Maintaining Status

Keep your documents in a safe place. You should make copies of all of your documents and keep them separate from the originals.

Important Documents

  • Passport: Do not allow your passport to expire. In general, your passport must be valid at least six months into the future. If you are traveling outside the U.S., make sure that your passport will be valid for at least six months after you return to the U.S.
  • Visa Stamp: The visa stamp that was placed in your passport at the U.S. consulate or embassy when you applied for your visa is for entry purposes only. It does not govern your stay in the U.S. It indicates only the time period during which you may apply for entry to the U.S.
  • I-94 Form (Arrival/Departure card or electronic record): This is the white card that is placed in your passport at a land port-of-entry or the electronic version obtained by visiting the Arrival/Departure Forms webpage on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website after arriving through an air or sea port-of-entry. This form should indicate your arrival date, your visa status and the length of your stay, usually marked D/S (duration of status) for both F-1 and J-1 students. It will also include an Admission Number. This number is your I-94 number and is a Department of Homeland Security identification number.
  • I-20 or DS-2019 Form: This is the document that proves your eligibility for F-1 or J-1 status. You must make sure that it is accurate and up to date at all times.
  • Syracuse University I.D. Card: This is your official University identification and should be carried at all times.
  • Health Insurance Card: This provides proof of your enrollment in a health insurance plan and should be carried at all times.

F-1 and J-1 students must report address and academic program changes to the Center for International Services within 10 days of the change so that SEVIS records can be updated.

Updating Your Address

Update MySlice whenever your U.S. address changes by following these guidelines.

  • Your MySlice record must always have active addresses for the following address types.
    • Current Address: Must be a U.S. address.
    • SEVIS Foreign Address: Must be a non-U.S. address.
    • Permanent Address: Can be either a U.S. or non-U.S. address.
  • When you live on campus, your on-campus address is automatically added to MySlice. If you live off campus, you need to add your off-campus address to MySlice.
  • Your MySlice record must always include an active current U.S. address, even when you are outside the U.S. If you will be studying outside the U.S. with Syracuse Abroad, or spending a semester or two conducting research abroad and will not have a U.S. address, ask a Center for International Services advisor to help you update your current MySlice address.

Updating Your Address in MySlice

  1. Log in to MySlice and select the Personal Profile tile.
  2. Click on Addresses.
  3. Enter the new address in the Current Address field and click “Save.”
  4. If you are an F-1 student, the address change you make in MySlice will result in an update of your SEVIS record.
  5. If you are a J-1 student, you must also notify your J-1 program sponsor of any address changes. Your J-1 program sponsor is the office or agency who prepares and signs your DS-2019 form.

F-1 Students on Optional Practical Training (OPT): Update your contact and employment information through your Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Portal account or through the International Student and Scholar (ISSS) Portal in MySlice.

F-1 Students on STEM Extension OPT: Update your contact information through your SEVP Portal account or through the ISSS Portal. Update your employment information through the ISSS Portal.

Request updated I-20 or DS-2019 forms when there is an academic program change.

I-20 Request

If you need an updated I-20 Form for the reasons listed below, please submit an I-20 Update Request in the ISSS Portal.

  • Change or add an additional major (undergraduate students only).
  • Change to a new degree level or begin a new program of study (graduate students only).
  • Update your source of funding information (change in source of funding, applying for a new visa, etc.).

Do not use the I-20 Request Form if any of the following apply to you.

  • If you are changing from a bachelor’s to a master’s program at Syracuse University, you do not need to submit the Request Form. The Center for International Services will issue a new I-20 upon your admission to your new program of study.
  • If you want to add your dependents to your SEVIS record and receive I-20 forms for them, please file a Dependent Request in the ISSS Portal.
  • If you need to apply for an extension of your program end date, please file an I-20 Extension Request.

DS-2019 Update Request

If you need an updated DS-2019 form for the reasons listed below, please submit a DS-2019 Update Request in the ISSS Portal.

  • Change to a new educational level in the same field of study (e.g. a master’s in history to a Ph.D. in history).
  • To update your source of funding information (change in source of funding, applying for a new visa, etc.).

Do not use the DS-2019 Update Request if any of the following apply to you.

  • If you are interested in changing your program of study (e.g. from a master’s in history to a master’s in computer science), please make an appointment to see a Center for International Services advisor. J-1 students are generally not allowed to change their program of study, but may be eligible to change the level of study.
  • If you want to add your dependents to your SEVIS record and receive DS-2019 forms for them, please file a Dependent Request in the ISSS Portal.
  • If you need to apply for an extension of your program, please file a DS-2019 Extension Request.

