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Rochester Community and Technical College - Rochester, Minnesota

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International Student Services

 

VISA Information
Maintaining Full-Time Student Status (F-1 only)
Registering in SEVIS
Program Extensions for Students in F-1 Status

Maintaining Full Time Student Status
Federal regulations require that students in F-1 status be registered for a full-time course load each semester.

Failure to be registered as a full-time student is a violation of your non-immigrant status, can result in the loss of F-1 benefits, and may require you to depart the United States.

Full time status at RCTC is considered 12 credits or more per each of the Fall and Spring semesters.

Registering in SEVIS
The Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an electronic reporting data base that all registered universities in the United States must maintain in order to host F-1 students.

Once a student has been admitted to RCTC, information and personal data is loaded into SEVIS and a file on that student is created for the Department of State and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) It is referred to when the student goes to get their visa, comes through a U.S. port of entry, and when they arrive at their host school.

Universities are required to report certain types of information to SEVIS on each student each semester. That includes any changes in address, a drop to less than full-time enrollment, change in major, change in academic level, extensions of their status and so on.

In order to obtain the above information, it is necessary for students to report in person to International Student Services at the beginning of each semester. Students have 20 days from the first day of classes to do this so that International Student Services can update their electronic SEVIS file for Immigration and Customs and Enforcement.

Failure to keep information current on a student may result in the loss of the student’s immigration status and they will have to apply for reinstatement to status.

For more information about SEVIS, please contact Glen Saponari in International Student Services at 507-280-5511.

Program Extension Regulations for Students in F-1 Status
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) requires that you finish your program of study by the completion date on your I-20.

If you will not graduate by that date, you must come to International Student Services and request a program extension at least 30 days before the I-20 will expire.

There is no fee to apply for a program extension, and no “waiting period” to hear from I.C.E. Once the necessary paperwork is submitted and the change is made in the electronic Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

The International Student Office will approve all program extension requests allowable by regulations, and notify of your new completion date.

In order to obtain a program extension, you must show that you have continually maintained status and that the extension is needed for compelling academic or medical reasons, such as a change of major or research topic, unexpected research problems, or a documented illness. Delays in completing your program caused by academic probation or suspension are not acceptable reasons for program extension approval.

If your completion of studies date has expired or you do not meet the eligibility requirements to apply for a program extension, it will be necessary to file for reinstatement to F-1 status, for which I.C.E. will charge a $195 fee.

In addition, failure to apply for an extension of stay in a timely manner is a violation of F-1 regulations, which can carry heavy penalties under recent changes to immigration laws.

If your program extension is approved, a new Form I-20 which will be generated through SEVIS by International Student Services. It will show your new completion date, and must be signed by you.

Be sure to keep the new I-20 and all previous I-20 forms you have been issued. They must be submitted on request to an immigration officer when you travel outside the U.S., or to International Student Services when applying for any benefits for which the F-1 students are eligible.

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Employment, OPT and CPT

F-1 Student Employment Rules

The United States has very strict rules regarding the ability of foreign nationals to work in the United States.

• On-Campus employment: International students in valid F-1 status may work on campus at the school which they are authorized to attend for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during university vacation and holiday breaks.

Students must meet certain requirements before the International Student Office will permit on-campus work authorization. There is no job-placement service available on campus.

Note: F-1 Students are NOT permitted to work during their first year on campus

• Off-Campus employment: Students in valid F-1 status cannot be employed off-campus without meeting eligibility requirements and obtaining prior written authorization. Students in F-2 status may not be employed under any circumstances while in the U.S. Students in other statuses are generally prohibited from any kind of employment, either on or off-campus.

All off-campus employment must be authorized before it can begin. This includes internships, optional practical training, curricular-practical training and other types of off campus experiences.

There are heavy penalties for students in F status who work off-campus without authorization. Working off campus without the appropriate authorization is considered illegal employment. It is also a potentially deportable offense. SEVIS regulations require that all unauthorized employment be reported.

Optional and Curricular Practical Training for F-1 Students
Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) are employment benefits for students holding an F-1 visa.

RCTC students who have maintained their immigration status with (SEVIS) have to the opportunity to obtain up to a year of employment experience during or upon completion of their educational degree. The employment must be directly related to their field of study.

Advance approval through SEVIS is required for both types of training, and there are eligibility restrictions. Please visit the International Student Office SS134 for more information.

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Required Health Insurance Information
Health insurance is mandatory for all RCTC F-1 students. F-1 students will be required to purchase the policy offered by RCTC.

The costs listed below must be paid in full at the time of enrollment, separate from tuition and fees. Each student should be prepared to offer immediate payment for the amounts listed below upon arriving at RCTC. There is no payment plan offered for health insurance.


The only means of waiving RCTC’s mandatory health insurance requirement is to demonstrate that you have current health insurance coverage though another sponsoring agency or government.

The 2004-2005 costs of the RCTC health insurance policy are:

Yearly Coverage:

August 15, 2004 through August 15, 2005:
Student: $822.00
Spouse: $2,385.00
Each Child: $1482.00

Spring/Summer (Jan. 15, 2005 – August 15, 2005)**
Student: $514.00
Spouse: $1,490.00
Each Child: $927.00

**The Spring/Summer option is ONLY available to students who will begin their studies at RCTC in the Spring 2005 semester.

RCTC’s insurance plan is underwritten by The Mega Life and Health Insurance Company.

Web site: www.studentresources.net

Phone Number: 1-800-767-0700.

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Dates and Deadlines

RCTC strongly encourages International Students to apply as early as possible to allow time for processing.

Keep in mind that once RCTC issues an I-20, the student must then schedule and complete a visa interview at their local consulate or embassy.

International Student applications are due to the International Student Office no later than:
• 30 days before the begin date of the semester for which the student is applying if the student is already residing in the United States
• 60 days before the begin date of the semester for which the student is applying if the student is overseas

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Travel Information
Whenever F-1 students wish to travel abroad, they must secure the necessary documents to permit entry to another country and permit re-entry to the United States.

Documents needed for Re-entry to the Unites States include:

1. A valid passport or travel document

2. A Valid F-1 visa

3. A properly endorsed I-20. The SEVIS form I-20 is authorized for travel by the signature on page 3. Each signature on the I-20 authorizes travel for a year following the signature date. Once that year has passed, you must have your I-20 reauthorized by having a school official sign and date the next line available on your I-20 form.

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Deferred Enrollment
Once you are admitted to RCTC, or after you have received your I-20, if you are unable to begin your studies at RCTC for any reason, you are responsible to contact the office of International Admissions at 507-280-5511. All deferment requests must be made in writing. On your request, please state:

• Your name
• The reason you will not be able to meet the original attendance date at RCTC
• The date when you anticipate you will be able to start school.

Deferment requests can be mailed to:
Glen Saponari
International Student Advisor
Rochester Community and Technical College
851 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904-4999

Or emailed to:
glen.saponari@roch.edu

If your request for deferment is approved, you will be mailed a new I-20 with new start and end dates.

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Transfering from RCTC to another college / university
If you are currently an international student at another U.S. institution and would like to transfer to RCTC, you will need to complete the following:

If you are approved for transfer, you will need to have the International Admissions Office at your initial school “release” your SEVIS record from that institution. After being released by the initial institution, RCTC can create your new I-20.


RCTC accepts college-level credits completed at accredited colleges. Upon acceptance to RCTC, you will need to meet with a Student Advisor to determine your course of study.

Transfer students may satisfy the English Proficiency requirement by providing evidence of completion of one semester of freshman English at the initial school.

Transfer Student Application Information

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