International Student and Scholar Services

Student Immigration Responsibilities

All international students and scholars are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations pertaining to their status. Failure to comply with the rules can result in serious consequences, including loss of your immigration status in the United States.

These are your basic responsibilities as an international student or scholar:

  • Maintain a valid passport at all times, provide ISSS with a copy
  • Attend the school whose I-20/DS-2019 you entered the United States on
  • Know the expiration date of your visa and provide ISSS with visa renewals
  • Know your program completion date on your I-20 or DS-2019, follow correct procedure for timely extensions
  • Carry full course load—12 credits for undergraduates, 9 for graduates. Follow correct procedures for less than full-time course load
  • Make normal academic progress
  • All F-1 and J-1 students, unless officially sponsored by their home government or agency that guarantees student’s health insurance coverage as part of their contract with Florida Tech, must enroll in the Florida Tech health insurance plan (and your dependents if necessary)
  • Report to ISSS with changes in status—within 10 days of a move, extension, transfer or program change
  • File nonresident tax forms each year by deadline
  • Obtain official work permission and approval from ISSS, including RA and TA College Roll positions and all forms of off-campus employment. Adhere to proper terms of employment. Apply for Curricular Practical Training, Optional Practical Training in a timely manner
  • Obtain travel signatures before leaving the United States
  • Notify ISSS if you are leaving school for any reason
  • Obey state and federal laws
  • Depart from the United States in a timely manner

By law, Florida Tech is required to keep the following information on file: your name; date and place of birth; country of citizenship; current U.S. address; current academic status, including the start and end dates of your academic program; type of degree program and field of study; employment requests/approvals; termination date and reason; registration of number of credits per semester; and copies of immigration documents and passport. Designated School Officials (DSOs) are required to report any changes related to international students in SEVIS within 21 days.

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