F-1 and J-1 Immigration Updates | Center for Global Engagement

Carry your I-94 Paper Printout at all Times

As the U.S. government intensifies immigration compliance efforts, it is extremely important that students in F-1 and J-1 immigration status comply with a law that has been in effect since 1952. Section 264(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires nonimmigrants over the age of 18 to carry their “evidence of registration” document at all times. For F-1 and J-1 students, this is the Form I-94 Arrival Record. If you have not already done so, print your most recent I-94 arrival record from I-94 Official Website to paper and carry it with you at all times in a purse, pocket, or backpack. F-1 visa holders who are engaged in post-completion OPT or STEM OPT should also carry their EAD.

We recommend that everyone also have available an electronic or paper copy of their most recent I-20 or DS-2019 and a paper or electronic copy of their passport biographical information page, though these are not strictly required by the above law.

INA 264(e) further guides that “Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.”

If someone requests your immigration registration document:

You may politely ask for the person's law enforcement credentials - their badge, badge number, business card, or other identifying document.
You may politely ask what law enforcement agency they represent if you are in doubt.
You may write down any information you obtain about the person's credentials, but you might not be permitted to take a photo.
Calmly tell the law enforcement officer where your document is located and show the paper printout of your I-94. You do not need to provide additional documentation unless asked.
If you do not have a paper printout of your I-94 or your EAD with you, calmly ask the officer if you can find it on your phone and tell them where your phone is located on your person or in your bag. Go to I-94 Official Website. Ensure that you have your passport number memorized or handy at all times as the I-94 lookup requires it.
Do not relinquish any documents to the individual if you are at all in doubt about their credentials, but just show the I-94 or EAD and keep it in your possession.
Never lie if asked if you are a U.S. citizen. The consequences are worse than not having your I-94 available.
You have the right to refuse a law enforcement officer entry to your home, vehicle, or workplace without a warrant or court order that shows your name and that is signed by a judge.
Immigration officers can request immigration registration documents without a warrant on any bus, train, or immigration checkpoint within 100 miles of any U.S. border. All of Florida falls within this 100-mile border area.
In the unlikely event that you are detained for not having your registration document with you, you have the right to call to an immigration attorney and your country's consulate. You may also be able to call either the CGE - 850-644-1702 or a roommate, friend, or family member who can help provide your I-94.

If you are in J-1 status and IIE or Amideast is your immigration sponsor (see box 2 of your DS-2019 form), follow any additional directions that agency has provided to you regarding carrying documentation and ensure that you know their emergency phone number.

Keep your SEVIS Address Updated at All Times

Section 266(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (also a longstanding law) warns that “Any alien or any parent or legal guardian in the United States of any alien who fails to give written notice [of an address change]...as required by section 265 of this title, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to exceed $200 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. Irrespective of whether an alien is convicted and punished as herein provided, any alien who fails to give written notice to the Attorney General, as required by section 265, shall be taken into custody and removed in the manner provided by chapter 4 of this title, unless such alien establishes to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that such failure was reasonably excusable or was not willful.”

All noncitizens living in the United States must report any change of address within 10 days of the address change. Students whose F-1 or J-1 immigration status is sponsored by FSU (J-1 visa holders, see box 2 of your DS-2019 form) will update their address using these instructions: New and Current Address and Phone Number Updates | Center for Global Engagement

Students whose J-1 immigration status is sponsored by IIE or Amideast (see box 2 of your DS-2019) must follow that agency's instructions regarding updating their address. FSU does not report student address changes to IIE or Amideast.

Executive Order and Anticipated Law Could Impact J-1 Status

The U.S. president recently signed an executive order titled Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism that mentions possible removal of international students who participate in protests or behaviors viewed as antisemitic. Congress is likely to pass in 2025 a similar law - the Antisemitism Awareness Act. Students in F-1 or J-1 status should carefully weigh the serious potential consequences of participating in protests inside the U.S. and particularly on U.S. university campuses.

J-1 students who are sponsored by IIE or Amideast (see box 2 of the DS-2019) should carefully follow any advice provided by that agency regarding participating in protests as some scholarship programs may have additional restrictions or guidance.

