Documents Required for Status

The following immigration documents are an important part of maintaining your F-1 status. Original documents should be carried with you at all times if you are outside Fayetteville; if you are in Fayetteville, you should at least carry copies of your documents.

Passport: Record of your legal citizenship which must be valid at all times while in the United States. When entering the U.S. from abroad, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future. Please contact your country's embassy or consulate for information about renewing your passport.

Visa: Allows you to request permission to enter the U.S. and must be presented at the port of entry. Your visa may expire while you are in the U.S., but it must be valid in order to re-enter from abroad (exceptions may include Mexico, Canada and some Caribbean Islands--see the Automatic Revalidation rule)

I-20: Legal document stating educational institution, personal and degree information. Your I-20 must be valid for as long as you participate in an academic program. The information on the I-20 should be checked regularly to ensure accuracy. Please schedule an appointment with an ISS advisor if you need to update your I-20.

I-94: The I-94 is a record of your entry into the U.S. to show that you entered under the correct immigration status. Each time you enter the U.S. you will receive a new stamp in your passport showing the day you entered the country and the mark "F-1, D/S." Your I-94 record can be found and printed at http://www.cbp.gov/i94.

SEVIS Fee Receipt (I-901): Paper or electronic receipt for the SEVIS registration payment. May be required for future visa interviews and it is recommended you carry it with you during international travel. Visit FMJFee.com for more information.