F1 Visa General Information
Most international students at FSU are in the U.S. in F-1 status. The F-1 visa
is the most basic and widely used U.S. student visa category. It is also a visa
category that is monitored by the federal government through an electronic database
called Student and Exchange Visitor Information System or SEVIS. Each student has a
unique SEVIS ID number assigned to him/her and noted on the immigration Form I-20.
The I-20 is used by students to obtain an F-1 visa from a US Consulate or Embassy
abroad. It is also proof of F-1 status when presented together with the I-94 Departure
Record on which an Immigration officer has noted the visa status and duration of that
status which the officer granted when the student entered the U.S.
Since students in F-1 status are monitored, both the students and the university
have reporting obligations to the government as dictated by federal law. The F-1 section
of the IC web page has been designed to facilitate reporting and collection of information
from students to help them maintain legal F-1 status during their stay at FSU. It
also provides a wealth of information to help students weave through the maze of immigration
rules that they need to abide by.
Difference between visa and status:
There is often confusion over the difference between visa and status. In many countries, a visa is directly tied to one's immigration status. In the U.S., the visa simply allows a foreign national to apply for admission at a U.S. Port of Entry. The U.S. Port of Entry actually grants one's legal immigration status in the U.S. through their endorsement of one's I-94 arrival/departure card.
This endorsement and granting of one's status is done each time one enters the U.S. It is for this reason that it is essential that one is completely prepared each time they travel with documentation of their current legal status (transcripts, funding, valid travel signature). It is also important that the student carefully reviews the I-94 for accuracy at the Port of Entry (be certain the Port grants the current legal status), and that the student provides the International Center with updated copies of the I-94 each time they travel.
For F-1 students, the Port of Entry will mark F-1 as the visa status and D/S for duration of status. This D/S indication allows the educational institution to extend or transfer one's legal immigration status as an F-1 student without any additional applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Changes of status (to a different immigration status, such as H or J) while remaining in the U.S., do require additional applications to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A change of status is not complete until USCIS issues a new I-94 card showing one's new status.
In situations where one has extended their F-1 status by requesting an extension of their I-20 form, or changed to a different status while remaining in the U.S., one may have a valid and legal immigration status without having a valid visa in their passport. Although a student may have their status extended, transferred, or changed and still be "legal" while remaining in the U.S., they often will not have a visa valid for travel outside of and reentry to the U.S.
If one's visa is no longer valid or they have changed status in the U.S., the only way to obtain a new visa for travel is to apply at a U.S. consulate abroad the next time one travels. There is currently no way to apply for a visa inside the U.S. If one does not have a valid visa showing their current status, they should not travel into the U.S. on a tourist visa or in the Visa Waiver Program and continue to study or work. Tourist status is short-term and does not allow full-time study or work. There are some situations where a valid visa is not necessarily required for travel, see Automatic Visa Revalidation under Travel and Visas on our web site. This type of travel is very limited.