Immigration regulations require that F-1 and J-1 be registered as full-time students at Syracuse University in fall and spring semesters or be otherwise considered to be maintaining valid F-1 and J-1 status.

Undergraduate Student Registration Requirements

Undergraduate students are required to register for 12 or more credits every semester. Students who begin their programs of study in the summer must register for a minimum of six credits in the first session of study and must attend at least one course that meets on campus for the entire session.

Graduate Student Registration Requirements

Graduate students are required to register for nine or more credits every semester, with some exceptions.

  • Students who have graduate assistantships are considered to be full-time students as long as they are registered for the semester.
  • Students who are registered for less than nine credits but are considered to be full-time students based on criteria specified on the Certification of Full-Time Status are considered to be full-time students as long as they are registered for the semester and have filed the Certification of Full-Time Status with the Registrar’s Office.

Graduate students who begin their programs of study in the summer must register for a minimum of six credits in the first session of study and must attend at least one course that meets on campus for the entire session.

Last Semester Exception to Full-Time Registration

Students who are in their last semester are allowed to register for less than a full course of study, but must enroll in classes that meet on campus for the entire semester and must file a Last Semester Memo with the Center for International Services.

How to File a Last Semester Memo

  1. Log in to the International Student and Scholar (ISSS) Portal through MySlice.
    1. If you do not have access to the Portal, please email The Center for International Services with a detailed description of the issue (include screenshots if possible) or visit the Center for International Services during walk-in advising (Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.).
  2. Go to the Student Request Center (to the right of the page).
  3. Find the Last Semester Memo Request.
  4. Complete the questionnaire.
  5. Read the Student Acknowledgement section and confirm you have read the information.
  6. Enter your academic advisor’s information for departmental approval.
    1. Most undergraduate students should enter their academic advisor’s information here.
    2. Graduate students may need to enter an academic advisor, program director or program administrator’s information.
    3. If you are unsure who to list for departmental approval, please contact your academic department for guidance.
  7. Submit the request.

After your request has been submitted, it will be sent to your academic advisor for their approval. If you find out after submitting the form that you entered the wrong information in for your departmental approval, please email The Center for International Services or visit the Center for International Services during walk-in advising (Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.).

Once your academic department/advisor has approved your request, it will be submitted to the Center for International Services for review.

  • If your Last Semester Memo is approved by your department and your program end date on your I-20 is the end date of the semester noted in your Last Semester Memo, then your request will be completed and you will see it in the Completed Requests in the ISSS Portal.
  • If your Last Semester Memo is approved by your department and your program end date on your I-20 needs to be shortened in SEVIS to the semester identified in your Last Semester Memo, the Center for International Services will shorten your program end date and send you an email confirming that your program end date was shortened in SEVIS.
  • If your Last Semester Memo is not approved by your department, an advisor from the Center for International Services will reach out to you for further clarification.

Graduating in Summer

Undergraduate students who will complete their programs of study in the summer must be registered as full-time students in the spring and must attend at least one course that meets on campus during their last summer session.

Graduate students who will complete their programs of study in the summer must be considered to be full-time students in the spring and must attend at least one course that meets on campus during their last summer session, or be registered for the summer and have filed a Certification of Full-Time Status with the Registrar’s Office for the summer.

Online Courses and Full-Time Status

Immigration regulations place restrictions on the number of online courses students can register for each semester. F-1 students cannot register for more than three online credits per semester towards the “full course of study” requirement. Undergraduate students who are required to register for at least 12 credits must register for at least nine credits of classes that meet in the classroom, and graduate students who are required to register for nine credits per semester must register for at least six credits of courses that meet in the classroom.

Students who are in their last semester and who do not need to be registered as full-time students cannot register for only online courses. They must be enrolled in a course that meets on campus for the entire semester.

Taking Courses at Another SEVIS School

After F-1 students are enrolled for at least one academic semester at Syracuse University, the following summer is considered to be their vacation time if they intend to enroll at the University in the following fall semester. During their summer vacation, students are allowed to take courses at other SEVIS-authorized schools without approval from the Center for International Services. However, some schools may require a letter of authorization from Syracuse University before allowing F-1 students to enroll in summer classes. If a letter is required, please contact the Center for International Services and request the letter.

