International Student F-1 Visa Holders

Policy Statement:

Guilford College welcomes international students, and this policy summarizes the College’s responsibilities regarding international students who join the College undergraduate or graduate programs of study with the F-1 student visa.

Purpose/Reason for Policy:

This policy addresses the College’s operating policy in alignment with U.S. laws and regulations pertaining to international student F-1 visa holders.

Scope/Covered Persons:

All matriculated Guilford College international students who hold current F-1 student visas, the Director and all staff or support personnel in the Office of Global and Off-Campus Initiatives (GOCI), all Principal Designated School Officers (P/DSO) and Designated School Officers (DSO), all members of the Admissions Office who advise incoming international students, and any members of the Guilford College community who employ international student F-1 visa holders must be aware of and comply with this policy. 

Any members of the Guilford College community who advise or support international student F-1 visa holders may also benefit from awareness of this policy. 

In the case of any discrepancies between this policy and U.S. law or regulation, U.S. law or regulation supersedes this policy. 

Definitions:

International Student: For the purpose of this policy, “international student” refers to undergraduate and graduate students who enter the U.S. with an F-1 student visa, issued by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). 

Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP): SEVP is a branch of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Principal Designated School Official (P/DSO) and Designated School Official (DSO): P/DSO and DSO are Guilford College representatives of SEVP who review international student admissions dossiers and, for eligible admitted students, issue the Form I-20. P/DSO and DSO keep accurate records of international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). 

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS): SEVIS, or the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, is a web-based system operated by the United States government to track and monitor the activities of international students and exchange visitors in the United States. 

Form I-20: This form is the “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” which, once issued, initiates eligible international students’ ability to apply for the F-1 student visa. 

F-1 Student Visa: This temporary immigration document enables eligible and current status international students to enter the U.S. for a course of study, temporarily work after completing one full year of study (restrictions apply as stated below), and apply for pre-completion Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and/or post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT). 

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT): Employment opportunities and constraints for international students during and post-completion of their studies. 

The Policy:

Policies for International Student F-1 Visa Applicants:

  • Applicants must follow the College’s Admissions procedures for international student applicants: 
  • Applicants must ensure all information on the Form I-20 is correct.
  • Applicants must complete the visa application procedures for obtaining an F1 student visa.
  • Newly-accepted international students who completed high school in the U.S. with an F-1 visa must request that their current school’s Principal Designated School Official initiate the Change of Education level procedures. 
  • F-1 visa holders transferring from another college or university must request that their current institution’s Principal Designated School Official initiate the Transfer procedure.
  • Applicants must not arrive more than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on the Form I-20 if entering the U.S. for the first time. 

Policies for International Student F-1 Visa Holders:

  • Unless otherwise stated, all Guilford College policies for undergraduate and graduate students apply to international students.

Enrollment Requirements

  • F-1 Visa Holders must be enrolled full-time
  • F-1 Visa Holders may apply for permission for reduced enrollment with GOCI, under specific qualifying conditions.
  • F-1 Visa Holders may enroll in one (1) online-only course per term or semester. 
  • After completing a full-year of academic study, F-1 Visa Holders are eligible for an authorized break (usually taken during the summer). During the authorized break, students are not required to be fully enrolled. 

Reporting Requirements

  • International students must notify GOCI and obtain P/DSO and/or DSO signatory approval for travel outside the U.S. on the Form I-20. Signatures are valid for one (1) year.
  • International students must notify GOCI of any student detail changes pertaining to the Form I-20, e.g., change of address and/or contact information, name, program of study, and anticipated graduation date. 
  • International students must notify GOCI of intentions to transfer to another college or university. 
  • International students may request a letter of support for their immediate family members who wish to travel to the U.S. for graduating seniors. 

Employment Requirements

  • International students may work with the GOCI Director to determine employment authorization status.
  • International students must not engage in unauthorized employment or internships. 
  • International students must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) related to engagement in authorized on-campus employment, CPT and/or OPT and may request a letter of support regarding the SSN application.

Roles and Responsibilities: 

All F-1 visa holding international students are responsible for maintaining status for the F-1 student visa. 

Principal Designated School Official (P/DSO) and Designated School Official are responsible for advising F-1 students on immigration matters, ensuring compliance with US Citizen & Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations, and maintaining current SEVIS records for all international students. P/DSO and DSO are required to maintain individual international student records no less than three years after student attendance at the College. 

Office of Global and Off-Campus Initiatives (GOCI) is responsible for providing services, resources, and guidance for international students. 

Compliance: 

International student F-1 visa holders who are out of compliance are at risk of F-1 student visa revocation. Consequences include termination of eligibility for continued studies and ineligibility for re-entry to the U.S.

P/DSO must ensure the College’s compliance for eligibility to receive F-1 student visa status students.

Other related Policies, Regulations, Statutes and Documents: 

Protection of Social Security Numbers Policy

Resource Appendix

Approval Authority:

Guilford College President 

Responsible Office: 

Director, Office of Global and Off-Campus Initiatives (GOCI), Hege Academic Commons,
(336) 316-2125

goci@guilford.edu

Revision History: 

Drafted: May 1, 2023

Updated: May 6, 2024

Adoption Date: May 15, 2024

To be reviewed annually. 

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