ASU's International Students and Scholars Center welcomes students from more than 158 countries around the world. We are here to support you with immigration information, employment resources, and opportunities to connect with fellow ASU students.
Recommended Practices for International Students, Scholars, Faculty, and Staff
You are responsible for maintaining your nonimmigrant status during your stay in the United States.
If you are in F-1 or J-1 student status:
Please visit our Learn about your F-1/J-1 Student Status webpage for more information on this topic.
Questions?
If you have questions about maintaining your status after reviewing this information, please contact us at: 480-727-4776.
If you are in H-1b, O-1, TN, E-3, B-1, or J-1 scholar status
Please visit our Learn about other faculty/scholars visa categories webpage for more information on this topic.
Questions?
If you have questions about maintaining your status after reviewing this information, please contact us at: 480-727-7125.
Recommended practices
Keep documentation readily available
- You should keep your immigration documents in a safe, readily accessible place.
- You must carry a copy of your most recent I-94 Arrival/Departure Record with you at all times.
- Please ensure that your passport remains valid for at least six months beyond your anticipated stay in the United States. You should also carry this at all times.
- If you are employed, you should also carry a copy of the document showing your employment authorization
- Form I-20 for F-1 students;
- Form DS 2019 for J-1 Exchange Visitors;
- EAD for persons in F-1 OPT status;
- Form I-797 for persons in H-1b or O-1 status.
It is a good practice to also have a readily accessible digitized set of these documents.
Update your address
F-1/J-1 or F-2/J-2
As a reminder, if you are an F-1/J-1 or F-2/J-2,
- You must update your address on your MyASU within 10 days of your change of address
W
e will update your SEVIS record accordingly.
F-1 OPT
- You must update your address on your MyASU and SEVP Portal account, within 10 days of your change of address,
- We will update your SEVIS record accordingly.
Not F-1/J-1 or F-2/J-2
If you are not an F-1/J-1 or F-2/J-2,
- You are required to submit an online AR-11 change of address form within 10 days of a change of primary residential address.
Register with DHS
All noncitizens living in the U.S. are also required to “register” with the Department of Homeland Security. “Registration” happens automatically when you are issued:
- An I-94 Arrival/Departure Record,
- An EAD, or
- A Lawful Permanent Resident Card.
Note:
However, the USCIS has announced that if a noncitizen child turns 14 after the issuance of their last I-94 Arrival/Departure Record or after receiving a Lawful Permanent Resident Card, their parent must complete a registration for that child within 30 days of the child’s 14th birthday.
Important Reminders
Visa expiration
Please remember that your visa (the admission stamp placed in your passport by a U.S. Consulate bearing your picture and other information) only determines the period of time during which you can enter the U.S.
Your visa does not determine the duration of your F-1 or J-1 status; in other words, if your visa has expired, that does not mean that your F-1 or J-1 status has expired.
Visa revocations
Please also be aware that the Department of State has broad discretionary authority to revoke a visa. If the Department of State revokes your visa:
- You may receive an email delivered to the email address that you provided to the U.S. Consulate on your most recent DS 160 Application for Nonimmigrant Visa.
However, the Department of State does not notify the visa holder in every instance of a visa revocation. If you are concerned about the validity of your visa, you can:
- Go to the CEAC Visa Application status tool.
- Select the “Nonimmigrant” dropdown option in the first field.
- Then select the Consulate that issued your current visa from the dropdown options in the second field.
- Then enter the 14 digit “Control Number” found in the upper right hand corner of your visa in the third field, in the following format: xxxxxxx xxx xxxx.
- Enter the same passport number that is found on your visa in the fourth field.
Alternatively, you may try to contact the U.S. Consulate which issued your visa to verify the validity of your visa.
Stay on top of updates
Be sure to keep current with developments that may affect your stay in the United States. In particular, look for updates on the official USCIS website. Please be aware that on April 9, 2025, the USCIS announced that it will begin screening:
“Social media content that indicates an alien endorsing, promoting or supporting antisemitic terrorism, antisemitic terroristic organizations, or other antisemitic activity as a negative factor in any USCIS discretionary analysis when adjudicating immigration benefit requests.”
If you are concerned that you will be unable to maintain your nonimmigrant status, consider contacting a private immigration attorney to determine if you may be eligible for a different nonimmigrant status.
