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A Guide for International Graduate Students 2009-2010

3. VISA & IMMIGRATION CONCERNS FOR STUDENTS

ALREADY INSIDE THE U.S.

A. Students in F-1/J-1 status transferring to Princeton from another school

For immigration purposes, a transfer process must be followed for any student who is attending one U.S. institution and wishes to attend another. This includes students who:

· began a degree program (e.g., Ph.D.) at one school and will continue it (e.g., Ph.D.) at Princeton University.

· completed a degree program     (e.g., a Master’s, including Optional Practical Training) at one school and will start  another (e.g., Ph.D.) at Princeton University. 

T  Therefore, if you are currently in F-1 or J-1 status sponsored by another  institution in the U.S. and  plan to enroll at Princeton University, you should transfer your existing SEVIS record from your current school to Princeton University. Follow the instructions on the Office of Visa Services website and download the Transfer Form. The form should be completed and signed by your current International Student Advisor with whom you will determine your SEVIS record release date. The form should be then submitted, along with the Application for Certificate of Visa Eligibility to the Office of Visa Services. Once your SEVIS record is transferred to Princeton University, you will be issued a transfer pending I-20/DS-2019 on/or after the release date and send the form to an address that you provide on the transfer form.  

After registering at Princeton University, please bring your transfer pending I-20/DS-2019, all previously issued I-20s/DS-2019s and your passport to the Office of Visa Services. 

      We will then update your record in SEVIS and issue an I-20/DS-2019 for continued attendance. You are required to complete the transfer process within the first 15 days of your enrollment at Princeton. If you fail to complete the transfer process, your F-1/J-1 record will be terminated.

    If you have an assistantship, you may not begin it until you complete appropriate transfer procedures. Also, you may not engage in any on-campus work until your transfer has been completed. 

    NOTE: transfer of your SEVIS record is not the same as an academic transfer. All F-1/J-1 transferring students must  complete both academic and immigration transfer processes.  

B. Students not in F-1/J-1 Status

    If you are in the U.S. in another nonimmigrant status, you will need to change your status to F-1 or J-1 once you obtain an I-20/DS-2019 from Princeton University. You may obtain an F-1/J-1 visa by leaving the U.S. and applying for one at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad and re-entering OR by staying in the U.S. and applying for a change of status through the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). 

1. Obtaining F-1/J-1 status by travel

    You will need to apply for a F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad. Once you obtain a visa, you will then enter the U.S. with your visa, your I-20/DS-2019 and other supporting documents, such as your Princeton admission reply. Please click here for more information on the visa application procedure.

2. Change of status within the U.S.

If you choose not to travel outside the U.S. to obtain an F-1/J-1 visa, you will need to apply for a change of status to F-1/J-1 by submitting an application through the USCIS.   

    Please note that any on-campus work (including assistantships) requires that you hold an immigration status that allows you to work. If you will need to change your status to accept an assistantship, be aware that the application process can be lengthy (processing times vary greatly around the U.S.– 2 to 12 months) and you cannot begin your assistantship until your change of status to F-1/J-1 is approved. You must be in a proper immigration status in order to begin your program at Princeton. While it may be possible that you begin your program in other than F-1/J-1 status, you will probably be required to change to F-1/J-1 status at some point in the future. If your program requires this, you must have a visa status that allows you to work at Princeton to fulfil this requirement.

Ple Please note the following

• If you are currently in B-1, B-2 or F-2 status, you will NOT be allowed to begin your program before your change of status to F-1/J-1 is approved.
• If you are currently in H-1B, H-4 or G-4 status, you will be allowed to start your program, but you will not be able to hold an assistantship for teaching or research, or to accept any other type of on-campus employment before your change of status to F-1/J-1 is approved.

   aChange of status applications are complex, and you are strongly encouraged to seek competent advice from your current international student advisor, the OVS or an experienced immigration attorney before filing and application.