Executive Order Could Impact J-1 Students' International Travel

The U.S. president signed on January 20 an executive order that instructs government agencies to compile a report in the next 60 days regarding vetting and screening of visa applications and “identifying countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1182(f))”.

Students planning international travel over Spring Break should be especially careful to ensure that their F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in their passport will unexpired when they re-enter the U.S. (even if normally eligible for automatic visa revalidation), that their passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond their re-entry date , that they have printed their most recent I-20 or DS-2019 with an unexpired travel validation signature to paper, and that they re-enter the U.S. to attend their first class meeting for the week of March 17 or by March 20, whichever is earlier. It is not advisable to travel to apply for a new visa during Spring Break as visa applications are always subject to security checks that could take several months to complete. Travel bans on re-entry to the U.S. could go into effect as early as March 21, but there is no way to predict which countries' citizens will be impacted and when.

Students planning to travel out of the U.S. and back again in the summer should wait until after March 21 or later to make non-refundable travel plans.

J-1 students who are sponsored by IIE or Amideast (see box 2 of the DS-2019) should carefully follow any advice provided by that agency regarding international travel as some scholarship programs may have additional restrictions or guidance.

Beware of Imposters!

International students are likely to be targeted by scammers posing as law enforcement or the tax agency, Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Remember that:

Law enforcement and government officials will not contact you by phone, text, or email. Scammers do spoof official looking numbers, though. (Please note that the CGE will contact you by phone or email, but feel free to contact us directly at 850-644-1702 or cge@fsu.edu if you are in doubt about the information you are receiving.)
If someone approaches you in-person threatening legal action or deportation, you can ask for identification and call the FSU police at 850-644-1234.
You have the right not to open your door to anyone claiming to be law enforcement or the IRS.
F-1 and J-1 students do not use the AR-11 form to update addresses, but rather use these instructions - https://cge.fsu.edu/new-and-current-address-and-phone-number-updates if their immigration status is sponsored by FSU (see box 2 of the DS-2019). J-1 students sponsored by IIE or Amideast must notify that agency of their address updates within 10 days.
F-1 and J-1 students are permitted to remain inside the U.S. with an expired visa stamp in their passport. The unexpired I-94 along with the I-20 or DS-2019 are the documents that grant legal status inside the U.S. (Please pay attention to CGE emails that warn about termination or expiration of your J-1 status, and contact us directly at 850-644-1702 or cge@fsu.edu with any questions or doubts.)
The IRS will not contact you directly by phone, text, email, or in-person about tax stimulus checks that were issued incorrectly.
Remember that bribing any official with gift cards, cash, or Zelle payments to get out of trouble is a criminal offense. So, if someone posing as law enforcement or a government official is asking for such a payment, you can be assured it's a scam.

Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from scams:

Set up voicemail on your phone if you have not already done so.
DO NOT answer phone calls from anyone you do not know and instead let the call go to voicemail.
DO NOT respond to texts from anyone you do not know.
BLOCK callers who leave scam or unsolicited marketing/advertising voicemails.
DO NOT click on links in emails. Use a browser to go directly to websites you know and trust.
HANG UP or do not respond to anyone contacting you claiming to be a government or law enforcement official. Government officials will not contact you by phone or text. Emails from USCIS are automated notifications of progress on applications only.
Contact the CGE directly at 850-644-1702 or cge@fsu.edu if you have concerns about your immigration status.
Contact the FSU Police at 850-644-1234 if someone claims you have committed a crime.
DO NOT join family and friend cell plans with people you do not know.
DO NOT include a phone number on your LinkedIn account or publicly posted resume and consider setting up a separate email address for social media, LinkedIn, and other publicly accessible websites/applications.
FORWARD suspected scam emails to abuse@fsu.edu and cge@fsu.edu.

If you fall victim to a scam, immediately notify the FSU Police – 850-644-1234. Students or scholars in J-1 status sponsored by FSU (see box 2 of the DS-2019) must also contact jscholar@fsu.edu immediately. J-1 students whose immigration status is sponsored by IIE or Amideast must contact that agency immediately. Reporting the scam to the Federal Trade Commission also assists national law enforcement agencies with finding scammers and alerting the public - https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.