International Student and Scholar Services

Visa and Immigration

${alt}

Visa and Immigration Pre-Arrival 

St. Cloud State University issues the following immigration documents for Semester at St. Cloud State students:

  • DS-2019: Student Exchange Visitor Program for the J-1 Visa
  • I-20: Non-partner students or as requested by partners for the F-1 Visa

Once pre-admission application materials are received and reviewed, the form I-20 or DS-2019 will be processed by the Semester at St. Cloud State team. Students will receive official notification of admission (dates on admission schedule) once immigration document is processed. St. Cloud State will then send the acceptance packet to the home university including:

  • Original DS-2019 or I-20
  • Admission/Acceptance Letter
  • Embassy Letter
  • Visa application information

This packet will be sent to the home institution’s international office. Please email semesteratSCSU@stcloudstate.edu if you prefer it be sent directly to the student. Once the students receive their acceptance packet, they can schedule their visa appointment.

SEVIS I-901 Fee

Visa and Immigration After Arrival

As a Semester at SCSU student, it is important to maintain your immigration status, allowing you to stay in the United States for the duration of your program. The Center for International studies can provide support for any questions or concerns about maintaining your J-1 or F-1 status while at St. Cloud State. 

Please find helpful tips about maintaining your immigration status below.

Enrollment

  • You must be enrolled in a full course load during the Fall and Spring semester
    • A full course load is 12 undergraduate credits and 6 graduate credits
  • Only three credits of online courses can count toward your full-time enrollment each semester
  • Please meet with the Center for International Studies before reducing your course load, withdrawing from or dropping a course 

Keep your immigration documents up-to-date 

  • Apply for a program extension before your DS-2019 or I-20 expiration date if you plan to extend your program at St. Cloud State 
  • Your passport must be valid during your stay in the United States and should be valid 6 months after your departure date

Check your St. Cloud State University email account

  • The Center for International Studies will utilize your SCSU email account as our main form of communication so it is important to continue to check your SCSU email for important updates from CIS

Employment

  • Semester at SCSU students are eligible for on-campus employment and need to receive permission from the Center for International Studies before working on-campus
    • Employment cannot exceed 20 hours/week while school is in session 
    • Employment may be 40 hours (+) per week during vacations/breaks, providing the student will continue to be a full-time student the term following the break
    • Employment is terminated upon the end of the Semester at SCSU program 

Academic Training

  • Academic training is work, training or experience related to a student’s field of study. Appropriate activities vary depending the discipline. Academic training may involve sequential or simultaneous activities, either paid or unpaid, with several employers, U.S. or foreign, provided the application and approval procedures are followed for each employer and activity, and the time limits are not exceeded.

  • If you are on a J-1 Student Visa and are interested in Academic Training, please contact your Center for International Studies Advisor