Maintaining Status
Information & Instructions
When an international student in F-1 status progresses from one program of study to
another (English Language Institute to a bachelor’s or master’s, or a bachelor’s to
master’s), it must be approved in SEVIS and reflected on a new Form I-20.
The Office of Global Engagement requires the following items to process a level change
request:
- A completed Change of Level Form
- Confirmation of admission to the new level
- A new estimated program end date
- New financial documentation
If you plan to change your level from the English Language Institute to your intended bachelor's or master's degree, you must be admitted into your program of study at the university.
If you plan to change your level from a bachelor’s to a graduate program at UNCP, you must apply to The Graduate School and be offered admission to a particular program.
During the course of your study, you may decide to change your major or curriculum, add a co-major, or change your level of study.
English Language Institute students may go on to begin their intended undergraduate or graduate degree, and undergraduate students may decide to begin a graduate degree after completing their bachelor's or engaging in post-completion OPT.
- Changes in major and level require a SEVIS update and must be completed concurrently with (or before) the change in university records.
- A new Form I-20 (DS-2019 for J-1 students) must be issued to reflect the new major and new program end date.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUESTING A CHANGE OF MAJOR:
- You should request a new I-20 or DS-2019 by completing and submitting the Change of Major form, and proof of funding to the Office of Global Engagement.
- This process may require new financial documentation and a new estimated date of completion that is agreed upon by you and your academic adviser.
- If you do not arrange to have your SEVIS record updated to reflect a new major, co-major or minor, you may be "out of status " and may have to apply for reinstatement.
- Submit the complete COM application to OGE within 30 days prior to the start of the semester you will begin your new major.
Some students complete their programs in just a few semesters and others may encounter unexpected delays that result in a longer period of study than first anticipated.
Each I-20 and DS-2019 is issued to a student for a particular program of study, level and time period. If the student is not able to complete the program requirements before the program end date, a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a new program end date must be issued.
Initial documents are generally issued with the following lengths of time:
Bachelor's Degree - 4 years
Master's Degree - 2 years
PROGRAM EXTENSION PROCESS
- The student must request a program extension before their current I-20 or DS-2019 expires.
- A program extension can be requested by submitting the program extension application and financial documents.
- The immigration advisor will submit the request to SEVIS after document review and approval.
- The student will be notified via email when the new I-20 or DS-2019 is ready for signature and pick-up.
If you are in F-1 or J-1 status and wish to transfer to another school within the United States, Global Engagement will help facilitate the transfer of your SEVIS record to your new school.
To be eligible for a SEVIS transfer, you must have a written confirmation of your acceptance to another school, maintain your F-1 or J-1 status and be in good academic standing through the transfer release date.
Please keep in mind that once UNCP Global Engagement releases your SEVIS record to another school, we cannot undo the transfer. Therefore, please be sure you are fully decided about the school and release date before you submit any forms to our office.
RELEASE DATE
The release date will usually be a day between the last day of the semester at UNCP (or a day you wish to stop working if you are on OPT/AT) and the first day of classes at the new school.
The release date is your choice, but it is subject to the following conditions:
- It cannot be prior to the end of the current academic term for which the student is enrolled at UNCP, unless the student's new program start date will begin prior to the end of UNCP's term. Students in this situation should coordinate with the OGE and the new institution's DSO to choose an appropriate release date.
- For F-1 students completing their program at UNCP, the transfer release date must be within the 60-day grace period following completion. Also, the academic program at the new school must begin within five months of completion of your UNCP program or the end date of OPT.
- For J-1 students, the release date must occur before the program end date on the DS-2019 or before program completion, whichever occurs first.
Once the release date arrives, your record is transferred to the new school, and you may no longer work at UNCP (or on OPT). Once your SEVIS record has been transferred, you should coordinate the receipt of your new I-20 or DS-2019 with the new school.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Transfer Out Form
- An official admission letter from your new school.
When an international student in F-1 status progresses from one program of study to
another (English Language Institute to a bachelor’s or master’s, or a bachelor’s to
master’s), it must be approved in SEVIS and reflected on a new Form I-20.
The Office of Global Engagement requires the following items to process a level change
request:
- A completed Change of Level Form
- Confirmation of admission to the new level
- A new estimated program end date
- New financial documentation
If you plan to change your level from the English Language Institute to your intended bachelor's or master's degree, you must be admitted into your program of study at the university.
