Intensive English Programs

All F-1 students are responsible for learning, understanding, and complying with United States federal laws and regulations governing the F -1 student visa. Failure to do so will violate your legal status in the U.S. If you have any questions, please see your international student advisor.

You must check in with the school Designated School Official within 30 days of your arrival. The official check-in takes place during the mandatory orientation with your advisor, who is also the Designated School Official (DSO) for immigration.
Please make sure to bring the following documents to the orientation:

• I-20
• Passport and visa
• Insurance

Off-campus employment is allowed if the student is going through severe economic hardship. Please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for more information and schedule a meeting with your advisor.

Social Security numbers are generally assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States. Social Security numbers are used to report your wages to the government and to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits. Social Security will not assign you a number just to enroll in a college or school. If you want to get a job on campus, you should contact your DSO to find out if you are eligible to work on campus.

Language school students are not permitted to work unless it is due to economic hardship.

Program Completion

You have 60 days after your program completion to leave the country.

Program Extension

• Program extensions are granted for study only.
• You must complete the Program Extension Form.
• Inform your International Student Advisor at least 21 days prior to your program end date.
• Failure to do so will cause you to be out of status.
• Provide an updated original bank statement if the one on file is 5 months or older.
• Provide proof of health insurance coverage for the new program duration.

Reinstatement

Reinstatement is the process by which a student who has failed to maintain his or her status may be “reinstated” to lawful F-1 status at the discretion of USCIS. Students become out of status when they:

• Enroll for less than a full course load.
• Are not registered during the academic year as required.
• Fail to extend their stay prior to the expiration date on the SEVIS I-20.
• Violate one of the school policies.
• Are not maintaining good academic standing.

Change of Status

Students Who Meet the Following Criteria Are Authorized To Apply For a Change of Status

• Has not been out of status for more than five months prior to filing for reinstatement.
• Does not have a record of repeated status violations.
• Is pursuing or will pursue a full course of study in the next available term.
• Has not engaged in unauthorized employment.
• The violation of the student’s status resulted from circumstances beyond the student’s control.

If you have failed to maintain your status and would like to be reinstated, please contact the International Student Advisor immediately.

Taxes

International students are not required to pay Social Security Tax, Medicare, or Federal Unemployment Tax. They ARE required to pay Federal Income Tax and State Income Tax in Florida.

Federal law requires ALL students in F-1 status to submit Tax Form 8843 - Statement for Exempt Individuals, EVEN IF THEY DID NOT WORK in that last year. If you did work the previous year, you are required to submit both Tax Form 8843 - Statement for Exempt Individuals and Tax Form 1040NR - US Tax Return for Certain Nonresident Aliens.

Please note that there are existing treaties between the U.S. and certain countries that serve the purpose of eliminating double taxation of income. If your country has an agreement with the U.S., please provide the proper forms in order to take advantage of applicable tax treaty exemptions. If you are not sure that your country has an existing treating, visit www.irs.gov for more information.

The U.S government agency that deals with taxes is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  According to the IRS, all international students are required to file INS form 8843. You can view and print out these instructions from the IRS web site under the Forms & Publications link, by choosing the correct form number from the list provided.

Transfer Out

• The International Student Advisor will assist you with the transfer out process to any college/university.
• As an IEP student, you have conditional acceptance to Valencia College.

Travel and Re-Entry

Students must consult their Designated School Official (DSO) prior to traveling within the U.S. or abroad.

Emergency Travel

• If you are leaving the U.S. and have not completed the 12-week program, you must leave the U.S. within 10 days.
• If you leave the country due to an unexpected emergency and you do not get your I-20 signed for travel, the school has the option of signing the I-20 and sending it overnight to you. There should be good explanation for the sudden departure, as well as appropriate documentation.

Travel or Vacation

• F-1 international students must attend class full-time for 6 session (6 months) in the IEP before being eligible for vacation.
• F-1 students are allowed a 1 session (1 month) long vacation after studying 6 session.
• After every vacation, F-1 students must study a minimum of 6 session to be eligible to take another vacation.
• You must be registered for the session upon your return. This might require a program extension.
• You must provide proof of travel.
• The I-20 must be signed.

Re-Entry Requirements

Below are the basic requirements for an F-1 student to reenter the United States after traveling abroad on pleasure or personal business?

• A SEVIS Form I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO
• You have been out of the United States for less than five months
• A current passport valid for at least six months after the date of your reentry or, if you are from one of the countries listed below, a passport that is current through the date of entry
• A valid, current visa or you traveled to contiguous country or adjacent island for less than thirty days
• Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses
• Bringing your most recent I-94, Departure Card, will facilitate your reentry, if reentering through a land Port of Entry. If you are flying, the airline will collect your I-94 prior to departure and you will complete a new one upon re-entry.

What is the I-20 Program Extension Form?

For students who require additional time to complete academic program requirements and are requesting an extended I-20 use the  I-20 Program Extension Form .

What are the F-1 Transfer-Out Request Form & F-1 Transfer-Out Checklist?

The  F-1 Transfer-Out Request Form is used to notify Valencia of your intent to transfer your F-1 immigration status to another school. The International Advisor uses the information to update your SEVIS record with the name of the school to which you will transfer and your transfer release date. The  F-1 Transfer-Out Checklist guides you through the process of officially entering and transferring from IEP-Valencia to another educational institution in the U.S. 

What is the Vacation Request Form?

The  Vacation Request Form is for F-1 students who need to request vacation from the program.

