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VISA ISSUES FOR ADMITTED STUDENTS

International Students Who Currently Reside Outside the U.S.
Most students enter the United States in F-1 student status to be enrolled in a full-time degree program. A Form I-20 (certificate of eligibility for an F-1 student visa) is issued to students by TAMIU for entry into the U.S. Dependents of an F-1 visa holder are classified as F-2, and are not permitted employment in the US.

Some students enter the U.S. in J-1 student status. The J-1 visa is administered by the United States Information Agency and is used for a variety of educational purposes. The IAP-66 (certificate of eligibility for a J-1 visa) may be issued to a student with a scholarship, either by a sponsoring agency or organization or by the Texas A&M International University (TAMIU). Dependents of a J-1 visa holder are classified as J-2, and may apply for permission to work in the U.S.

If you reside outside the U.S., the TAMIU Office of Admissions will mail you the certificate of eligibility (Form I-20 or Form IAP-66) after you have submitted the required evidence of financial support. The certificate of eligibility (Form I-20 or Form IAP-66) must be presented at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy when applying for your F-1 student or J-1 student visa, together with your unexpired passport and evidence of financial support.

If you do not receive the Form I-20 or Form IAP-66, do NOT enter the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 tourist visa. A change to F-1 student status can be difficult after you are in the U.S. If absolutely necessary for you to enter the U.S. prior to receiving the Form I-20 or Form IAP-66, you should request at the U.S. Consulate that "prospective student" be noted on the B-1/B-2 visa to make a change of status easier to obtain. Do NOT enter the U.S. on the visa waiver program! You will be required to leave the United States to change your status!

International Students Who Are Currently in the U.S. on an F-1 Visa
If you are now studying at another U.S. university, your Form I-20 for TAMIU will be prepared and held for you at the Office of International Student Services (ISS) . If you plan to leave the U.S. before enrolling, please ask us to send your Form I-20 so that you may use the TAMIU Form I-20 to enter the U.S. and to apply for a new visa at the U.S. Consulate or Embassy, if necessary. If you plan to remain in the U.S., USCIS regulations permit a transfer of your immigration status to TAMIU provided that you are in valid F-1 status at the school you are currently attending. Please have your foreign student advisor complete and return to us the TAMIU Transfer-In Letter or equivalent confirmation that you are maintaining your F-1 status. You should receive the TAMIU Transfer-In Letter from the Office of International Student Services (ISS) after you have submitted the required evidence of financial support. Your Form I-20 from TAMIU will be given to you when the transfer is completed, usually at check-in at the IO.

WARNING: Failure to complete the transfer process results in the violation of immigration regulations. Furthermore, you may not work on campus until the transfer of immigration is processed. If you are out of status, discuss reinstatement with your current foreign student advisor or with an immigration advisor in ISS.

International Students Who Are Currently in the U.S. on Another Type of visa (F-2, J-2 or H-1) or Who Have Applied for Permanent Residency
The University does not require you to change your status to F-1 or J-1 student status to be enrolled. You are required to present your immigration documents to an immigration advisor during the "check-in", and we will assist you with the change of status process should that be required or advisable. If you want to change from your present status to student or exchange visitor visa status, please contact an immigration advisor at the Office of International Student Services as soon as possible. For more information on immigration issues you may visit the USCIS  webpage.

OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

Student Center 226 - Tel. 956.326.2280

Email: iss@tamiu.edu