Essential Info for International Students

Most international students at Fisher College are admitted to the United States in F-1 student status. If you will be studying at Fisher in any other status, please note that the below does not apply to you.

How to Obtain an F-1 Visa

In order to obtain an F-1 visa, you will need to be accepted to Fisher College and issued a Fisher College Form I-20. To get a more detailed breakdown of tips on obtaining an F1 visa, please contact please contact our Admissions Office at admissions@fisher.edu and a guide will be emailed to you.

Terms and Definitions

Form I-20 and F1 Visa

Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Student Status: This document confirms that you have been accepted to the College and can apply for an F-1 visa. The I-20 is issued by the Admissions Office prior to your entry into the U.S. and is used to apply for an F-1 visa at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy. This document is presented to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry along with your acceptance letter when you arrive in the U.S. Your I-20 will be signed by one of the Designated School Officials (DSO) when it is issued and must be endorsed at least once per year for travel. The signature must be valid through the date that you will arrive back in the U.S. F-1 students must carry the original I-20 whenever they leave the U.S.

F-1 VISA: This document is a multicolored stamp placed in your passport at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. The visa is the "key" necessary for entering the U.S. It indicates your name, classification, the number of times you may enter the U.S. on this visa (in most cases, multiple entries - designated as M - are allowed), and the visa's expiration date. The expiration date on the visa reflects the last date that you are permitted to enter (or re-enter) the U.S. as an International Student. If the date has already passed, you will need to reapply for an F-1 student visa to be allowed back into the U.S.

Form 1-94 Arrival/Departure Record

Form 1-94 Arrival/Departure Record: This document is a small stamp often opposite the visa page in your passport that is placed there upon arrival in the U.S. The I-94 indicates your arrival date, the visa classification, and the length of authorized stay in the U.S. For F-1 students, the length of stay is often noted as D/S which stands for "Duration of Status." D/S allows a student to stay in the U.S. as long as he or she remains in status as an F-1 student.

Status

Status: This is the permission to be in the U.S. for a specific purpose for a period of time. F-1 student status is dependent on students’ engaging in full-time study. At Fisher College, undergraduate students must be enrolled in 12 credits to engage in full-time study. Full-time study also takes into consideration attendance. Students with chronic attendance issues will be considered out of status. If you have any questions about your status, please reach out to one of the DSOs.

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services)

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

OPT: A benefit of maintaining F-1 status. Its purpose is to allow the student to gain practical experience directly related to the student's field of study. Granted by USCIS, OPT is granted based on documents submitted by applicant and the school's recommendation. Total length is 12 months, not extendable and may be used during school breaks, for part-time work while school is in session or after graduation provided the eligibility criteria are met and authorization is received. Work must be directly related to the student's area of study.

Passport and I-20 FAQ

My passport has expired. What should I do?

Contact your embassy or consulate for instructions on applying for passport renewal. Not all countries have a consular office in Boston. You may need to contact a consulate in New York or in other parts of the U.S., or an embassy in Washington D.C. The renewal procedure may take a few weeks or a few months, depending on the policies of your government. Also your consular office may require you to provide information such as proof of your enrollment at Fisher.

Maintaining Status

To remain in status, an F-1 student must:

To remain in status, an F-1 student must:

Arrive on campus no sooner than 30 days before and no later than your program start date (see your I-20) and report in person to CIPS during the International Student Orientation. This applies to both newly admitted and transferring-in international students.
Note: Additionally, transferring-in international students must pick up “Transfer Completed” I-20s within two weeks of the International Advisor’s notification email.
Maintain full-time enrollment and normal progress toward the completion of your degree or program of study. Every student in F-1 status must be registered full-time each semester, except during designated vacation periods (Summer). The minimum full-time requirement is 12 credits. Chronic absence at registered courses will cause a student to be out of status.
On-line course limitation: students are prohibited from taking more than one class of on-line coursework per term to count toward their full-time enrollment status. Obtain prior authorization from CIPS before dropping below a full course of study. Notify CIPS of your address when you arrive to the U.S. and each time you change your address while in the U.S. within 10 days. Any changes in your academic status (e.g., early program completion, change of major, change of program or degree, etc.) must be reported to CIPS within 10 days of change, so we can update your SEVIS record accordingly. Do not accept any employment, either on- or off-campus without written permission from CIPS and/or authorization from the U.S Department of Homeland Security. Please contact CIPS for detailed information on employment authorization.
Obtain an extension of your academic program, before your I-20 document expires. Before leaving the U.S. for travel during your study at Fisher please make sure that you have the following documents:
- Passport with an expiry date of at least six months beyond the date of travel back to the U.S.
- Unexpired F-1 visa in your passport (Note: this visa does NOT need to have Fisher College)
- Active I-20 with a travel signature less than one year from the date of planned arrival back in the U.S. Note: request for travel signature must be submitted to the CIPS at least 4-5 business days before you plan to leave.
- For students with previous terminations or students who are citizens of countries deemed “higher risk”, travelling with transcripts and proof of future enrollment is advised.