Maintaining Your Documents & School Record

As an international student in the United States, you are required to maintain certain immigration documents and to notify the university about changes to your personal and academic information.

First, we’ll review the important information contained on your passport, Form I-20, visa, and I-94.

Passport

You must maintain a valid passport while you are in the United States, at least six months into the future. If your passport will expire soon, contact your country’s embassy for help renewing this important document.

Passport bio page example for an individual from the fictional country of Utopia.

Form I-20

Your I-20 contains important information about your program of study at the university, including your education level, major(s), and anticipated program completion date.

If your program information changes, you need to report the change to ISS:

  • Submit a Change of Major or Minor Form if you’ve declared a major or minor different from what’s listed on the I-20 (only two major appear on the I-20, but a minor can be recorded in your SEVIS record).
  • Submit a Program End Date Extension Form if you need additional time to complete your degree. You will likely need to file for an Extension of Stay with USCIS as well.

Sample Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Students

Visa

The F-1 student visa is a sticker placed in your passport by the U.S. embassy or consulate. The visas allows you to request entry as an F-1 student at a U.S. airport, seaport, or land border.

After you enter the United States, your visa may expire without affecting your immigration status. The expiration date on this document is the last day that you can use the visa to seek entry into the U.S.

Sample U.S. visa

I-94

The I-94 is an electronic record of your entry into the United States. Your I-94 record shows:

  • Your visa type/immigration status upon arrival (such as F-1 or J-1)
  • The date you entered the U.S.
  • The expiration date of your authorized period of stay
  • Your port of entry (in your travel history)

Sample of I-94, Arrival/Departure Record

PLU School Records

  • Reporting to the school:  At initial entry to PLU or after being absent for more than five months, students must physically report to ISS staff to show their passport, F-1 student visa, and I-20. The I-94 must also be provided once it is available.
  • SEVIS registration:  PLU Designated School Officials (ISS staff) must register students’ SEVIS records each fall and spring semester. Students must submit the SEVIS Record Confirmation Form to facilitate this process.
  • Change of address:  Students must report changes to their mailing & permanent addresses in Banner within 10 days.