• Maintain a valid passport at all times, unless exempt from passport requirements. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months into the future. 
• Only attend the school listed on your current and stamped I-20. To attend another school, you must transfer to that school (obtain approval on a new I-20) or receive a concurrent enrollment letter from the International Student Advisor. 
• Complete an I-20 transfer whenever you change schools.  An I-20 transfer (not the same as transferring academic credit) must be completed within 30 days of the beginning of classes of the first semester at the new school.  An I-20 transfer is not complete until the International Student Advisor notifies SEVIS that you have enrolled in classes.
• Be a full-time student each main semester.  You must complete (not just register) for a full course load each main semesters.  To maintain your status, undergraduate students must complete 12 hours and graduate students 9 hours each spring and fall semester.  Note: Some degree programs may require more hours for academic reasons.  Check with your department. You are not required by BCIS to enroll in classes during the summer session, unless summer is your first semester in the U.S. If you need to drop below full-time hours, make an appointment to see the International Student Advisor BEFORE taking any action.
• Apply for an extension of your I-20 before the expiration date.  The extension can only be applied for at the International Student Office before the end data on your I-20. 
• Obtain a new I-20 whenever you make a change in degree levels.  This includes changing levels at the same school or a new one (e.g., bachelor's to master's degree) or beginning a new degree at the same level (e.g., master's degree to a 2nd master's). 
• Never work off-campus unless you have current authorization from the International Student Office or the BCIS.  You must either have an endorsement from our office on page 3 of your SEVIS I-20 or an employment authorization card from the BCIS. All off-campus employment has a beginning and ending date.  Renewals must be done before resuming work. If you work even one day before or after your authorization, you may be in danger of being removed from the U.S.  On-campus work does not require specific authorization, but you must maintain your full-time student status to be authorized.  On-campus work is limited to 20 hours or less per week during the fall and spring and may be full-time during the summer. 
• Obtain a travel endorsement on the back of your I-20 before leaving the U.S.   This will be needed if you want to reenter the U.S.  It is not necessary if you are returning home permanently.   An I-20 is no longer valid for reentry once you complete the degree listed on your I-20, even if the I-20 has not expired. 
• Report a change of address or phone number to the International Student Advisor within 10 days of the change.  You should also report the change to Registrar's Office.

• present in person to your local Social Security Office your passport, your I-94, I-20, and a letter from the International Student Advisor verifying your employment eligibility

Be prepared to stand in line for a long time - a two or three hour wait is not unusual.

• Passport, I-94, I-20 and letter from International Student Advisor.
• $24.00- cash only

Present the fee and additional documentation to the examiner who will take your picture and thumbprints, and give you a vision test.
You will then be admitted to the written test which consists of two parts, road rules and road signs. The passing score is 70% on these two sections. If you pass that test, you will be instructed to make an appointment for the driving (skills) test, probably the next working day.

When you go to the DPS office to take the skills test, you must have a properly registered and insured car to drive. The DPS officer who administers the test will inspect the vehicle before setting out on the road. A score of 70% is also required for passing. If you do not pass, you may take the skills test two more times within 90 days without having to pay the fee again. If you pass that test, a receipt will be issued. This will reflect your driver's license number and may be used for 60 days or until you receive your license in the mail.

For further information, consult the DPS web-site at http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/

Reasons:
For many years, a regulation has existed which said that international visitors to the U.S. (including students and scholars) must carry their "registration document" with them. This regulation was not very well known and was rarely enforced. With increased security precautions, particularly at airports, the International Center advises students and scholars to make sure that they are in compliance with this regulation.

Leaving and Returning to the United States
As always, please make sure that you have appropriate documents : your I-20, an un-expired passport, and Form I-94 and a travel letter from the International Student Advisor.

*The signature on page 3 of your SEVIS I-20 should be no more than 6 months old* 

Leaving and Returning with Expired Visa
If you plan to leave and re-enter the United States and will need a renewal of your visa at a U.S Embassy.

