International Student & Scholar Manual of FAQs Welcome to Nazareth We are pleased to welcome you to Nazareth College, a gateway to an outstanding educational experience in the United States. This manual is designed to address the most frequently asked questions posed by international students and scholars about their arrival on campus and adjusting to life in the United States. When you arrive on campus, we will also provide you with a comprehensive orientation program that will prepare you for your time spent at Nazareth College. At Nazareth College, you’ll be immersed in a learning environment that is strong on advisement, highly collaborative, and offers abundant hands-on experiential learning. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself fully engaged in something you love. We hope you will take advantage of all the amenities and opportunities Nazareth College provides you. As an international student or scholar, your role in providing our campus community with knowledge, cultural understanding, and global awareness is very important. About CIE Since 2002, the Center for International Education (CIE) has enriched the Nazareth College and Greater Rochester community by providing opportunities for intercultural exploration and global awareness through our many programs and services. With over 1,600 international student alumni from more than 100 countries, we pride ourselves on bringing the world to Nazareth. About Rochester, NY Rochester, also known as the Flower City, is the third-largest city in the state of New York. It is a great place to live, with something for everyone. The mid-sized city, suburbs, and scenic regions are home to more than one million people with a mix of ethnic backgrounds and religions. Ranked as one of the top cities in the United States for its vibrant arts and culture, Rochester is filled with creativity and innovation. It hosts over fifty festivals throughout the year, has dozens of museums on everything from Monet and Chihuly to Jell-O and clocks, and is the birthplace of corporations like Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb. Listen to live jazz at a local coffee house. Watch a new movie on an IMAX screen or at the historic Little Theatre. Rock out to a concert at the Armory or enjoy a peaceful walk down a lilac-lined park pathway. Map of Nazareth & Pittsford Visa & Immigration Concerns Step by Step Visa Instructions 1. Make sure your passport is valid. Your passport must be valid for the entirety of your stay plus at least an additional six months after your planned date of departure. 2. Check your I-20 or DS-2019 form for accuracy and completeness. Make sure that all information is correct and that your expected completion date matches the one on your document. If you have dependents (spouse or children under 21) who will come with you to the U.S., each of them will receive their own dependent I-20 or DS-2019 that they will need to apply for their F-2 or J-2 visa. As the student, you will need to sign all forms (not the dependent). 3. Pay the SEVIS fee and print the receipt. To pay online via credit/debit, visit the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) SEVIS I-901 Fee Processing Website at www.fmjfee.com. After you submit your payment, make sure you print at least two copies of the confirmation receipt. 4. Complete the online non-immigrant visa application. All F-1 student & J-1 scholar visa applicants should complete the DS-160 online New Non-immigrant Visa Application. Visit evisaforms.state.gov to fill out the form. Remember to print the form upon completion. 5. Pay any visa fees required in advance of your appointment. Procedures may vary depending on location. For more information, visit usembassy.state.gov 6. Make a visa application appointment at a U.S. Consulate in your home country. Do NOT make an appointment until you have received your I-20 or DS-2019. The U.S. consulate will not issue a student visa until 120 days before the start of your intended program. 7. Obtain a passport-sized photo less than six months old. This photo must fulfill the following requirements: 2”x2” square dimensions against a light background showing your full face (no head coverings). For more information, visit travel.state.gov 8. Prepare for your interview appointment. Read NAFSA’s “10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa” for some tips. 9. Arrive at the U.S. consulate or embassy on time and well-prepared. Please see the following important information for how to behave and what to bring to your interview. Applying for an F-1 & J-1 Visa What to Do at Your Visa Interview Dress appropriately. Women: dress, skirt or slacks. Men: shirt, tie, dress pants. Be polite. Greet the official appropriately (“Good morning, sir/madam”) and SMILE! Organize your papers. Have all of your required documents in a folder so you do not waste time looking for things. Answer only when asked. Give answers only to the questions asked and do NOT provide any additional information unless requested. What to Bring to Your Visa Interview Passport. Original and valid for the intended period of study in the United States plus an additional six (6) months. Form I-20 or DS-2019. This is your Certificate of Eligibility form issued by Nazareth College. Be sure you sign the first page! SEVIS fee receipt. Please visit studyinthestates.dhs.gov for details. Acceptance letter. Shows the official that you have met the academic requirements of the university and have been accepted based on those qualifications. Bank statement. Original and signed by bank official, marked with official bank stamp. Affidavit of support. Original and signed by sponsor. Shows the official that you have the finances necessary to support you for the first year of your studies. Nazareth College brochure. Shows the official the validity of the university. *TOEFL scores. If you have been accepted into a degree program, you must provide proof of your English language proficiency to the official. Proof of non-migratory status. It is crucial that you prove to the official that you are planning to return to your home country upon completion of your studies. Examples include: family commitments, ownership of property, employment, proof of acceptance/attendance at another university. Two (2) passport size photos. 2”x2” square color photos with a white background showing your full face (no head coverings). Go to travel.state.gov for more details. Completed visa application. Fill out the visa application upon your arrival at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate for your visa interview. Application fee. Upon the completion of your visa interview, you will be charged a non- refundable application fee (varies according to location). Your application for your F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor visa is made at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over your place of legal permanent residence. Without any unusual circumstances, your visa will be issued within a few hours to a few days of application. A visa is not a guarantee of entrance into the United States. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has the authority to deny admission at the Port of Entry. Visa Denials If your visa application is denied, you should request a written explanation from the Consulate or Embassy that details the reasons for the denial. You may reapply for a visa; however, you should NOT resubmit your original application. Your second application should have updated information that addresses the issues behind the previous denial. How to Maintain Your Visa Status While studying in the United States, it is important to maintain your student visa status. Your visa states that you are coming to the United States to study. You should not consider any action that detracts from that purpose. Upon Arrival Enter the United States no more than 30 days before your program of study begins (as indicated on your I-20/DS-2019). Immediately contact the CIE when you enter the United States. When you arrive at Nazareth, contact the CIE again - no later than the program start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 Form - to provide copies of your visa and to participate in a formal orientation. Be sure to attend the mandatory orientation. Education Attend and pass all of your classes. If you find Nazareth academics too difficult, meet with CIE staff to discuss available resources and options. Take a full course of study each term. A full course load for undergraduate students is a minimum of 12 credits per semester; for graduate students, 9 credits. ELI students are required to attend at least 18 hours of class per week. Do not drop a class without speaking first to CIE staff. If you believe that you will be unable to complete your program by the end date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019, meet with CIE staff to request a possible program extension. Work Do not work without authorization. An F or J student may work only when authorized by the CIE and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Internships are considered employment, so authorization must be obtained through the CIE. Any work – paid or unpaid – without authorization will result in the termination of your visa! Upon Program Completion Take action to maintain legal status after completing your program of study. Whether you are returning home, applying for OPT, transferring to another school, changing your education level (eg. bachelor’s to master’s), or applying to change your visa status, remember the following important deadlines: o For F visa holders, you have 60 days after the completion of your program (the program end date listed on your I-20) to leave the United States.