If you plan to change your level from a bachelor’s to a graduate program at UNCP, you must apply to The Graduate School and be offered admission to a particular program.
During the course of your study, you may decide to change your major or curriculum, add a co-major, or change your level of study.
English Language Institute students may go on to begin their intended undergraduate or graduate degree, and undergraduate students may decide to begin a graduate degree after completing their bachelor's or engaging in post-completion OPT.
- Changes in major and level require a SEVIS update and must be completed concurrently with (or before) the change in university records.
- A new Form I-20 (DS-2019 for J-1 students) must be issued to reflect the new major and new program end date.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REQUESTING A CHANGE OF MAJOR:
- You should request a new I-20 or DS-2019 by completing and submitting the Change of Major form, and proof of funding to the Office of Global Engagement.
- This process may require new financial documentation and a new estimated date of completion that is agreed upon by you and your academic adviser.
- If you do not arrange to have your SEVIS record updated to reflect a new major, co-major or minor, you may be "out of status " and may have to apply for reinstatement.
- Submit the complete COM application to OGE within 30 days prior to the start of the semester you will begin your new major.
Some students complete their programs in just a few semesters and others may encounter unexpected delays that result in a longer period of study than first anticipated.
Each I-20 and DS-2019 is issued to a student for a particular program of study, level and time period. If the student is not able to complete the program requirements before the program end date, a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a new program end date must be issued.
Initial documents are generally issued with the following lengths of time:
Bachelor's Degree - 4 years
Master's Degree - 2 years
PROGRAM EXTENSION PROCESS
- The student must request a program extension before their current I-20 or DS-2019 expires.
- A program extension can be requested by submitting the program extension application and financial documents.
- The immigration advisor will submit the request to SEVIS after document review and approval.
- The student will be notified via email when the new I-20 or DS-2019 is ready for signature and pick-up.
If you are in F-1 or J-1 status and wish to transfer to another school within the United States, Global Engagement will help facilitate the transfer of your SEVIS record to your new school.
To be eligible for a SEVIS transfer, you must have a written confirmation of your acceptance to another school, maintain your F-1 or J-1 status and be in good academic standing through the transfer release date.
Please keep in mind that once UNCP Global Engagement releases your SEVIS record to another school, we cannot undo the transfer. Therefore, please be sure you are fully decided about the school and release date before you submit any forms to our office.
RELEASE DATE
The release date will usually be a day between the last day of the semester at UNCP (or a day you wish to stop working if you are on OPT/AT) and the first day of classes at the new school.
The release date is your choice, but it is subject to the following conditions:
- It cannot be prior to the end of the current academic term for which the student is enrolled at UNCP, unless the student's new program start date will begin prior to the end of UNCP's term. Students in this situation should coordinate with the OGE and the new institution's DSO to choose an appropriate release date.
- For F-1 students completing their program at UNCP, the transfer release date must be within the 60-day grace period following completion. Also, the academic program at the new school must begin within five months of completion of your UNCP program or the end date of OPT.
- For J-1 students, the release date must occur before the program end date on the DS-2019 or before program completion, whichever occurs first.
Once the release date arrives, your record is transferred to the new school, and you may no longer work at UNCP (or on OPT). Once your SEVIS record has been transferred, you should coordinate the receipt of your new I-20 or DS-2019 with the new school.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Transfer Out Form
- An official admission letter from your new school.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Who? F-1 status students
- What? CPT is a benefit that allows off-campus employment in the student's field of study, when it is a required component of their curriculum.
- When? Some students do not engage in CPT during their studies, but many others do take advantage of this benefit. CPT at UNCP is done on a semester by semester basis.
- Students must have been enrolled full time for at least nine months (two consecutive semesters) and be in F-1 status
- Students must have completed at least one semester in their current curriculum at UNCP
- Students must be maintaining lawful F-1 status
- Students must be in good academic standing (students whose academic programs are listed as suspended, terminated, probation or warning are not eligible for CPT)
- Students must be making normal progress toward their degree
- Students must obtain the recommendation of their undergraduate advisor
- Students applying for full-time summer CPT must register for subsequent fall semester coursework prior to submitting CPT material to the OGE
- CPT cannot delay or interfere with the student's progress in the degree program
Part-time (<20 hours per week) CPT is possible for eligible students (concurrent full-time enrollment is required in the fall and spring semesters).
