The following below are the most frequently asked questions in our zoom-in advising
Summer Travel: Should I leave the U.S. this Summer?
There are no guarantees that you will be able to come back to the U.S. Please carefully consider whether you should leave the U.S. because of the constantly changing situation with COVID-19. There are a couple of things you should do at this point:
- Consult our webpage on International Travel & Visa Updates for International Students and Scholars for more information.
- If you decide to travel, obtain a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019. F-1 Students: submit your Travel Signature Request in NoleStart (click on “F-1 Student Services”).
I-20 Extension: What do I need to submit?
To receive an I-20 extension, you need to submit an Extension of I-20 Request. All students need to complete their sections in page 1 and 3. The lower part of the first page is reserved for the academic advisor, while the second page goes over departmental funding (if any). The list of the financial documentation accepted for outside funds is listed on page 3. All of the documents should be uploaded to NoleStart.
How do I get an off-campus internship?
For our F-1 students, any off-campus internship opportunity must be tied directly to your major. Your academic department would need to confirm to us that this position is part of your academic program. The authorization we provide is called CPT (Curricular Practical Training).
The tricky part about CPT is that it requires you to be enrolled in a course, or otherwise show that the opportunity is required by your major. Students work with their academic department to identify the internship course that they can enroll in to take on the internship opportunity.
Once the academic department determines that it is appropriate to enroll and participate in the off-campus opportunity, you would complete our three forms (found here: https://cge.fsu.edu/international-students/current-students/employment/practical-training-f-1/curricular-practical-training-cpt) which include the student form, the academic department form showing which course you will be enrolled in, and the employer form.
Once we have all three of the forms, and see that you’re properly enrolled, we can process the CPT request. You’ll submit the forms via NoleStart and your CGE advisor will process the request and issue a new I-20 showing the authorization. You must obtain authorization before you start the internship.
How long does it take for me to receive my EAD card (for my OPT authorization)?
It normally takes 3-5 months to receive the EAD card from the time you submit your application to USCIS.
How do I complete the I-983 for the STEM OPT extension?
Instructions can be found on the ice.gov webpage here:
https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/i983Instructions.pdf
I have been hired for a job on-campus. How do I receive the SSN?
Before you can apply for your SSN, you will need to complete the campus SSN form (found here: https://cge.fsu.edu/sites/g/files/upcbnu1126/files/Forms/F-1/ssn_form_on_campus_employment.pdf . Your hiring department must put the departmental letterhead on the form and provide all the information. The department can email the letter directly to your CGE advisor or give it to you (to then submit to us). A CGE advisor signs the form and returns it to you with instructions on how to contact the Social Security Administration office to set an appointment.