Visa and Immigration

International Student and Scholar Services

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 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. 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

Students on a J-1 and F-1 visa and are required by the U.S. Government to pay a fee to cover the costs of administering and maintaining the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The fee applies to any potential exchange visitor or student issued a form DS-2019 or a form I-20.

SEVIS I-901 FEE AND PAYMENT INFORMATION

This I-901 fee needs to be paid three days prior to your visa interview; however, you may schedule your interview without having paid. You will need to take the receipt of your payment to your interview or you will not be issued a J-1 visa or F-1 visa.

I-901 Fee cost

J-1 Visa (DS-2019): $220
F-1 Visa (I-20): $350

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
Meet with the Center for International Studies before reducing your course load, withdrawing from or dropping a course

Keep 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

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