Inspiring global citizens

Recommended Practices for International Students, Scholars, Faculty, and Staff

You are responsible for maintaining your nonimmigrant status during your stay in the United States.

If you are in F-1 or J-1 status, please visit our Learn about your F-1/J-1 Student Status webpage for more information on this topic. If you have questions about maintaining your status after reviewing this information, please contact us at: 480-727-4776.

If you are in H-1b, O-1, TN, E-3 or B-1 status, please visit our Learn about other faculty/scholars visa categories webpage for more information on this topic. If you have questions about maintaining your status after reviewing this information, please contact us at: 480-727-7125.

You should keep your immigration documents (in particular, a copy of your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record) in a safe, readily accessible place. It is a good practice to also have a readily accessible digitized set of these documents. Please ensure that your passport remains valid for at least six months beyond your anticipated stay in the United States.

Please remember that your visa (the admission stamp placed in your passport by a U.S. Consulate bearing your picture and other information) only determines the period of time during which you can enter the U.S. Your visa does not determine the duration of your F-1 or J-1 status; in other words, if your visa has expired, that does not mean that your F-1 or J-1 status has expired.

Be sure to keep current with developments that may affect your stay in the United States. In particular, look for updates on the official USCIS website.

If you are concerned that you will be unable to maintain your nonimmigrant status, consider contacting a private immigration attorney to determine if you may be eligible for a different nonimmigrant status.