International Students

Yes, find out more about accreditation on our Accreditation page. 

You will need to contact your local County Clerk’s office for specific application requirements.  However, at minimum you will need to take your valid I-20 and a letter from UC stating you are in good standing and currently enrolled at the institution. To obtain this letter complete the DMV Request Form.

Anyone who works in the US must have a Social Security card.  A Social Security Number (SSN) is issued once per lifetime.  If you have requested a card before and lost it, you will not get a new number. You are only eligible to apply for an SSN if you have a job offer letter and work permission.  Please note, F-2 dependents are not eligible for an SSN. You can work while you are waiting for your SSN application to be processed.

• You must be currently in the US before you can apply for your SSN.
• You must apply with your local SSN office no earlier than 30 days before your start date of employment as recorded on your I-20.
• You need to take your employment letter and I-20 with you to the Social Security Office in order to apply for a card.
• You can find your closest SSN Office by clicking here.

More about CPT and OPT

Undergraduate Students: If you select to change your program of study or your degree program, you must set up an appointment with the Office of Student Services to review your I-20 and any admission requirements to the new program of study. Once it is determined that you can begin the new program, the respective office will update your program of study on your I-20 and extend your program if necessary.

Graduate Students: Submit a change of program application and meet the admissions requirements for your preferred program. Once it is determined that you can begin the new program you will receive an updated acceptance letter then an academic advisor and DSO will work with you for SEVIS updates and course registration.

All students needing a program extension will need to submit the Program Extension Application in UC Global. Please note, this request must come at least one month prior to the program end date listed on your I-20. Requests for a program extension after the program end date listed on your I-20 cannot be processed.

US immigration regulations limit the number of online classes an F-1 student can take in a given semester.  No more than one (1) course can count towards the student’s full-time enrollment.  Please contact the Office of Student Services or  the Department of International Graduate Services for additional clarification regarding the online enrollment restrictions. 

F-1 students can only drop below full-time enrollment with prior permission from their assigned Designated School Official (DSO) and Academic Advisor.  A reduced course load request must be submitted in UC Global. If requesting a medical reduced course load documentation must be provided.

If your passport is lost/stolen there are several key reporting steps that must be completed.   

Step 1: You must file a police report for a lost or stolen passport.  Make sure you make a copy of the report for your records and to present to your consulate office. 
Step 2: You must report that your passport has been lost/stolen to the Embassy or Consulate office that issued your visa.  When you report the missing document, you want to list your full name, date of birth, place of birth, address in the US, and email address.  You are also asked to state when and where it was lost/stolen. 
Step 3: You cannot replace the passport within the US.  As a result, when you go home for a break period you will have to apply for a replacement visa.  You must take all of the documentation referenced above with you when you apply. 

Please note that once you complete these steps, if you find your passport it will no longer be valid and you still have to replace the document.
 

An I-901 is a fee that all F and M students and J exchange visitors must pay before the Department of State can issue a visa. Students pay this fee after receiving their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” at FMJfee.com.

• Regulation requires all prospective F-1 students to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee before the U.S. Department of State issues them a visa to study in the United States.
• The I-901 SEVIS Fee is different from the fees for visa services issued by the Department of State.
• F-1 students must pay their I-901 SEVIS Fee in order to study in the United States, to remain compliant and to maintain their student status.
• To pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee , visit FMJfee.com to access the SEVIS Form I-901.
• F-1 students must print their I-901 SEVIS Fee payment receipt to present as proof of payment at their visa interview and to enter the United States at a U.S. port of entry. Showing an email notification alone will not be sufficient.
• The SEVIS ID on the payment confirmation receipt must always match the SEVIS ID on the student’s most current Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” unless the F or M student is considered a border commuter student. If the SEVIS ID is different, please email FMJfee.sevis [at] ice.dhs.gov (FMJfee[dot]sevis[at]ice[dot]dhs[dot]gov) to confirm if a new I‑901 Fee payment is required.

All F-1 international students must file tax forms with the United States federal government.  You must file taxes regardless of whether you worked in the U.S., earned income in the U.S., or received a scholarship. International Student Services does not have tax experts and, therefore, cannot, by law, answer specific tax questions or help you prepare your tax forms. If you are unfamiliar with filing taxes, we recommend that students get expert advice from an accountant or other tax professional.

The deadline to file taxes in the U.S. is April 15.

Steps to Consider to Complete Fax Forms 
Step 1: Collect Tax Documents: These documents may have come from an employer or the university. 

Step 2: File Tax Paperwork by April 15:  There are several tax professionals available for international students to consider.  UC does not endorse one specific program.  However, we do like to highlight Glacier Tax Prep, which is a specific tax preparation service that is trained in working with international students. You can access their site at https://www.glaciertax.com/.

Commonly Used Tax Forms 
1040Z: Income Tax Return  

Form 8843: Statement for Exempt Individuals (This form is required even if you don’t file taxes.) 

Taxpayer Identification Number:  Students without a Social Security Number 

Form 4868: Application for Extension of Time to File Taxes  

New Student Orientation is a critical and required component of your transition to University of the Cumberlands Graduate Programs. Click here for more information about orientation.

This process requires traveling out of the US, applying for a visa, and paying the SEVIS Fee. Since traveling requires visiting a U.S. consulate outside the U.S. to obtain the new visa stamp, the length of time is dependent on how long that process will take.  Due to delays, long processing times and security checks, we recommend talking with a DSO before choosing this option.

