OIA Home
 ISSS Home

 Academic Issues

 F1 Students
   Documents
   Employment
   Status
     Co-Enrollment
     Under Enrollment
     Level Change
     I-20 Extension
   Travel
   Transferring

 J1 Students
   Documents
   Employment
   Status
   Travel
   Transferring

 J1 Scholars
   For Departments
     J-1 Visa
     Request Process
     Request Form
     Arrival/Departure
     Check-In
     Extention of Status
     Program Contact
   Prospective Scholars
     J-1 Visa
     PSU Academic
       Departments
     Two-Year Home
       Residence
     J Category
     J-2 Family Members
   Current Scholars
     J-1 Visa
     Extention of Status
     Two-Year Home
       Residence
     Check-In
     Employment
     J-2 Family Members
     Social Security
     Contact

F1 Students - Immigration Documents

Passport:

You must keep your passport valid at all times. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to renew your passport. To renew your passport, contact the Embassy or Consulate of your country. Addresses and phone numbers of Consulates and Embassies can be obtained at ISSS.

Form I-94 (departure record):

At your port of entry into the United States, a small white card was stapled to your passport by an immigration official. This form is very important and should be kept in a safe place. On that card is written your port of entry, your arrival date, your visa status, and how long you have been given permission to stay in the U.S. (for F-1 students this should read D/S).

Also located on your I-94 Card is your Admission Number. This number was given to you before you went through U.S. Customs on your first entry to the United States. The number looks something like this: 995-000935 60. Be certain to include this information when you complete your Fact Sheet when checking in at ISSS. If your I-94 Card has been lost or stolen, contact ISSS immediately.

NOTE: J-1 students will either have D/S or a date on the I-94 card. The D/S matches the completion date on your form DS-2019.

Duration of Status (D/S):

The D/S on your I-94 card stands for Duration of Status. As long as you are maintaining full-time status (a minimum of 12 credits for undergraduate students and a minimum of 9 credits for graduate students) at the school you are authorized to attend, you are in good immigration status in terms of enrollment, and for obtaining any of the benefits of F-1 or J-1 status.

Visa:

When you were given a visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy outside the United States, you were given permission to enter the U.S. A visa stamp can expire while you are in the United States. Your visa stamp is the only immigration document that is allowed to expire while you are in the United States. You cannot obtain a new visa stamp in the United States. If you have an expired visa stamp and are traveling outside the United States, you will need to contact ISSS before you leave.

NOTE: The validity period of the visa does not indicate how long you may remain in the United States after entry. It is your I-94 and I-20 or DS-2019 forms which have that information.

I-20 Document:

The is the document that provides your eligibility for F-1status. You must make sure that it is accurate and up-to-date at all times. This is the form you received from Portland State University and is to be retained by you during your entire length of study. This form has important information and is a record of your immigration history. You need to obtain a new I-20 if the information on your I-20 changes in any way. If your I-20 form is ever lost or stolen, please notify ISSS.

Financial Support Documents:

These demonstrate your ability to finance your education. They can be in the form of bank statements, letters of assistantship, scholarship, fellowship, or another proof of funding.