To find your nearest location and all forms needed go to www.usembassy.gov.

Additionally, enhanced security procedures can add additional wait time for a visa. Countries that tend to have this additional wait times are the following:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. While Turkey was reported to be on the list initially, more recent reports are that it is not on the list. Bangladesh, however, not included in initial reports, is apparently on the list. Please note, however, that the list of countries has not been formally published by the State Department.

Practical Training (CPT) 
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is temporary employment authorization directly related to an F-1 student’s academic program where the work done counts towards course credit.  The work must be required for the degree program or earning credit for the degree program.  Curricular Practical Training is only available to F-1 visa students who are and have been lawfully enrolled as a full-time student for one full academic year and are currently in status. The only exception is graduate students who are required to begin a required practicum or internship immediately.  CPT can be authorized for part-time employment (20 hours a week or less) or full-time employment (more than 20 hours a week).  Authorization for CPT must be renewed each semester that you wish to participate.

NOTE: Students who accumulate one year or more of full-time CPT are not eligible for Optional Practical Training (a separate program), which is usually authorized after the completion of a degree program. 

Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization 
As an F-1 student, you may be eligible to apply to the Bureau of Citizenship & Immigration Services (BCIS) for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship. Once authorized, this program allows you to work in any kind of job off-campus. 

You are limited to part-time employment (a maximum of 20 hours per week) during the fall and spring semesters. You must also maintain a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters. You can work full-time during the summer or officially recognized school breaks. 
To be authorized, you must prove that you have severe economic hardship that is due to a change in your circumstances that are beyond your control or ability to predict. Authorization is usually granted for one year at a time.

Optional Practical Training (OPT) 
You may apply for OPT at the beginning of your final semester (post-completion OPT,) or during your study (pre-completion OPT) ** Please call the office for more detail on both categories. **OPT is “temporary employment for practical training directly related to the student’s major area of study.” You may apply for OPT 120 days before graduating from your program. The OPT approval process usually takes 90 days. Once you receive your Employment Authorization Card and have graduated, you may begin working full-time for one year. You may only be unemployed up to 90 days during the 12-month period. You may visit the International Student Office for more information.

1. Officially, if you have an Optional Practical Training application pending with the BCIS, you are not supposed to leave the country. If you do, the BCIS may consider this departure as an abandonment of the application. Therefore, the International Student Advisor's official recommendation is that you DO NOT travel outside of the US while your OPT application is pending.  If you think you will need to travel or an emergency arises, please see the International Student Advisor
   
   
2. Once the OPT is approved and you have received the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card you will be allowed to travel outside of the United States if you have the following:
   
   
   • OPT SEVIS I-20 that has been recently endorsed on the travel line by the International Student Advisor; 
   • Employment Authorization Document (EAD card)
   • Valid passport and a current visa stamp
   • Offer of Employment letter

The Visa is a stamp in the passport indicating (1) where the visa was issued, (2) the date the visa was issued, (3) the date the visa will expire, (4) the number of entries permitted, (5) the type of visa, and (6) the visa number.  Before a non-immigrant can enter the U.S. a visa must be issued at the American Embassy or Consulate's Office in his/her home country. 

Applicants should be aware that a visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.  The BCIS has authority to deny admission.

If you have not completed your course of study by the completion date listed on your I-20 you must apply for an extension of program with the International Student Office at least 30 days before the expiration date listed on your SEVIS I-20 Form.  Extensions are not guaranteed.

• Failure to complete a full time class load or its equivalent each fall and spring term. 
• Not attending a fall or spring term and remaining in the US. 
• Unauthorized employment 
• Failure to complete a transfer of school notification with BCIS. 
• Failure to complete a notice of change in degree level with BCIS.
• Failure to obtain an extension of current program in a timely fashion. 

When you fall out of status you lose all of the benefits of the F-1 status.
There are two options available to students who want to get back into legal status?

1. Apply to BCIS for reinstatement to legal status.
2. Leave the U.S. and re-enter with a new initial entry SEVIS I-20