Frequently Asked Questions: International Student Arrival

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an I-20 and DS-2019?

• An I-20 form is used to apply for an F visa, seek entry to the United States in the F-1 student/F-2 dependent status, and to access various benefits of the F-1 student status when in the United States.
• A DS-2019 form is used to apply for a J exchange visitor visa, seek entry to the United States in the J-1 exchange visitor/J-2 dependent status, and to access various benefits of the J-1 status when in the United States.

A student requested a letter about their program of study for their visa appointment at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy. What does our department need to do?

The student's visa application may need to undergo "Administrative Processing," meaning that the U.S. Consular officer is requesting additional information/documentation about the student's program of study and/or research for the visa application to proceed.

Your department could write and send the student a letter which would explain the student's program (i.e., types of coursework and/or research) and assistantship duties, if applicable. The Consular officer also want to know the applicability of the coursework/research and may also request a copy of the major professor's/graduate advisor's CV.

Please note that:

• Administrative Processing can add about 2-3 months (on average) to the visa application process.
• Our office (and LSU) cannot get involved in these processes since they are done by the U.S. Department of State - Consular Affairs and/or other governmental agencies in Washington, D.C.
• There is no mechanism to expedite these processes.
• Due to confidentiality laws, the Department of State cannot give any information about a student's case to any third party.

We would like for our new GA to arrive on campus as early as possible and start their duties before the semester starts. Is that possible?

According to U.S. Immigration, new students are allowed to enter the United States no more than 30 day before the program start date listed on the I-20 or DS-2019. (The program start date on the I-20/DS-2019 is the day of International Student Orientation for graduate and undergraduate students. The program start date for Law Center and Vet School is their respective orientation days.)

However, just because a student can arrive in the U.S. that early does not mean they can work right away. U.S. Immigration regulations stipulate that the earliest a student can being working on-campus is 30 days before the first day of classes for the semester to which they are admitted. If the student meets these criteria, they should complete their required SEVIS reporting and check-in with ISS before they can begin working.

We would like to accept an applicant who is in the U.S. in F-2 status [or H-4 or B-1/B-2 status]. Can they study or work as a GA or student worker?

According to U.S. Immigration, there are the study and employment restrictions for several visa categories. Here are the restrictions for the visa categories indicated in the FAQ:

Please keep in mind that

• Assistantships are considered to be employment.
• If an applicant is in one of these status and want to enroll full-time and/or accept on-campus employment, they will need to change their status to F-1 student.

What does an applicant need to do to change their non-immigrant status to F-1 student so they can study and/or work as a GA?

There are two ways an individual can change to the F-1 student status:

1. Leave the U.S. with an F-1 I-20, apply for the F-1 visa and return as an F-1 student. This is generally a faster option for most people, but time frames can vary depending on the country where they will apply for the visa, the time of year, etc.
2. Submit an F-1 I-20 with a change of status application to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) while remaining in the U.S. This process may take anywhere from 3-4 months to be approved by USCIS.

In general, the applicant cannot enroll or start any on-campus employment until the F-1 status is granted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) if traveling or approved by USCIS if applying within the U.S.