As an F-1/J-1 international student, you are responsible for maintaining your status and keeping your immigration documents up to date throughout your time at UC Merced. While it is your responsibility to ensure your status is maintained and your documents are accurate, please remember that our team is here to assist you with any questions or concerns.
If there are errors from your entry processing that are not corrected, it could jeopardize your F-1 or J-1 status.
The documents you want to review are:
New Students:
Please complete this document review after arriving in the U.S. or arriving at UC Merced to confirm that your documents were processed correctly by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry.
Current Students and Alumni on OPT:
Complete this document review each time you prepare to re-enter and upon re-entry to the U.S.
Your Passport:
A passport is an official document from your home country that serves as both identification and confirmation of your citizenship. It is essential to always have a valid passport, as border officials at your point of entry will often require that your passport is valid for at least six months into the future.
Things to Keep in Mind:
1. Is your passport expired or expiring soon?
Your passport should be valid for at least six months into the future. If your passport is nearing expiration, it’s important to start the renewal process. You can renew your passport within the U.S. by contacting your country’s embassy or consulate.
2. Did you get a new passport?
You don’t need to notify our office if you’ve received a new passport unless the biographical information in your new passport doesn’t match your I-20 or DS-2019 document. If your F-1 or J-1 visa page is in your old passport, you must bring both your old and new passports when seeking re-entry into the U.S.
Maintaining a Valid Passport:
It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport remains valid during your time in the U.S. Regulations require that your passport be valid for at least six months into the future. Keep track of your passport’s expiration date and renew it when needed. If you renew your passport, please provide the our office with a copy of the new passport.
You will need a valid passport to apply for F-1 benefits, such as employment or extension of stay, so it's important to stay on top of this requirement.
Your I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1)
Your I-20 or DS-2019 serves as proof of your legal and academic status in the U.S. Keeping your I-20/DS-2019 up to date is crucial for maintaining your status, traveling, and being eligible for benefits like work authorization. Be sure to keep copies of all I-20/DS-2019 documents for your personal records.
Things to Check:
1. Is your biographical information correct?
If any of your biographical information (such as your legal name or citizenship) has changed, please email Kassity, your DSO, to update your document.
2. Have you signed your document?
Ensure that you’ve signed your I-20 under the Student Attestation section or your DS-2019 under the Exchange Visitor Certification.
3. Do you have a valid travel signature?
Your I-20 includes a Travel Endorsement section on page two, while your DS-2019 includes Travel Validation by Responsible Officer on page one. A valid travel signature is essential for re-entry to the U.S. If your travel signature has expired and you plan to travel internationally, please come into OIA with your current I-20 to receive a hand signed travel signature, or email Kassity and she can reprint you a new I-20 with an updated signature.
For currently enrolled F-1 and J-1 students, the travel signature is valid for one year.
For F-1 students on OPT or STEM OPT, the travel signature is valid for 6 months.
4. Is your program end date in the future?
The program end date is an estimate of how long it will take you to complete your program. If you require additional time to finish your program after your original program end date, you must request an extension of your I-20/DS-2019. Be aware that extensions cannot be processed after the program end date has passed.
For undergraduate students, your program end date is determined by your graduation date or the last day of the term you are to complete your program requirements.
For graduate students, your program end date can vary based on your program specifics, such as dissertation date or thesis defense date. Please consult with Kassity if you're unsure about what your program end date should be.
5. Is your major correct?
If you’ve changed your major or added a second major, make sure you have an updated I-20/DS-2019 that reflects your correct field of study.
Please note, the major listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 might look different from the name used on your UC Merced records. It reflects a standardized CIP code, not the specific name from the UC Merced system. Be sure to check that the CIP code corresponds correctly to your major.
6. Is your work authorization information up to date?
If you are employed off-campus under your F-1 or J-1 status (for CPT/OPT/STEM or AT), make sure your work authorization is properly documented on your I-20/DS-2019. If there are any changes to your employment status, hours, or employer, you must email Kassity to update your I-20/DS-2019 to reflect these changes.
