International Students Office

F-1 Student Regulations for SEVIS

(Student and Exchange Visitor Information System)

Read the explanation about our international exchange program students.

New Hope Academy (the umbrella institution for New Hope International High School) has been approved as an I-20 school as of February 13, 2008 for F-1 students. SEVIS ("Student and Exchange Visitor Information System") is an internet-based system that enables schools to electronically transmit non-immigrant students' current data to USCIS ("United States Citizenship and Immigration Services", formerly "INS") and the Department of State throughout their stay.

As of February 15, 2003 all schools must enroll in SEVIS and all new I-20's must be in SEVIS for new and current students.

New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School has a Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Designated School Official (DSO) to sign an I-20. This person must be either a United States Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident. Immigration regulations refer to international student advisors as PDSO and DSO.

New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School DSO:
Elizabeth Armstrong, 301-459-7311,
(earmstrong "AT" newhopeacademy "DOT" org)

SEVIS I-20 FOR NEW STUDENTS

1. Complete application form and be accepted

2. An I-20 SEVIS form will be issued with a bar-code number. Once the student receives the I-20, the student visits the U.S. consulate abroad in his or her country, and the consulate confirms through SEVIS that the I-20 the student is carrying is a valid document. If everything is in order, the consulate issues the visa. A USCIS office at the airport reports to the ISO office and the office confirms through SEVIS, the student's enrollment. New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School continues to provide regular electronic reports through SEVIS to USCIS throughout the student's academic career.

MAINTENANCE OF STATUS

Upon entry in the United States, an F-1 student must maintain status. The F-1 regulations begin immediately upon entry and continue until final departure. A student is admitted for Duration of Status (D/S).

F-1 Students must comply with the following requirements in order to maintain lawful status:

You must report to the Designated School Official (DSO) for SEVIS registration upon arriving at the school.
You must be attending the school you are authorized to attend.
You must be registered full time. Consequences of not keeping a full course load at all times could result in severe penalties.
You must follow transfer procedures if applicable.
Obtain a new Form I-20 for a change of major or educational level of study.
Abide by the F-1 grace period regulations.
Apply for a timely extension of stay
Report change of address to the PDSO within 10 days of the change.
Maintain a valid passport.
Refrain from unauthorized employment.
Make a normal progress towards completing a program of study.
Depart the U.S. in a timely manner.

SEVIS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

No later than 30 days following the deadline for registering for classes, the school is required to report that the student failed to register. During each term or session, and not later than 30 days after the deadline for registering for classes, schools are required to report the following registration information:

Registration: Whether the students had enrolled at the school or failure to enroll.
Dropped below a full course of study without prior authorization by the DSO or failure to enroll.
The current address of each enrolled student.
The start date of the student's next session, term semester, trimester, or quarter.

Within 21 days of a change of any information, schools will be required to report the following information:

Any student who failed to maintain status or complete his or her program.
A change of the student's or dependents legal name or U.S. address.
Any disciplinary action taken by the school against the student as a result of the student being convicted of a crime; and
Any other notification request made by the SEVIS with respect to the current status of the student.

GRACE PERIODS

60 Days: After a student has completed a course of study and any authorized practical training following completion of studies, he/she has 60 days in order to depart the U.S., transfer, or file for change of status.
15 Days: A student who has been authorized by the International Student Office to withdraw from classes has 15 days to depart from the U.S.

NOTE: Students who terminate/withdraw from course of study without prior approval from the International Student Office have no grace period.

PROGRAM EXTENSIONS

Program extensions can only be granted for 12 months beyond the current ending date listed on the I-20 and must be accompanied by a letter listing your anticipated completion date.

An F-1 student who is unable to meet the program completion date on the SEVIS Form I-20 may be granted an extension only if the student had continually maintained status and the delays were caused by compelling academic or medical reasons, such as changes of major or change of research topics, unexpected research problems, or documented illnesses. A delay caused by academic probation or suspensions is not acceptable for program extensions.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Students must notify the PDSO within 10 days of any change of address and complete the Form AR-11 to be sent to the BCIS office.

DROPPING TO PART-TIME ENROLLMENT WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL

Students will not be able to drop below full course of study without prior authorization from the International Student Office. If a student drops below a full course load without specific permission from the ISO prior to dropping the course(s), that student will be reported as out of status immediately and will then be subject to reinstatement and/or deportation.

FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES TO MAINTAIN STATUS

Examples of failure to maintain status include but are not limited to:

Dropping from full-time to part-time enrollment without prior approval from the PDSO or DSO.
Attending a school other than the one a student is authorized to attend.
Failure to apply for a timely transfer of I-20 extension or change in level of study.
Unauthorized employment
Failure to report a change of address.

All students' records will be automatically updated with SEVIS every semester. Students who fail to maintain status will lose the privileges of their student status and become subject to deportation. Specific consequences may include denial of re-entry to the U.S., inability to move from undergraduate to graduate studies, denial of requests for Practical Training, denial for requests to change visa status, and possible denial of all future visa applications.

REINSTATEMENT

If a student drops below a full course of study without prior approval from the DSO, the "event" would be reported to USCIS via SEVIS, and he or she would be out of status. The student may apply to USCIS for reinstatement if the violation resulted from circumstances beyond his or her control such as "serious injury or illness, closure of the institution, or a natural disaster, but does not include instances where a pattern or repeated violations or where a willful failure on the part of the student resulted in the need for reinstatement." Reinstatement is intended to be a rare benefit for exceptional cases. The student may not apply for reinstatement under any circumstances if he or she is out of status longer than 5 months. If USCIS does not reinstate the student, he or she may not appeal that decision and therefore must exit the country by the date indicated on the denial letter.

APPLICATION TO NEW HOPE ACADEMY / NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

These events must take place before a foreign student may attend New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School:

1. New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School determines if the student fully meets admission requirements and has the financial ability to pay for the education and living expenses.

2. Upon acceptance, New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School will create an initial SEVIS record for the student and will send a signed copy of the form 1-20 to the student.

3. The student pays the SEVIS I-901 fee using the Form 1-20. Refer to the website at www.ice.gov/sevis for full list of questions and answers about the SEVIS I-901 fee.

4. The student must apply for a visa if not currently in the United States.

APPLYING FOR A STUDENT VISA

1. Non-immigrant students who are not in the U.S. must apply to the local U.S. consulate for an F-1 visa. The student must bring several items to the interview:

a. The signed form I-20 from New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School

b. Evidence that the SEVIS I-901 fee has been paid

c. A signed passport, valid for at least six months after the date of entry into the United States

d. A Form DS-156, Nonimmigrant Visa Application with photo

e. A Form DS-157A. Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application

f. Form DS-158A, Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant

g. Transcripts and diplomas from previous institutions

h. Scores from standardized tests, such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, AND GMAT

i. Financial evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses for at least the first year of study.

Note: Students from visa exempt countries will need to bring their documentation to the POE (Point of Entry) and apply for entry as an F-1 nonimmigrant student.

QUESTIONS?

New Hope Academy / New Hope International High School DSO:
Elizabeth Armstrong, 301-459-7311,
(earmstrong "AT" newhopeacademy "DOT" org)

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Elizabeth Armstrong, 301-459-7311,
(earmstrong "AT" newhopeacademy "DOT" org)

Read about our international exchange program students.
Read about the opportunity to host an international exchange student.
See the school profile including Stanford 10 scores.
See the curricula outlines.
Read the Principal's Message, an introductory letter to prospective parents.
Go to the main New Hope International High School page.
Go to the New Hope Academy introduction page.