Contact your home country's embassy in the U.S. for more information about renewing your passport validity.

• • If your passport expiration date is within six (6) months of expiring, it is your responsibility to have it revalidated.
• • You cannot travel back to the U.S. with a passport expiring within six (6) months.

The U.S. government requires you to report your physical address (no P.O. Boxes) within ten days of moving. To fulfill your address notification requirement and report or update your local U.S. address, use the links below:

• Current South Dakota Mines students:
• Report or update your address using this form: https://interact.sdsmt.edu/aes/changeaddress.htm. The Ivanhoe International Center will update your address to the Department of Homeland Security through SEVIS.
• F-1 OPT or F-1 STEM OPT:
• Please email the Ivanhoe International Center during Post-Completion OPT and OPT STEM Extension. If you need to change more than your address, please fill out the reporting form under the Employment Authorization page.

U.S. immigration regulations require F-1 and J-1 international students to register for and complete a full course load each semester. At the beginning of each term, the Ivanhoe International Center is required to confirm that all international students are registered and maintaining full-time enrollment. Student enrollment continues to be monitored throughout the semester.

Students who drop below full-time without approval (see below) from the Ivanhoe International Center must be reported to the Department of Homeland Security via SEVIS. As a result, the SEVIS record will be terminated, and the student will lose lawful F-1 or J-1 status including employment eligibility and benefits.

Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Graduate students must complete a minimum of 9 credits per semester.

Immigration regulations limit the number of online courses a student can count towards the full-time requirement. International students may count only one course or three units of on-line coursework towards the full-time requirement. If the full-time requirement for a session can be satisfied with three units or one course, the full-time requirement cannot be satisfied with online coursework alone.

Immigration regulations permit exceptions to the full-time registration requirement in very limited circumstances and only with prior approval from the Ivanhoe International Center. Email the Ivanhoe International Center for a Reduced Course Load Request Form prior to dropping below full-time.

Your I-20 is only valid as long as you are a continuing, full-time students in your degree program, or on your approved post-completion training. If you graduate early, your I-20 will be shortened to the last day of your final semester of enrollment.

If your final semester is summer, you MUST be enrolled in Summer! You must notify the IIC of your early completion in order to avoid overstaying. If you need more time to complete your program, apply for an Extension of Program BEFORE the current completion date on your I-20.

The completion date can be found on page one of the I-20 form under "Program End Date". You must also request a new I-20 if you change your major or your degree level, e.g. Ph.D. to Master's.

On the passport admission stamp or the paper I-94 card, the inspector writes either a date or "D/S" (duration of status).

Students and scholars on F or J status should receive a stamp marked "D/S" or "duration of status". This means that they may remain in the United States as long as they are properly maintaining status and their I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) has not expired. Students and scholars are required to keep the passport entry stamp or I-94 card for the duration of their visit. Make sure to keep it in a safe place so it doesn't get lost.

Before any international travel, review the necessary travel documents and obtain a travel signature from the IIC. Travel endorsements are valid for one semester during the program of study. Request an appointment for signatures by email to: international@sdsmt.edu

On OPT/STEM OPT? Check out Travel While on OPT for more information.

You must have a current, valid I-20/DS-2019 from the school you are attending full-time. If you transfer from another school to South Dakota Mines, or from South Dakota Mines to another school, make sure you follow the proper procedure to transfer.

If for some reason you reduce your enrollment below full-time units or withdraw from your program, you must speak to a staff member in the Ivanhoe International Center and the Registrar's office.

You have a 60-day grace period at the end of your F-1 program. The grace period ends when you depart the U.S., or no later than 60 days after the end of the I-20 or your EAD card (if on OPT), whichever comes first.

An F-1 student may enter the U.S. initially up to 30 days before, but no later than the program start date on the I-20.

An F-1 Student may remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days beyond:

• • the completion of the program of study
• • the completion date of any authorized post-completion OPT, including STEM OPT
• • change of status

• ◦ On-Campus Employment - Limit employment to 20 hours per week during the academic year. On-campus employment may be full-time in the summer (if summer is not your first or last semester of enrollment) and vacation periods. No special work permit is required.
• ◦ Off-Campus Employment - Work permission must be approved through the Ivanhoe International Center and the USCIS. See Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training. Be aware of employment authorization application procedures, eligibility, deadlines, and rules for maintaining status during post-completion OPT, including STEM OPT.

An extension of your I-20 or DS-2019 must be completed before the end date of the document. If your I-20 or DS-2019 expires while you are still a student, you will be considered in violation of your status.

• • Download and complete the Extension of Program form.
• • Get proper signatures
• ◦ Graduate students must have their major advisor, department head and the Graduate Dean's signatures.
• • Attach proof of funding (See Costs for International Students)
• • If you are receiving funding from a sponsor, use the Financial Support Guarantee Form
• • You do not need this form if:
• ◦ You are receiving an assistantship
• ◦ Personal funds

If you are changing academic levels from an undergraduate to a graduate student program, you must contact the Ivanhoe International Center to request a new I-20. You should not use the Extension of Program form. You will need to show new funding documents. See the Costs for International Students page for proper financial documentation.

This includes students in the accelerated master's program.

If you are changing academic levels from a Master's to Ph.D. or Ph.D. to Master's program, you must contact the Ivanhoe International Center to request a new I-20. You will need to show new funding documents. See the Costs for International Students page for proper financial documentation.

If you have a new admission into a Master's or Ph.D. program, you must contact the Ivanhoe International Center to obtain a new I-20. You will need to show new finding documents. See the Costs for International Students page for proper financial documentation.

This includes students in the accelerated Master's Program.