Students who plan to take courses at another SEVIS-authorized school during a fall or spring semester should contact the Center for International Services before enrolling in courses at another school to ensure that they will be able to meet full-time registration requirements and online course restrictions.

The Center for International Services will need to receive the following items within the first two weeks of the beginning of the semester.

  • A letter from your academic department that includes:
    • The names of the courses you will enroll in.
    • The name of the institution where you will be taking classes.
    • A statement that the courses you take will be approved toward your degree at Syracuse University.
  • Proof of your enrollment in these courses from the Registrar’s Office at the institution where you will be enrolled.
  • Proof of your enrollment in courses that you will take at Syracuse University.

Students whose plans to take courses at another SEVIS-authorized school during fall or spring semesters are approved by the Center for International Services will be considered full-time students for SEVIS registration purposes. Students whose plans are not approved will need to register as full-time students at Syracuse University before they will be considered full-time students for SEVIS registration.

Absence From the United States (F-1 Students)

If you travel outside the U.S. and return within five months, you may use your current I-20 form to reenter the U.S. and resume your studies at Syracuse University. Your I-20 must have a valid travel signature on page 2. Please review the travel instructions before leaving the U.S.

Exception: If you are resuming your studies after taking a Leave of Absence of less than five months, please follow the “Returning From a Leave of Absence” instructions. Do not use your current I-20 to reenter the U.S.

Five-Month Rule

If you will be outside the U.S. for more than five months, you must obtain a new I-20 from the Center for International Services before returning to the U.S.

  • If you are resuming your studies after taking a Leave of Absence or after a suspension, please follow the “Returning From a Leave of Absence” instructions.
  • If you are participating in a Syracuse Abroad program, you are exempt from the five-month rule, but your I-20 must have a valid travel signature on page 2 when you are returning to the U.S.
  • If you are a graduate student and are conducting research abroad for your degree program, you are exempt from the five-month rule as long as you are registered as a full-time student during the academic year. Prior to your departure from the U.S., please submit to the Center for International Services a letter of explanation from your academic department which states that you will be conducting research outside the U.S. for your degree program and that you are expected to return to Syracuse University to complete the program. When you are ready to return, please contact the Center for International Services and request an updated I-20 with a special remark about the five-month rule exemption.

If you will be studying outside the U.S. with Syracuse Abroad or spending a semester or two conducting research abroad, you will need to maintain updated addresses in MySlice in order for your SEVIS record to remain valid. It is especially important that your MySlice record include a current U.S. address. Please follow our instructions for updating your address above.

Leave of Absence or Withdrawal From Syracuse University

If you decide to leave Syracuse University before completing your degree, either for a temporary period or permanently, you should file a Leave of Absence request so that your MySlice record and your SEVIS record can be updated to reflect an authorized Leave of Absence.

In order to take an authorized Leave of Absence, you must:

  • Meet with a Center for International Services advisor before you stop attending classes to discuss your plans and how your F-1 or J-1 status will be affected if you leave Syracuse University.
  • Review the Leave of Absence Frequently Asked Questions.
  • File a Leave of Absence request with your school or college if you are an undergraduate student, or with your academic department if you are a graduate student.
  • If you are taking a Medical Leave of Absence, follow the Barnes Center at The Arch’s instructions about Requesting a Medical Leave of Absence and contact Student Outreach and Support.

After a non-medical Leave of Absence request is processed and your MySlice record is updated to show that you have taken the Leave of Absence, your SEVIS record will be terminated and your F-1 or J-1 status will end. Unless you apply for a change of status or transfer to another college or university within the U.S. before your SEVIS record is terminated, you must leave the U.S. within 15 days of filing for the Leave of Absence.

After a Medical Leave of Absence request is processed and your MySlice record is updated to show that you have taken the Medical Leave of Absence, your SEVIS record will be terminated, your F-1 or J-1 status will end, and you will need to leave the U.S. within 15 days of filing for the Medical Leave of Absence unless you meet the criteria for a Reduced Course Load authorization in SEVIS.

A Reduced Course Load authorization in SEVIS allows the Center for International Services to keep your SEVIS record in active status even if you have taken a Leave of Absence, and it allows you to remain in the U.S. for the rest of the semester (if you want to remain in the U.S.). Barnes Center Health Care requires that students who request a Medical Leave of Absence submit a completed Request for Medical Leave of Absence form to the Barnes Center within 30 days of taking a Leave of Absence, but the documentation required for a Reduced Course Load authorization in SEVIS must be received by the Center for International Services no later than 21 days after you take a Medical Leave of Absence, so timing is very important if you want to be eligible for a Reduced Course Load authorization. Please discuss the Reduced Course Load authorization option when you meet with a Center for International Services advisor if you are interested, because failure to submit the required documentation on time will limit your options if you want to remain in the U.S. during your Medical Leave of Absence.