What is the Vacation Departure Form?

The  Departure Form is used by F1 students for departure including completion of program, early withdraw from classes, and a break from studies due to an emergency.

What is the Update Personal Information Form?

The  Update Personal Information form is used by students who have a change or correction in their personal information (name, address, citizenship) and wish to be issued an updated I-20 reflecting this change.

Please review the steps below for details on applying for a visa. Once you are done reviewing the information below, please refer to the Embassy Interview Checklist to help prepare for your interview.

•   Find out how to obtain a visa by visiting, the U.S. Department of State.
•   Review the Form 1-20 (this form is also known as “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student”
•  Check your name, date of birth, and all other personal information for accuracy. If there are any errors, let us know immediately.
•  Sign at the bottom where it says your name and date.
•  Make a copy of this for your records to leave at home with a family member along with a copy of your passport.
•   Make an appointment at your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Please note that they get extremely busy around the holidays.
•   Pay the SEVIS fee. Foreign citizens applying to become students must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $200 for F-1 visa applicants.
•   Complete the DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application
•   Find out if any additional security clearance screenings are needed. There are some countries that require additional security clearance screenings regardless of gender, field of study, or country of citizenship. If a security clearance is required, it could take several months, so plan accordingly. Visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more information.
• Consulate Appointment. Make sure that you have the following items ready for your consulate appointment.

•  I-20 signed and dated.
•  Acceptance letter.
•  Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay.
•  Financial Support such as bank and/or sponsor letter.
•  Any proof that you are planning to return to your country after you complete your studies.

Important Documents to Carry with You:

•  Valid passport and visa
•  I-20
•  Evidence of financial resources
•  School registration forms or receipts
•  Name and contact number of the school program advisor

Find out what is permitted and what is not:

It is very important that you understand the items that are permitted and not permitted on the airplane if arriving by air. Verify this information at your airline’s website or the Transportation Security Administration’s prior to arriving to the airport.

Here are additional suggestions of important items to bring with you:

•  One carry-on bag with reading material and snacks for the plane
•  Daypack for regular day-to-day travel
•  Money belt
•  Small umbrella
•  Medical prescriptions for the duration of your stay
•  Medical records (if you have any serious or chronic medical problems)
•  Over-the-counter medications for headache, upset stomach, etc.
•  Eye glasses and contact lenses
•  Toiletries
•  Layers of clothing for the colder months
•  Comfortable walking shoes
•  At least one dressy outfit for special occasions
•  Hat, sunglasses, bathing suit, beach towel, flip-flops, and sunscreen
•  Laptop computer
•  Camera
•  Do not bring any valuable jewelry
•  Home food recipes
•  Unique cooking tools
•  Favorite food or ingredients from home (make sure to check what types of foods are allowed to enter the USA)What Can I Bring?

Appropriate clothing for class:

You are expected to demonstrate professionalism and good judgment at all times related to your appearance. For this reason, if you are ever in doubt about the appropriateness of your appearance, please keep in mind that anything that could cause a disruption of the learning environment or intimidation of others in the learning environment will not be permitted.

Entry Point/Arrival in Orlando

•  During your flight, you will be asked to fill out some forms. If you do not understand a form, ask for assistance:
•  CF-6059 Customs Declaration Form
•   I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Form for immigration. The Form I-94 should reflect the address where you will reside, not the school address.

If you are an initial student entering to attend school for the first time, you cannot enter the United States more than 30 days before the program start date indicated on your I-20.

• During your inspection, it is important that you tell the Customs and Border Protection Officer that you will be attending school as an F-1 student. Once your inspection is complete, the officer will stamp your SEVIS Form for duration of status (D/S), stamp the I-94, and staple it in your passport.
• In the case that your admission to the U.S. needs to be verified at the port of entry, be sure to have the name and phone number of the school’s program advisor on hand.
• You will go through the US-VISIT registration, which involves obtaining a scan of two index fingerprints and a digital photograph. It is conducted for all nonimmigrant visa holders.
• Some individuals may be asked to provide additional information under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. Follow all instructions given by the Customs and Border Protection Officer.

Students will arrive to the Orlando International Airport. Going through customs can add an additional hour on to your arrival time, so be prepared. After you go through customs, you will be required to pass through another security and baggage checkpoint. Here are some useful links to help you:

•  Airport Arrivals and Departures
•  Airport Parking
•  Driving Distances and Maps

Due to college policy, Valencia cannot provide airport pick up. You can take a taxi cab or ground transportation to your accommodations if you do not have someone meeting you. Taxis use metered rates in Orlando. There are many rental car companies in Orlando, but you must be at least 21 years old to rent a car with most companies. Check the latest Orlando Travel Reports to see current delays.

Most hotels will provide airport pick up for free or additional cost. Contact your hotel for more information.

During your first few days in Orlando, you will be very busy getting settled into your housing, taking the placement test, attending orientation, and getting prepared for your courses. Below is a list of activities you will undertake during your first week. The order of these events may change but they are listed here to give you an approximate idea of what to expect.

• Check into your apartment, hotel, or homestay
• Become familiar with your area
• Get a State identification card or your driver's license
• Set up a checking account
• Take the placement test in West Campus Building 10 or Osceola Campus CAT Building
• Attend Orientation
• Meet other students
• Buy your books
• Verify the class start date from the website
• Contact our advisors for any questions

• Start your class
• Bring your books, pencils, and notebook
• Sign up for conversation hour (optional)