Example Form I-20 Example Form DS-2019
Your Visa:
A visa is a legal document that permits you to enter the United States for a specific purpose, such as studying or tourism. All international students, with the exception of those from Canada and Bermuda, are required to have a valid F or J visa to enter the U.S.
Visa applications, including renewals, must be made through a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S. Once processed, your visa will be returned in your passport, which will include a page granting you permission to enter the U.S.
If your visa expires, you are still allowed to stay in the U.S. as long as all of other immigration documents are valid and up-to-date. You will need to get a new visa if you wish to travel outside of the U.S. and return.
Things to Check:
1. Is your visa status correct?
Verify that the 'Visa Type / Class' listed in your passport matches your status (F or J).
2. Does the ‘Entries’ category state ‘M’?
This indicates that your visa allows for multiple entries before it expires.
If your visa shows ‘S’ under Entries, it means you are allowed only one entry before the visa expires. For more specific information, especially if you're from countries like Iran, Cuba, Sudan, or Syria, you may need to check with your U.S. consulate or refer to the U.S. Department of State Reciprocity Tables.
3. Is your visa expiration date in the future?
Ensure that the visa expiration date is in the future to allow you to re-enter the U.S.
While you can remain in the U.S. with an expired visa, you must renew your visa if you plan to leave the U.S. after it has expired (or if your visa is a Single Entry). In such cases, you will need to renew it at a U.S. embassy or consulate before you can return.
Your I-94:
Your I-94 (arrival/departure record) is an electronic record generated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) each time you enter the U.S. It serves as proof of your legal entry to the U.S., the visa type under which you were admitted, and how long you are authorized to stay. Your I-94 will be updated every time you re-enter the U.S.
You can access your electronic I-94 through the CBP I-94 website.
Things to Check:
1. Is your biographical information correct?
Double-check that your name and other biographical information are accurate on your I-94. If you find any errors, contact the CBP Deferred Inspections Office to have them corrected.
2. Does the ‘Class of Admission’ state ‘F-1’ or ‘J-1’?
The Class of Admission should list either F-1 or J-1, depending on your student visa type.
3. Does the ‘Admit Until Date’ state ‘D/S’?
The Admit Until Date should say D/S, which stands for Duration of Status. This means that you are authorized to stay in the U.S. for the duration of your academic program, as long as you maintain your visa status.
Important Tips for Accessing Your I-94:
- Wait 2-3 days after your arrival for the system to update.
- If your name appears differently, try entering it exactly as it appears on your passport, visa, or the Form DS-160 you submitted.
- Enter multiple first or last names without spaces. For example, “Mary Jane” should be entered as “Maryjane.”
- If you can't find your I-94 or encounter errors, email the CBP Deferred Inspections Office at I94SAN@cbp.dhs.gov to request a correction.
What to Do if Your I-94 Needs Correction:
If you are unable to access your I-94 or if you notice an error on your I-94, such as incorrect name, incorrect visa status, or specific end date rather than D/S (except if you have receive a Form I-515 when entering the US), you must request a correction of your I-94 by doing the following:
1. Send an email to the CBP Deferred Inspections Office at I94SAN@cbp.dhs.gov explaining the issue and the correction that you are requesting.
2. You will receive a standard reply email with some general information about the correction process, a list of documents that may be required, and a PDF attachment of the “Application for Correction of Arrival/Departure Form (I-94).”
3. Email the completed application and scanned documents back to I94SAN@cbp.dhs.gov
Your request will be processed when all the required documents are received. You will not receive a response when the correction(s) are complete. You will need to check the CBP's I-94 website periodically to see if your I-94 has been updated.
You will be contacted by email only if more information is needed and/or a personal appearance is required. It can take between 5 to 7 business days for updates/corrections to be processed by the CBP Deferred Inspection Office.
Additional Information:
Travel History: While you can access your Travel History on the CBP website, this is not an official I-94 record. Travel history may not reflect all border crossings, especially land border arrivals or updates made by USCIS.
Work Authorization: You may need to provide your I-94 to apply for certain benefits like employment or a Social Security number. Always keep a copy of your I-94, especially if you plan to apply for jobs or seek a driver’s license.