Full-time CPT during the fall or spring semester will only be authorized if the CPT is a required or integral part of the student's degree program.
International students are limited to a combined total of 20 hours of employment during the academic year (inclusive of on-campus and any CPT). Students may be eligible for employment beyond 20 hours per week during the academic year if the CPT is justified because it is a standard requirement of the academic program. On-campus employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week during the academic year.
- Make an appointment with an immigration advisor in the OGE to discuss the possibility of applying for CPT.
- If you need help finding a position or would like to improve your interviewing skills, resume or want to learn about the expectations of American employers, we recommend that you schedule an appointment at the Career Center.
Once you secure an internship, please complete these steps:
1. Review the offer letter you have received and make sure you have the following items in writing from your employer:
- Job title
- Job description
- Salary
- The number of hours you will work per week
- Your start date
- Your end date
- The specific work location (the address where you will work).
If you do not have all of these details, you will not be authorized for CPT.
2. Read the entire CPT Information Packet and complete the F-1 Student Application
for CPT.
3. Submit your offer letter and the F-1 Student Application for CPT to your Academic
Advisor and ask them the complete the Academic Advisor's Recommendation Form for CPT.
4. Give the CPT Supplemental Form to your future employer and ask them to complete
it and give it back to you or to submit it directly to the OGE office.
5. A Global Engagement advisor will review your application materials, and, if your
application is approved, you will receive your work authorization documents within
10 business days. The OGE will email you to pick up your work authorization documents
when they are ready.
Students who are eligible for and would like to request an extension of a current CPT (i.e. an additional few days or weeks within the same semester) for the same employer (nothing has changed except the new ending date) should ask the employer to email OGE confirming the new end date and that the student's job title and description have not changed.
Students who are eligible for and would like to request a second rotation or additional semester of CPT should complete the CPT application materials again.
Note: Students on an approved CPT are not eligible to continue working beyond the end date of the CPT authorization as indicated on the their I-20. It is the student's responsibility to request the extension of a current CPT in a timely manner.
Time spent doing CPT is not subtracted from the 12-month maximum period of Optional Practical Training (OPT), but students who engage in 12 months or more of full-time CPT are ineligible for any OPT.
Students who engage in off-campus employment without obtaining CPT authorization; who work before or after the approved dates on the CPT authorization; or who work for a different employer will be considered to have engaged in unlawful employment.
In order to accept salary or wage payment from a U.S.-based source, you should obtain a Social Security number.
Employment
Work Restrictions
F-1 and J-1 students who hold a half-time teaching/research assistantship are considered to be working 20 hours per week on campus. Additional appointments, supplemental pay or pay for hours worked beyond the 20-hour-per-week maximum will violate a student's immigration status.
On-campus employment is defined as physically on the UNCP campus. This excludes work for private companies on campus, private tutoring, or other services provided to students or faculty, even if the activity takes place on campus. Off-campus employment — and services provided to companies where payment comes from an off-campus source — must be authorized in advance in the form of OPT, CPT (F-1), Academic Training (J-1) or some other allowable mechanism.
F-1 Students
F-1 students do not need written authorization from UNCP's OGE to engage in part-time employment (not to exceed 20 hours per week) on campus when it is “incident” to their status and they are maintaining their lawful F-1 status. On-campus employment can be full time during summer for students who plan to enroll for the fall semester and as long as the employment begins after the graduation date for the spring semester and ends prior to the first day of classes for the fall semester. Employment may not result in a delay of program completion (with a need to request a program extension), loss of good academic standing, loss of full-time enrollment, etc. The OGE does not approve or certify on-campus employment for students in F-1 status.
J-1 Students
J-1 students DO need specific written employment authorization from their J-1 program sponsor. Students whose program sponsor is the UNCP OGE can easily request employment authorization in one-year increments by submitting the J-1 Student On-Campus Employment Authorization Request Form.
Finding a Job
Many departments on campus hire students. The most productive method for finding an on-campus job is to go to the different departments and simply ask if they have any student positions open. The Career Center also offers information about on-campus jobs.
Taxes and Social Security
Once hired, international students must make an appointment with the foreign national tax specialist in the Payroll Office to complete one or two additional tax withholding forms. This is necessary so that the university correctly withholds the appropriate amount of taxes for the student and does not charge more than required.
Obtaining a Social Security number is necessary to accept salary or wage payments from a U.S.-based source.
