Passport
It is your most important piece of identification, and you need to keep it valid (6 months beyond your projected date of departure from the U.S.) You cannot renew your visa unless your passport is current, nor can you leave the U.S. without a valid passport.
Visa
The stamp in your passport which is issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, allowing the bearer to enter the United States. Visas can only be obtained or renewed outside the U.S.
I-20
Certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant F-1 Student Status. This form is issued to you to attend Otero Junior. Having accepted the I-20, you are required by immigration to attend LCC for at least one semester before transferring. Whenever you travel outside the U.S. you must carry an up-to-date I-20 endorsed by the Coordinator of International Programs or Assistant Dean and Director of Student Services. You must also check visa requirements of those countries through which you will travel.
You should keep pages 1-3 of your I-20 at all times.
It serves as a record of all transactions about your status.
DS-2019 Form
Certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant J-1 Exchange Visitors. This document certifies that the person has been accepted under the Exchange Visitor Program, which is approved by the USIA in Washington, D.C. Under this program, students, researchers and professors come to the United States on a temporary basis for the purpose of educational exchange. The terms of the appointment and the financial support of the program are indicated of the DS-2019. Uses of the DS-2019 correspond to those of an I-20 form. The program sponsor endorses the DS-2019 for overseas travel. Please visit the Office of International Programs before departure for authorization to travel outside of the U.S.
I-94
Entry permit issued by the Immigration inspector at the port-of-entry into the U.S. This is the little white card, which was stapled into your passport upon your arrival in the U.S. KEEP IT THERE, FOR IT IS YOUR PERMIT TO REMAIN IN THE U.S. The D/S marked on the I-94 means that you are permitted to remain in the U.S. for as long as you are pursuing your intended program of study, provided you remain in status and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of your degree or program.
Duration of Status (D/S)
Defined as the period during which a student pursues a full course of study in any educational program and any period of practical training plus 60 days to depart from the United States.
I-765 Form
Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD.) For F-1 students, this form is used to request optional practical training; off-campus employment under the sponsorship of a qualifying international organization; or off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship. This is also the form the J-2 dependent must file to request work permission.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
A laminated card with photo issued to some non-immigrants by USCIS indicating how long work is authorized. Do not begin work off-campus without this card.
