FAQs- New Students
Please note that effective May 11, 2023, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) ended its Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) guidance, consistent with the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, following the end of the COVID-19 National Emergency on April 10, 2023. Regulations have reverted back to pre-COVID, requiring the following:
- Enrollment in all in-person or hybrid courses with the exception of one online course per semester.
- Being physically present in the U.S. by the start of the academic semester to maintain valid F-1 status.
- Maintaining status in your final semester by enrolling in at least one in-person or hybrid course.
- Ensuring you are not out of the U.S. for longer than 5 months, unless a leave of absence has been requested.
General
- If I am successful in obtaining my F-1 visa stamp, how late may I enter the U.S.?You will need to enter the U.S. by the first day of classes, which is indicated on your I-20 as your "Start of Classes".
- Will I be able to defer my application to the next semester? If allowed, do I have
to request a new I-20 and pay a new SEVIS fee?Deferral requests need to be made with the Admissions Office. If they authorize your deferral to the next semester, then they would need to amend your I-20 start and end date. The deferral of I-20 dates would NOT require you to pay a new SEVIS fee. An amended I-20 will be issued and sent to you.
- For undergraduate deferral requests, please email admissions@sjsu.edu. Deferrals are not always an option.
- For graduate deferral requests, please refer to GAPE's deferral webpage or email graduate@sjsu.edu.
- I am a new student starting my classes. Is there an extension on submitting my immunization
records?Please start gathering your immunization records and submit them by the first day of classes for the semester. You will need to submit immunization records before the first day of classes per University policy. Please go here and scroll to the bottom of the page for more information on this. All incoming students are strongly encouraged to submit their immunization records. If you have further questions about immunizations, contact the Student Wellness Center at studentwellnesscenter@sjsu.edu.
- On the form DS-160, what should I put as the "intended length of stay" in the U.S.?We recommend 60 months for undergraduates and 36 months for graduate students.
- What is the email address and the phone number I can list as the point of contact
in the U.S. on the form DS-160?Please use internationl-office@sjsu.edu as the email address and 408-924-5920 as the phone number.
- I paid the SEVIS I-901 fee for the school I initially intended to attend. Now I want
to attend SJSU. How can I transfer the SEVIS I-901 for the I-20 I received from SJSU?
You may request to transfer your I-901 SEVIS Fee directly from FMJFee.com. To request an I-901 SEVIS Fee transfer, visit the "Check I-901 Status" page on FMJFee.com.
Please note that an approval is not guaranteed. All current I-901 SEVIS Fee Transfer regulations still apply and will be used in the federal decision-making process.For more information on I-901 Fee Transfer eligibility, please visit the I-901 SEVIS Fee Frequently Asked Question page on ice.gov/sevis.
- I already received my F-1 visa with another school’s I-20 but I want to come to SJSU.
What should I do?
You may arrive in the U.S. with the other school's I-20. The earliest day you can arrive in the U.S. is 30 days prior to their program start date, which is indicated on the Form I-20. However, your arrival day must be no earlier than 30 days prior to the SJSU program start date. Please book your flight ticket considering the two schools’ program start dates.
Please note that you will need to complete the immigration check-in by following the instructions given by the other school and inform the other school that you want to transfer your SEVIS record to SJSU. The school code of SJSU is SFR214F00627000.
SEVIS Transfer Students
- I am a new transfer student in the United States. How do these guidelines affect my
immigration status?You will need to enter the U.S. by the first day of classes, which is indicated on your I-20 as your "initial program date". You will need to be enrolled full-time, meaning a fully in-person or hybrid course load (12 units for undergraduates and 9 units for graduates), with allowance for only one online course per your full course of study, each semester.
- I am a new transfer student in the United States. Do I need to pay the SEVIS I-901
fee and the DS-160 visa application fee?No, those fees (I-901 and DS-160) are only for new students with new SEVIS records. As long as you are a SEVIS transfer student, your SEVIS ID remains the same and there is no need to pay the I-901 fee again. The DS-160 application fee will need to be paid only IF you need to renew your visa when you leave the U.S. next. However, if you have an expired F-1 visa stamp, you can legally remain in the U.S. as long as your I-20 is valid.
- I am a transfer student. Do I need to apply for a new visa when I return to the U.S.?Before entering the U.S., you must have obtained your SJSU “Transfer-Pending” I-20. As long as your current visa stamp is still valid, return to the U.S. with the same valid F-1 visa stamp. The important information is that the same SEVIS ID is reflected on your F-1 visa stamp and your SJSU I-20.
- Is the travel signature required on the second page of a "Transfer-Pending" I-20 or
"Change of Education Level" I-20 in order to enter the U.S.?A “Transfer-Pending” or a "Change of Education Level" I-20 do not require a travel signature on the second page in order for you to be able to enter the U.S.. Only after you are enrolled and have completed the new student immigration check-in, will you receive a "Continued Attendance" I-20 with a travel signature.
Major vs. CIP code
- Why is the major listed on my I-20 different from the major listed on my admissions
letter?
The Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code is defined by the U.S. Department of Education. The CIP code system standardizes information from all institutions regarding majors by matchinging with a standard name. However, universities can use their own "preferred titles" for their programs of study, which could differ from the title associated with the CIP code.
The critical information is that the CIP code and major on your I-20 reflect the Department of Education's standard name for that CIP code, and NOT necessarily the same title of the major at your institution. For example, the Master of Science in Software Engineering, the CIP code is 14.0903. The standard title for that CIP code by the Department of Education is "Computer Software Engineering". However, the major is titled "Software Engineering" here at SJSU. In other words, the CIP code standard title is what is printed on your I-20.
- Why does my I-20 not reflect the CIP code of my concentration?The CIP codes are given by the departments. For the majority of concentrations at SJSU, the departments use the CIP code of the majors. The Admission’s Office and our office uses the CIP code field when issuing I-20s. The I-20 is only for immigration purposes and does not affect you academically. In other words, your graduation progress, transcript, and diploma will reflect your major in addition to your concentration.
- Where can I find the CIP code of the majors I intend to apply? Where can I check if
the major I intend to apply is eligible for STEM OPT?You can find all our STEM eligible majors here. The school catalog has the CIP codes for all majors and concentrations at SJSU. Please note that, for the majority of the concentrations, SJSU issues I-20s with the CIP code of majors. For example, the concentration of Management Information Systems concentration under Business Admission major. SJSU issues the I-20 with CIP code of the major - 52.0201 instead of the concentration - 11.0103. Therefore, Management Information Systems is not a STEM major at SJSU.
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