this deadline, you will not be allowed to apply for OPT at NLC and you must make arrangements to transfer out.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) TPS is a benefit, not a status, granted by USCIS. We strongly encourage you to maintain your F1 status even if you are approved for TPS. TPS may allow you to get a reduced course load and/or work off campus. You may only work during the dates on your EAD and/or if you have received a recent approval notice. You may also qualify for reduced tuition. Visit the Admissions department for more information.
Address and Contact Information Keep your contact information current. USCIS requires a physical address, and no post office boxes. You must update your address within 10 days of the moving, per USCIS regulations. Also, keep your email and phone numbers updated. You may fill out a Change of Address form in the International Center. Please print clearly. L A U R E N H I L L 4
T R A V E L Request a Travel Authorization form from the International Center before traveling. Make your request at least one week prior to travel date. In some cases, grades must be posted before the I-20 is endorsed. Submit your original continuing attendance I-20 for endorsement and travel itinerary to the International Center. Your I-20 will not be endorsed if your semester/overall GPA falls below a 2.0. You may assign a proxy if you leave before the semester ends. Travel is always risky even if you are in good standing. IMPORTANT! You are free to travel at will. We never tell you that you cannot travel, however, we will explain the risks.
Transferring to Another School Be sure to check admission deadlines of the new school. Submit your acceptance letter to the International Center and sign the SEVIS Release form. You will need to take care of all blocks and past due tuition prior to transferring out. You will be released in SEVIS after grades post. You will be released sooner if you are on OPT and have no blocks.
I M M I G R A T I O N D O C U M E N T S Keep all your immigration documents (passport, visas, 1-20, acceptance letters, etc.) and keep them in a safe place. Your visa is only used for entering the United States. Be sure to check the expiration date on your F-1 visa before traveling. You will need a new visa to re-enter the U.S. if the date has expired. You may assign a family member or friend to by your proxy to pick up important documents on your behalf from the International Center. You must provide permission to the person and the person must sign a Proxy form and present valid identification.
We Are Here to Assist You Maintaining your immigration and academic status are YOUR responsibility. The International Center is here to support you in any way possible, but we must abide by internal and external policies and regulations. Please visit the International Center if you have any concerns that you would like to discuss. L A U R E N H I L L 4
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