Violation of Status/SEVIS Termination

  • International Student Immigration
  • While Studying
  • Violation of Status/SEVIS Termination

General Information:

All St. Olaf College international students are required to maintain F-1 status while in the U.S. To maintain F-1 status, you must enroll full-time Fall, Interim, and Spring of your first year and every Fall and Spring semester thereafter. If you are unable to enroll, your SEVIS record must be terminated. The PDSO (Primary Designated School Official) at St. Olaf College is required to take certain actions as a result. This form has been provided to you as a reminder of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pertaining to the termination of your SEVIS record. Once your SEVIS record is terminated you will lose your F-1 status. Please read this form carefully before signing. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask to Caitlin.

Consequences of I-20 Termination:

  1. SEVIS Record and Form I-20: Your SEVIS record will be terminated on _________ and will no longer be valid. You should keep all I-20s and this form for your records. Once terminated, you will need to depart the U.S. immediately. Should you choose to remain and fail to take action to obtain a legal status, the immigration authorities may find that you have violated your U.S. immigration status. Delayed departure after termination of your SEVIS record may impact your ability to receive a U.S. visa and/or your future reentry to the U.S. All notes regarding your termination are recorded in SEVIS, as well as your departure date, and that information is used by immigration officials when you interview for future visas.
  2. Travel: You will no longer be able to use your terminated SEVIS record’s I-20 to enter the U.S. You will need to obtain a new I-20 and possibly a new F-1 visa to reenter the U.S. as a student.
  3. Employment: You will lose all work authorization privileges connected to your F-1 status. Any employment after SEVIS termination in any capacity is considered to be unauthorized.

Reentry-Returning to the U.S.:

  1. Reapply to St. Olaf College: You will need to work with the Dean of Students Office to regain admission to St. Olaf College.
  2. New I-20: Once readmitted, you will need to submit the International Student Certification of Finances form. Please note your financial aid package may change. Once you have provided sufficient financial information St. Olaf College will issue you a new initial form I-20. You will need to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee ($200) again because you will have a new SEVIS record.
  3. New Visa: Unless you are a citizen of Canada you may also need to apply for a new F-1 student visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate if your current F-1 visa has expired, will expire before your return, or the circumstances of your termination voided your visa. You may need to seek immigration counsel in certain circumstances. If you need to apply for a new F-1 visa you can find information on how to do so on the U.S. Consulate or Embassy webpage.
  4. Reenter the U.S.: You will need to cross back into the U.S. and receive an entry stamp in your passport at Customs, which will generate a new electronic I-94 arrival form. You may not enter the U.S. earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date on your new I-20. You will need to check-in and do document processing with Caitlin before starting class.
  5. CPT or OPT: When entering the U.S. on a new SEVIS record to complete your program you will not be eligible to apply for CPT or OPT authorization until you have been enrolled full-time for at least two semesters.

Reinstatement-Remaining in the U.S.:

If you choose to remain in the U.S. you may be eligible for reinstatement to F-1 status. This option is not available for students who have been suspended, dismissed, or expelled. You must apply for reinstatement within five months of your termination date. If you remain in the U.S. without changing status or making other efforts to maintain your current student status, U.S. immigration authorities may conclude that you are ‘out of status’ or failing to maintain your non-immigrant status until USCIS has received your application. The reinstatement process is not guaranteed. If you leave the U.S. while your reinstatement application is pending, it is considered abandonment of your application. You may want to obtain advice from an immigration lawyer. More information about reinstatement can be found on the USCIS website.