Your re-entry date to the U.S. can be up to 30 days prior to the program start date on your I-20.  If your re-entry date is delayed, it could jeopardize your enrollment for the planned term. 

A person's nonimmigrant status must match the purpose of his/her stay in the U.S.  A change of status may be necessary when the objectives of the visit have changed.

Changing nonimmigrant status can be a complex and time-consuming process. The timing of the change is critical and must be done with care to avoid falling out of status during the transition. Before pursuing a change of status, it is recommended that you discuss your situation with a DSO.

There are two ways to change nonimmigrant status:

1.    Travel outside the U.S. and re-enter in the new status, or

2.    Remain in the U.S. and request a change of status by application to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

To learn more about the Change of Status Process review resources provided by DHS on Study in the States: https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/change-of-status

**The above information is to be used as a general reference only. University of the Cumberlands does not issue change of status I-20’s. If you have questions regarding this information please contact the Department of International Graduate Services**

Why would I need F-1 reinstatement?

Examples of how a student may fail to maintain status that would require reinstatement: 

• Failure to complete the I-20 transfer procedure when transferring institutions
• Failure to apply for an extension of program before I-20 expiration
• Failure to complete a full course of study during a given semester
• Failure to properly follow university withdrawal policies

*University of the Cumberlands will not recommend reinstatement for students whose SEVIS record has been terminated.*

How to gain reinstatement:

Students who fail to maintain F-1 student status have two options as to how to regain their legal immigration status; application through USCIS/DHS or travel. 

Option 1: Apply to the U.S Department of Homeland Security:

A non-immigrant alien who has failed to maintain status may apply for reinstatement to lawful status at the discretion of DHS, but only under limited conditions specified in immigration regulations.

An application for reinstatement may be considered if the following can be proved:

• You have not been out of status for more than five (5) months
• You do not have a record of repeat violations
• You are pursuing a full course of study
• You are not (or have not been) engaged in unauthorized employment
• You are not deportable on any grounds other than the status violation
• The status violation was beyond your control, or failure to timely submit a Program Extension 

Pending Re-Instatement – You are not in legal F-1 status until your application for reinstatement is approved, therefore:

School Attendance: An applicant for reinstatement to F-1 status must maintain full-time academic enrollment while the application is pending.
Employment Benefits: No F-1 employment benefits (CPT) are available until the reinstatement is approved.

How to Apply for Re-Instatement

Students are responsible for the following:

Be prepared to have the following documents to provide:

• New, original F-1 I-20 issued for reinstatement – This comes from a University of the Cumberlands P/DSO
• Check or money order, payable to Department of Homeland Security (https://www.uscis.gov/forms)
• I-94 card
• Personal letter explaining your situation and requesting reinstatement (must be original with signature)
• Suggestions for Personal Letter: This letter should establish convincingly why you are out of status by specifically stating the violation, and the reason(s) you are in violation.  State how failure to receive reinstatement approval will affect you; state that you are currently pursuing or intending to pursue a full course of study and specifically request that the Department of Homeland Security reinstate you to student status.  Be sure to state that you have not violated any other immigration regulations and have not been employed without proper authorization; and finally reaffirm your intention that you intend to return to your home country when your F1 status is completed. Be sure to provide a strong letter with facts to support your requests.
• Completed Form I-539:
  • (on Part 2, Application Type, be sure to select #3 – “Reinstatement to Student Status”;
  • Part 3. Processing Information: check-mark the box at 1.b.)
• SEVIS Fee Payment Receipt (only required if you have been “out of status” more than 5 months): www.fmjfee.com                    
• photocopy of passport statistics page
• photocopy of visa
• proof of financial support (original or photocopy)
• copy of academic transcripts (this can be an unofficial copy)
• All previously issued I-20’s (photocopies)  
  The word "REINSTATEMENT" should be written at the top of the I-539 form to further distinguish it from other uses of Form I-539.

How to Process the Re-Instatment – Once your application is complete you will mail the reinstatement application yourself to one of the addresses below.  It is recommended that you send your packet “certified mail; return receipt requested”.  This allows you to track your application during the mail process and ensures proof that you sent your application and that it was received.  It is important that the Reinstatement application packet be assembled in order as shown above in the “How To Apply” section and sent to: 

“Regular” mail:  

USCIS – TEXAS SERVICE CENTER
ATTN: I-539 – REINSTATEMENT
PO BOX 660166
DALLAS, TX 75266

Certified Mail or Overnight Mail:

USCIS – TEXAS SERVICE CENTER
ATTN: I-539 – REINSTATEMENT
2501 S STATE HIGHWAY 121, BUSINESS SUITE 400
LEWISVILLE, TX 75067

You will receive a Notice of Action from the Service Center, this lets you know that the Service Center has received your application; it does not mean that your application has been approved. Read this notice carefully. If at any time the Service Center requests further information, gather what is asked for submission; pay strict attention to given deadlines.

Please know that, the reinstatement process can take several months to be acted upon.  You must be attending school full-time and stay in compliance with all F-1 student regulations.  Failure to do so can result in the denial of your application.  When you receive your final adjudication Notice of Action, provide your notice to the International Student Services department so that your immigration records can be adjusted accordingly and a copy made for your student file.

Option 2: Travel

As an alternative to applying for reinstatement while in the U.S., you may opt to travel and re-enter the U.S. using a new “initial attendance” I-20.

Please contact the P/DSO to notify which option you choose to pursue to regain F-1 student status or to discuss these option further.