Three semesters before you plan to complete your degree requirements you are required to fill out a Graduation Application form with your Academic Advisor and submit it with a completed degree audit to the Registrar’s Office. This form can be found in the Registrar’s Office and in the Academic Departments. The date you plan to complete your program of study may effect the dates on your I-20 so you must notify a DSO in the Registrar’s Office when you turn your form in.
If you require an extension to your I-20, you must notify the Registrar’s Office immediately so changes can be made to your I-20 to ensure you do not fall out of status. Once the end date, found in section #5 on your I-20 form, has passed, an extension will no longer be possible and you will be required to submit all new financial documents and you may be subject to pay the $200 SEVIS I-901 fee.
If you have changed your name you must fill out a Name Change Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office. Along with the form, you are required to provide a copy of the legal document issued to you (e.g. Marriage Certificate or Court Order).
If your address changes from what you see in your Anchor Access account, you must report the change within 10 days to the Registrar’s Office. It is imperative that your address is correct in the SEVIS Database to ensure you are in compliance with Federal Regulations for your I-20 form.
If you wish to change your course of study please come into the Registrar’s Office to speak with a DSO first. Curriculum changes may affect the validity of your I-20 form causing you to fall out of status. Once you speak with a DSO, please fill out the Major Change Form and bring it to the department of your new major for the required signatures.
Full-Time students may be eligible for On-Campus employment if it is directly affiliated with Lake Superior State University and serving our students. Employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students may work Full-Time (40 hours) during school breaks as long as they are planning to enroll Full-Time the next semester.
Full-Time students must be enrolled for one academic year before they can be eligible for CPT. There is no restriction on the number of hours a student can work per week while in CPT. To maintain status, students completing CPT must remain enrolled Full-Time.
Full-Time students must be enrolled for one academic year before they can be eligible for OPT. OPT is available to F-1 students while completing their program of study or upon completion of their program of study for up to 12 months. Employment cannot exceed 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students may work Full-Time (40 hours per week) during school breaks.
Federal Regulations allow continuing F-1 students in valid status to travel outside of the United States and reenter without jeopardizing their status. You may travel outside of the U.S. as long as the signature, found on page 2 of your I-20 form is current – not past the date it was last signed. For example if you are planning a trip for July 2017 and the last day your I-20 was signed was May 15, 2016, you will need to get your I-20 signed before May 15, 2017 to avoid falling out of status and problems with U.S. Customs and Border Protection while reentering the U.S. You should carry your I-20 and I-94 card with you at all times whenever you are traveling and crossing any U.S. border.