Enrollment and Continuing Student Status

Travel Signature Requirement

F1 students are required to have a valid travel endorsement signature on their I20 whenever they travel outside the U.S.  This signature can be found on page 2 of your I20. If you are planning travel be sure to verify this signature and date prior to your departure.

• You must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 to return to the U.S. after travel abroad.
• Each signature is valid for 12 months. (F1 students on OPT: the travel signature is valid for six months).
• A travel signature is issued by your Sonoran University DSO to confirm you are maintaining your F1 student status.
• The travel signature is required for returning to the U.S. It is not required for leaving the U.S.
• If your current travel signature will expire before you will return to the U.S., you must request an updated travel signature.
• The travel signature is on page 2 of your I-20.
• Need a signature? Contact the International Office at international@sonoran.edu or call 480-999-9203.

Inviting Family & Friends to the US

If your family/friends wish to visit you in the U.S. during your enrollment at Sonoran University, they may need to apply for a visitor visa, unless their country of citizenship is listed as a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participant.  In preparation for their visa application and interview, your family/friends will need to prove WHY they are coming to the U.S., WHAT they will be doing here, WHERE they are going in the U.S., WHEN they will be in the U.S. and WHEN they will return to their home country and, lastly, HOW they will support themselves while they are in the U.S.

If your family/friends need a visitor visa, they must thoroughly review the instructions for visitor visa applications. These instructions can be found on the website of the U.S. embassy/consulate where they will apply for the visa.  The consulate website should list what documents the applicants must prepare and present in their application.  This is a personal application in which applicants must demonstrate their eligibility through a visa interview.

The following information provides additional tips for visitor visa applications.  If your family/friends are from a VWP participating country, this information is still applicable to them as they may be questioned at the port of entry.

Invitation Letter

Your family/friends may bring a letter from you explaining who you are and what you are doing in the U.S. and that you want to invite them to visit for your graduation (and/or white coat ceremony, vacation, tour, etc.).  Your letter should list the dates and locations that your family/friends will visit in the U.S. You should be as specific as possible. Include your name, date of birth, SEVIS ID# (if applicable) and address in the U.S.   If your family will stay with you, mention this in your letter or include the name and address of the hotel where they will stay.

      Sample Invitation Letter.pdf

Additional Documentation

WHY are your family/friends coming to the U.S. and WHAT will they be doing?
If coming to your graduation or white coat ceremony they should show proof of this. For example: A copy of your I-20, your full-time enrollment verification and/or a letter from the academic advisor confirming that you are completing your degree or participating in white coat ceremony this spring/fall, copies of graduation ceremony tickets or invitations, etc.  If they are coming for a conference or special event, they should bring proof of this instead (or as well).

WHERE are they visiting in the U.S.?
This could be hotel reservations in Arizona, printed out information from places they plan to visit, and/or reservation confirmations from any special tours or events they will visit.

WHEN will they arrive in the U.S. and WHEN will they return to their home country?
The best way to prove this is with plane tickets that they have or are planning to purchase or a flight itinerary to prove they will not stay in the U.S. forever.  Remember that plane tickets should not be purchased until the visa is granted.  If your family/friends have a job, they should bring a letter from their employer verifying employment and that they will take a vacation and will return to work on XXXXX date.  If your family/friends are in school, they could bring documents from the school to show they will return to their home country to resume enrollment and continue their classes.

HOW will they support themselves while they are in the U.S.?
A bank statement from your family/friends should be available to show that they have the funds to travel in the U.S., or letters from their employers to show that they are working and earning a salary.

F1 Eligibility Requirements to Work On Campus:

On-Campus Employment

On-campus employment is the category most freely permitted by the USCIS regulations, and it does not require USCIS approval. However, although F1 status includes an on-campus employment privilege, on-campus employment opportunities  are limited. Even if you can obtain a job on campus, you may not rely on it to prove financial resources for the year, and often these jobs are not related to your studies. You must obtain permission from International Student Services prior to accepting any on-campus employment, Sonoran University does not permit such employment in a student's first academic year.

