03/31/2020
Due to the high volume of questions we have been receiving on our website, we are answering the most common here:
Q. What is the difference between a visa and a passport?
A. A visa is a stamp you get on your passport in a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas. You use it to enter the United States. A passport your is your international ID: it contains your visas, and it lets you travel in and out of a country.
Q. What is the difference between a visa and other immigration documents, such as the I-94, the I-20, and the DS-2019?
A. A visa is your “ticket” into the United States: it is the stamp you get to enter the U.S. for a particular reason (such as visitor or student). An I-94 is your “ticket to stay” in the United States: it says when you should depart after your stay is complete. An I-20 and a DS-2019 are documents issued by sponsors of F or J visas; their expiration “replaces” the typical expiration of the I-20 as your duration of stay. If you enter the U.S. with a visa that comes from an I-20 or a DS-2019, your I-94 will say “duration of stay” — and your stay will not end until your I-20 or DS-2019 expires.
Q. I am currently in the United States, but my visa has expired. Do I have to leave the country?
A. No. You only have to leave the country if your I-94, I-20, or DS-2019 has expired -- and you did not file a petition to extend before the expiration date.
Q. Where do I find the expiration of my I-94?
A. The expiration of your I-94 is the "Admit Until" date of your I-94. If you cannot find your I-94, go to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/ #/recent-search and enter your name, date of birth, passport number, and passport country.
Q. How can I extend my I-94?
A. You can extend your I-94 by travelling internationally and re-entering the United States with a new visa, or by filing a petition within the United States to extend your I-94. If you obtained your I-94 with a visa that someone within the United States sponsored for you, such as a work visa, your sponsor must support you request for a new visa or your petition to extend your I-94.
Q. Where do I find the expiration of my I-20?
A. The expiration of your I-20 is under "Program End Date." If you cannot find your I-20, ask your school or F visa sponsor for a new copy.
Q. How do I renew my passport?
A. You can renew your passport in your home country, or inside the United States. Each country has a different process to renew passports. Consult a consulate general of your home country in the United States for more information.
Q. Can I get a new visa during the Coronavirus pandemic?
A. For the next few weeks, probably not. All new visas services are suspended in most U.S. embassies and consulates overseas. There is still no date for new visas being issued.
Q. Where do I find the expiration of my DS-2019?
A. The expiration of your DS-2019 is under box 3 on the left. It is the date next to the word "To." If you cannot find your DS-2019, ask your school or J visa sponsor for a new copy.
Q. How do I extend my I-20 or DS-2019?
A. Your I-29 or DS-2019 have a sponsor. To extend either document, you need to request that your sponsor issue you a new one.
Q. Can I get an emergency visa appointment if I need a visa to get back to school or work?
A. Not at the moment. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the definition of “emergency” has changed. Now, only visas for diplomats, airline crews, and certain other travel or government professionals are considered to be “emergencies.”
Q. Can I travel internationally during the Coronavirus pandemic?
A. It is not recommended. Not all countries have travel bans in place; and the United States does not have a travel ban in place with respect to all countries. However, the situation is still changing: if you travel, you could face new restrictions by the time you come back.
Q. My school cancelled classes, moved classes online, or closed the campus. Am I going to lose my student visa or my status?
A. No. The government has changed its rules to accommodate the Coronavirus outbreak. If your school has cancelled classes, moved classes online, or closed its campus temporarily, you will not lose your status -- so long as you enroll in classes normally when they restart.
Q. What does "out of status" mean, and is it the same as being in the United States illegally?
A. "Out of status" means that you violated the conditions of your visa. For example, someone on a student visa falls "out of status" if they enroll in fewer classes than required, or work more than allowed. "Out of status" is not the same as "unlawful presence": you are only unlawfully present in the United States once you overstay your I-94 "admit until" date for more than 180 days.
Q. How can I work on campus?
A. Typically, a student status allows you to work on campus for no more than 20 hours per week. You need to consult with your school to ensure you have permission to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week.
Q. How can I work off campus?
A. Typically, a student status does not allow you to work off campus unless you use CPT or OPT. Your school needs to approve any off campus work, even if less than 20 hours per week.
Q. What is the difference between CPT and OPT?
A. CPT is available before graduation, while OPT is available both before and after graduation. Both allow you to work for any employer, on or off campus, for more than 20 hours per week. What both have in common is that the work must be related to your field of study.
Please note that both CPT and OPT are limited to 12 months (except for STEM students). If you use all 12 months of CPT, you cannot get OPT. Likewise, whatever time of OPT you use before graduating will count against your OPT after graduating.
Your school needs to approve any CPT and OPT you procure. Please consult your school for specific procedures.
Q. What is the STEM extension for OPT?
A. STEM stands for "science, technology, engineering and mathematics." International students whose degrees are in those fields can apply for an extra 24 months of post-graduation OPT -- for a maximum of 36 months.
If you have any further questions, please visit us at www.TrySymply.com and we will be sure to get back to you ASAP!
