Terms & Definitions

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Terms & Definitions

The information on this page is from the US Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services Web site.

Contact your DSO/International Student Advisor for further clarification to any of these terms and requirements.

Click on a term in the table for the definition.

Designated School Official (DSO)

The DSO is a Lone Star College employee, this is not a private or
U.S. government representative
Assists with your entry document preparation
Certifies your travel documents
Signs your I-20 when you leave the U.S. (ex. for vacation or
country visits)
Provides academic advising

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

Agency under U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Provides services for
- citizenship
- international student authorization
- Change of Status (COS)
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) following college graduation
- asylum
- lawful permanent residency
- employment authorization
- refugee status
- replacing immigration documents
- family and employment-based immigration
Closest Texas office is in Mesquite, near Dallas

Non-Immigrant

This person is in the U.S. for temporary duration for a specific activity
- study
- business
- travel
This person has established residence outside the US and intends to return upon completion of specific activity

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Department established in 2002
Absorbed the repsonsibilites of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and organized them into three separate divisions
- U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS)
- Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

Duration of Stay (D/S)

Length of time for which F-status individuals are admitted to the U.S.
This stamp is entered on your I-94 card at your port of arrival
Maintaining normal course of studies or otherwise complying with immigration regulations permits you to remain legally in the US

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

Photo card issued by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS) office under the I-765 form
F-1 students may qualify to apply for an EAD to engage in Optional Practical Training (OPT) or off-campus employment based on economic hardship

F-1 Student

This is your non-immigrant status upon receiving a SEVIS I-20 from a certified college in the US to pursue full-time studies
U.S. Consulate will stamp your passport indicating status if approved

I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)

Considered your legal entry into the country
White card issued at arrival airport or border entry by a DHS officer
Will be stamped ‘D/S’ for “duration of stay"

SEVIS I-20A-B (I-20)

Validates your immigration status in the U.S.
Issued by a DHS-certified college upon completion of enrollment requirements
Use this document to apply for an F-1 student visa at your country’s U.S. Embassy
If lost, inform your International Student Advisor immediately

Release Date

A transfer of your SEVIS record from your current school to another school of your choice
Transfer is final once SEVIS is released on the date you’ve requested; speak with your advisor before planning your transfer

Re-instatement

To be reinstated, speak with your International Student Advisor about filing a Form I-539
Staying past the end date of your I-20 is a violation of your immigration status

Completion Date

All degree requirements (final exams and papers) have been met and you have received your final grades
You will have 60 days after your graduation date to depart out of the country or plan your transfer or enroll for another program
Not the date on your SEVIS I-20
Not your graduation date

College Transfer

Can occur once you have satisfied the enrollment requirements for the school of your choice
Verify procedure with your current DSO/International Student Advisor and the school to which you plan to transfer

Status

Every foreign national entering the U.S. has a non-immigrant classification
Students have F-1 status
You are bound by the F-1 rules for the duration of your stay in the U.S.
Failure to follow the rules is considered a violation of your immigration status
Staying past the end date of your I-20 is a violation of your immigration status
I-20s are marked with an End Date for completing your studies – do not allow the end date to expire

Passport

Form of photo identification issued for a period of five to 10 years
Must renew within three months of expiration--check with your country’s embassy or consulate for specific rules
Must remain valid if you are applying for benefits from your college or USCIS
Embassies are located in Houston, Texas, New York or Washington, D.C.

Visa

A computer-generated security-printed label stamped in your passport by the U.S. Consulate
Indicates purpose of one’s visit into a particular country and category for which travel is approved
Does not indicate how long a person may remain in the U.S.

Traveling Abroad & Re-entry

If you depart the U.S. and re-enter on your student status you will need a valid passport containing a valid visa, and an I-20 with a DSO/International Student Advisor’s signature within the past six months
Be prepared to verify your finances
Renew your visa while in your home country if it is expired

Program Extension (Extension of Stay)

Speak with your International Student Advisor about a program extension if you need more time to complete studies
I-20s are marked with an End Date for completing your studies – do not allow the end date to expire

Lone Star College System

5000 Research Forest Drive

The Woodlands TX 77381-4356

Phone 832.813.6500

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