For on-campus work, an F1 student is subject to the following rules:

1. You must maintain valid F1 status
2. You can work up to 20 hours per week while school is in session
3. You can work full-time on campus during holidays and vacation periods if you intend to register for the next academic quarter
4. The employment may not displace (take a job away from) a U.S. resident

Since your status is always contingent on your school's support, you must seek guidance and clearance from your International Student Services prior to applying for or accepting any employment. You will also need your school's guidance to ensure that you file all appropriate forms with USCIS and receive any necessary USCIS approval.

Required Steps for F1 student prior to on campus employment:

1. Obtain a job offer from an Sonoran University department or on campus partner

2. Obtain a letter from your hiring supervisor that contains the date and their signature and identifies

• Your job
• Your employment start date
• The number of hours you are or will be working
• Your supervisor's name and telephone number

2. Report the offer to Sonoran University International Student Services to obtain a confirmation letter from a Designated Student Official (DSO) identifying 

• Your name
• Confirmation of your F1 status
• Your employer and the type of work you will be doing 

3. Apply to Social Security Administration to receive a Social Security number.

You can file your application for an SSN card in person at any Social Security Office as well. Be prepared to provide your original documents to prove your age, identity and work-authorized immigration status. All evidence of immigration status and work authorization must be unexpired.

F1 Eligibility Requirements to Work Off Campus:

F1 visa holders cannot accept off-campus employment at any time during the first year of their studies. Under certain circumstances, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) may grant permission to accept off-campus employment after one year of study. For Sonoran University ND students, this is limited to OPT (Optional Practical Training) or Severe Economic Hardship (see below).  For more information, please go to the USCIS website here.

Off Campus Employment Based on Severe Economic Hardship Eligibility:

• You must have F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year
• You must be in good academic standing
• You must document that on-campus employment opportunities are unavailable or insufficient to meet your financial needs.

How to apply:

Contact the VP of Student Affairs Office to discuss your situation before you complete the required documentation. The VPSA will determine your eligibility and assist you in completing the application and submitting it to USCIS. Required documentation includes:

• Form I-765 (write (c)(3)(iii) in item 16)
• $380 fee (make your check or money order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security) 
• Photocopy of Form I-20, with an Sonoran University DSO's recommendation for economic hardship employment
• Two passport style photos
• Photocopy of I-94 card (front and back)
• A letter describing your financial difficulties and why on-campus employment opportunities are unavailable or insufficient; include supporting evidence
• Photocopy of passport identification page
• Photocopy of visa page
• Photocopies of any previously-issued EAD cards

Application processing times vary between two to four months. Do not begin working until you receive the Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

International Students and the U.S. Law

While at Sonoran University you are expected to follow laws and policies that govern a variety of daily life and academic activities. There are different levels of law in the U.S including federal, state, and local community laws which will differ depending on the particular jurisdiction.  Violating a U.S. law can have different consequences for an international student or scholar than for your American friends and can negatively impact your U.S. immigration status.   Similarly a violation of Sonoran University policies outlined in the Sonoran University catalog and student handbook can also impact your immigration status.

For example an arrest for “driving under the influence” of alcohol (known as DUI) could lead to the State Department revoking the U.S. visa in your passport. International students may not utilize medical marijuana in the state of Arizona as medical marijuana cards are only issued to U.S. citizens. Drug use or a history of drug use will impact your student visa status and enrollment at Sonoran University. Finally, international students are not permitted to own/carry a firearm or ammunition (even if you hold a temporary hunting license/permit).  

All Sonoran University students must immediately notify the Dean of Students of any law enforcement encounter. While it is unlikely that you will encounter any legal difficulties, there are times in life when the unexpected happens.   Knowing the law can make all the difference!