Visa Requirements

Maintaining Your F-1 Status

As an F-1 student, you were admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status” (D/S) (D/S is found on the white I-94 card in your passport or can be printed at www.cbp.gov/i94). This means you are permitted to stay in the U.S. until you complete your program or until the completion date on your SEVIS Form I-20. You must have maintained your status by fulfilling the requirements of being an F-1 student.

Keep in mind that there are important differences between an F-1 visa and F-1 status. The visa is a stamp or sticker placed on your passport by a U.S. embassy or consulate and is granted for entry purposes only. F-1 status is granted when you enter the U.S. and is regulated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Even if your visa is valid, you can lose your legal F-1 status if you do not comply with the immigration laws regulating your stay in the U.S. If you fail to maintain your legal status, you will need to file for with DHS, or in some cases, be forced to leave the country (e.g., you must leave the country and make a new entry with a valid visa if you work illegally).