Welcome to the fall 2020 academic semester at SJSU! We wanted to share immigration information with you, as we start the fall semester.
If you are in the US studying at SJSU, please keep in mind the following:
Advising Appointments: Have questions regarding your F-1 status – then schedule an appointment to meet with an ISSS Advisor.
Academic Advisor vs. International Student Advisor: Please remember that ISSS Advisors cannot advise on course enrollment queries or department-specific eligibility requirements for certain courses. An Academic/Major Advisor should be able to address these questions. However, International Student Advisors can discuss the specific rules that pertain to F-1 students’ immigration status in terms of full-time course enrollment, online vs. in-person vs. hybrid courses, and concurrent enrollment/RCL possibilities.
Employment: You are eligible to work on-campus in F-1 status without getting ISSS authorization. Make plans to attend the F-1 Employment Workshop on September 2nd or September 30th, to learn more about employment options for F-1 students (on-campus, CPT, OPT). ISSS Webpage for Calendar
Completing your program at the end of Fall 2020: Review the OPT tutorial and make plans to attend a Fall 2020 Post OPT workshop. ISSS calendar has been updated.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for International Students:
*FAQs for New/Initial Students (Fall 2020)
First Semester at SJSU: If you are in the US, then complete the required immigration document upload.
Full-time enrollment: You are required to be enrolled full-time. 12 credits for undergrads and 9 credits for graduate students. Last day for add/drop is September 8th.
I-94 Record: Did you travel outside the US this summer? Check your I-94, to see that your record shows your most recent entrance into the US, as well as F-1 visa status and admit until date of D/S (duration of status). If there are any issues, email ISSS international-office@sjsu.edu
Know your I-20 end date: We recommend that you schedule an appointment with an ISSS Advisor 1-2 semesters before you plan on completing your degree, to discuss options after graduation.
Travel Signatures:Travel signatures are valid for one year on your I-20. Starting September 15th, we will start to accept travel signature requests. Please submit the Travel Signature Request form.
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Students Who Have Graduated from SJSU and are now on post-completion OPT: Know your reporting requirements of updating your SEVP portal within 10 days of a change in living address, and/or employment.
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Students Who Have Graduated from SJSU and are now on STEM OPT: Know your reporting requirements of updating ISSS via the Employment Update Report, within 10 days of a change in living address, and/or employment plus 6 month validation reports.