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F-1 Visa:
As a student with student visa (F-1 visa), your primary purpose for being in the U.S. is to study. Student visa holders must comply with Immigration and Naturalization Service regulations and Department of State regulations while in the United States.
As a student visa holder, you must keep your passport valid at all times, have medical insurance at all times, maintain full-time enrollment, normal full-time progress toward your degree, and accept only authorized employment. You are not permitted to work off campus until you have received employment permission from INS. Until that time you will be eligible only to work on-campus through teaching or research assistantships or general on-campus employment in one of Bloomsburg University's departments for only 20 hours per week. To work more than that any given week is a violation of your student status.
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J-1 Visa:
The "J" exchange visitor program is designed to promote the interchange of persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, arts, and sciences. Participants include students at all academic levels; trainees obtaining on-the-job training with firms, institutions, and agencies; teachers of primary, secondary, and specialized schools; professors coming to teach or do research at institutions of higher learning; research scholars; professional trainees in the medical and allied fields; and international visitors coming for the purpose of travel, observation, consultation, research, training, sharing, or demonstrating specialized knowledge or skills, or participating in organized people-to-people programs.
J-1 students are required to have medical insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents throughout their stay in the United States. Students must be admitted to a degree program at an "accredited educational institution" for a "full course of study" or be engaged full time in a non-degree prescribed course of study.
J-1 academic training is designed to allow J-1 students the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a practical work experience off campus. Academic training is available to J-1 students during the course of study and after completion of studies. As long as you stay within the stipulated time limits, academic training allows you to work part-time while classes are in session and full-time during vacation periods; and under certain circumstances you may interrupt study to work full-time, for example while you are writing a thesis. J-1 students in non-degree programs are also eligible for academic training.
Academic training cannot exceed 18 months in length (36 months for post-doctoral training) or "the period of full course of study" whichever is shorter.
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Useful materials:
U.S. Immigration Support
Optional Practical Training & FAQ
Tuition waiver application (need to fill out for each of the semesters)
Tuition Waiver Application Deadlines:
Fall - March 15th
Spring - October 1st
Summer - February 7th
Certification of Financial Guarantee: This form must be filled out by any prospective students who are applying to the university for either undergraduate or graduate courses. Also, after starting your courses, this form must be filled out for each year that you are here in Bloomsburg University. Students who are under the age of 18 should have this form signed by their parents or legal guardians.
Proof of Insurance: This form is required for each of the semester that you attend Bloomsburg Univeristy.
It is required by the law for international students to carry health insurance at all times.
Return to U.S.: This letter is required to return to the U.S. after leaving the country. International students will not be able to return back to Bloomsburg unless they carry this letter along with their I-20 form and must present this letter to the immigration officials.
Download the letter and enter all of the necessary information and email it to Sharon at sfisher@bloomu.edu.
Certificate of Presence: This is a notification letter for students to prove that they are in the U.S. studying here in Bloomsburg University.
Download the letter and enter all of the necessary information and email it to Sharon at sfisher@bloomu.edu.
Optional Practical Training (OPT): This letter is sent to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with the other required forms and items to apply for an OPT for a graduating student.
The OPT applications must be filled 120 days prior to students graduation date.
Change of Address: INS Regulation; Bloomsburg University international and exchange students must notify the International Education Office of any change in address or other personal information.
According to INS regulations, if a change of address is not reported within 10 days, a student will be considered out of status. (Please note: A change in information should be reported to the Registrar of Bloomsburg University as well.)
Request for a B1/ B2 visitor's Visa: This letter allows students to apply for a visitor's visa for their guests that are visiting from other countries.
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Visa Issues 