Academic and Conduct Suspension

If you are suspended from Syracuse University, your SEVIS record will be terminated when MySlice shows that you have been suspended, and your F-1 or J-1 status will end. Unless you transfer to another college or university in the U.S. before your SEVIS record is terminated, you must leave the U.S. immediately. Contact the Center for International Services as soon as you learn that you have been suspended.

Probation

If you are placed on academic probation, there is no action taken on your SEVIS record.

If you would like to return to Syracuse University and resume full-time studies after taking a Leave of Absence or leaving the University because you were suspended, a Return From Leave of Absence or Readmission will need to be processed in MySlice, and you will need to receive a new I-20 or DS-2019 form before returning to Syracuse University in F-1 or J-1 student status.

In order to be able to resume studies at Syracuse University, you must contact the following offices a few months before you plan to return.

  • Your school/college (undergraduate students) or your academic department (graduate students). Your school/college or your academic department will tell you what information and documentation they will require from you before the Return From Leave of Absence or Readmission is processed.
  • The Student Outreach and Support office if you were suspended from Syracuse University or if you will be returning to Syracuse University after taking a Medical Leave of Absence.
  • The Center for International Services if you are an F-1 or J-1 student.

Receiving the New I-20 or DS-2019, SEVIS Transfers, SEVIS Fee Payment and Visa Validity

After MySlice shows that you will be returning from a Leave of Absence or that you have been readmitted to Syracuse University, you will need to send the Center for International Services copies of your passport validity page and financial support documentation before a new I-20 or DS-2019 form can be issued to you.

  • If you transferred to another U.S. college or university after leaving Syracuse University and if your SEVIS record is still in “Active” status, you will also need to follow SEVIS Transfer In instructions so that we can issue you a new I-20 or DS-2019 form after your SEVIS record is transferred back to Syracuse University.
  • If you are returning to the U.S. with an Initial Attendance I-20 or a DS-2019 form created for you to begin a new program, you will need to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee again.
  • If you will return to the U.S. as an F-1 student, you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa if your previous F-1 visa has expired before you return to the U.S. with your new I-20.
  • If you will return to the U.S. as a J-1 student, you will need to apply for a new J-1 visa if your previous J-1 visa has expired or if the visa was issued for you to attend a different school.

Required Full-Time Registration

If you return to the U.S. on a new Initial Attendance I-20 or a DS-2019 created for you to begin a new program, you must register as a full-time student (12 credits for undergraduate students, nine credits for graduate students) in the semester you return to Syracuse University, even if you will graduate at the end of that semester.

Impact of a Leave of Absence or Suspension on F-1 Practical Training Eligibility

F-1 students who have been outside the U.S. for more than five months and who return to the U.S. on a new initial attendance I-20 must complete another full academic year in F-1 status to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). If you plan to apply for CPT or OPT, you must be enrolled as a full-time student for at least two semesters prior to your anticipated CPT/OPT start date.

If you will not complete your academic program by the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 form, you must apply for an extension of stay before the program end date indicated on page 1 of your I-20 or DS-2019 form.

You may lose your lawful F-1 or J-1 status and all associated benefits if you fail to apply for an extension before your I-20 or DS-2019 expires, even if you have a valid reason for an extension.

Eligibility for an Extension

Immigration regulations limit the circumstances for which international students may be granted a program extension. You may be eligible for an extension if you have continually maintained full-time F-1 or J-1 status and if there are compelling reasons which resulted in a delay in your program completion.

Examples of compelling reasons for program extension are:

  • Changes in major or research topics.
  • Unexpected research difficulties.
  • Lost credits upon transfer to Syracuse University.
  • Documented illness.

Examples of unacceptable reasons for program extension are:

  • Additional time needed to complete Incomplete course.
  • Failure to work closely or consult with academic advisor.
  • Delay of coursework to participate in work experience (CPT) not required for degree.
  • Delay of graduation to participate in work experience (CPT) not required for degree.
  • Delay due to academic probation or suspension.

Procedures for Requesting an Extension

Submit the completed I-20 Extension Request Form or the DS-2019 Extension Request Form to the Center for International Services with the documents listed in the instructions for requesting the I-20 or DS-2019 extension.