International Student Services

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

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Current PDSO Office Hours: Mondays - Fridays, 10 am to 11 am

From LAX to Dormitory

Can someone pick me up at the airport?

Send a Request and Payment

Immigration Policy Orientation

Thanks for your participation. Please click the icon below for a video link.

Click here to watch the videorecording

Need to update your US address?

Please come see your PDSO or click the icon below

Email your PDSO

Planning to travel abroad during breaks?

Please have your PDSO endorse your form I-20 before you go. Each endorsement costs $15.

Pay your fee HERE

Interested in Getting Practical Training?

Please see your PDSO for CPT or OPT policies and contact Jay Thompson, the Director of Church Relation and Mentor Ministry, about finding practical training opportunities.

Email Mr. Jay Thompson

Welcome to International Student Services!

Studying in the United States could be a blessing mixed with challenges at the same time. Getting your non-immigrant F-1 student visa is the just the beginning. After your have arrived in the US, the most important task is to maintain your F-1 status, which requires discipline as well as a thorough understanding of both US immigration and ITS policies.

International Student Services (ISS) at ITS understands your struggles. Under the division of Student Services and the supervision of VP in Student Life, the ISS is established to provide guidance and assistance to international applicants with the Admissions Office as well as all the international students at ITS. At ISS, Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) and Designated Student Official (DSO), are your international student advisors who tend to I-20 matters and give advice concerning your studying in the United States. If you have any questions or concerns about becoming or being an F-1 student, please feel free to contact us or look for information provided in the following sections.

Housing

Student Life Overview

Transportation

Form I-20

When do I request a form I-20?

How do I receive my form I-20 via DHL?

In order to receive your form(s) I-20,

Please pay at the DHL store in your home country.

Schedule a pick-up time and notify Nataliya by email so she can have the documents ready.

Email Nataliya Tereshchenko a packing slip/shipping label with a barcode that needs to be scanned during pick-up.

The pick up address is:

International Theological Seminary 540 E Vine. Ave. West Covina, CA 91790 USA

Pick up time in the Los Angeles County is:

Every Tuesday between 9 am and 1 pm.

Please email Natalyia if DHL needs her cellphone number for pick-up.

Do I need an orginal copy of form I-20 for my visa inteview?

When does a form I-20 expire?

When do I need a new form I-20? Any fees involved?

It is normal to have old and new form I-20. There are numerous reasons for an international student to get an updated one. There following are some common reasons:

- Change of education level (e.g. from one degree program to another one at ITS)

- Practical training(s)

- Extend or shorten program

- Bringing dependents (If applicable)

- I-20 replacement

The first issuance of I-20 is free. However, students must pay $30 I-20 fee when a new I-20 is generated, especially for the above reasons.

The fee(s) will be applied to your Populi account via this request link.

What do I need to do if I travel abroad during school breaks?

What if I lost my form I-20?

Arriving and Leaving

When should I arrive in the US?

You are allowed by the US Immigration to arrive in the US within 30 days before the program start date and no later than 30 days after the program start date stated on your I-20.

ITS doesn't allow students to arrive late for a new quarter more than two weeks. Your SEVIS status will be terminated by ITS.

Please also note that you are required to attend the new student orientations in late August and early September and report to your PDSO upon arrival.

How do I go from LAX to ITS Dormitories? Can someone pick me up from the airport?

It is highly recommended for students to arrange or book transportation ahead of time because it is very expensive and stressful to deal with it after arrival.

Please click on this link for complete directions if you plan to arrange transportation by yourself.

If you are a new dormitory student and need help going to the dormitory from the airport, ITS is able to help. Please click here to send an airport pick up request.

What do I do if I would like to transfer to other seminary?

What can I do to avoid being terminated?

There are many reasons that lead to the termination of your status in SEVIS.

One of the possible situations is failure to register for your courses by the last day to add/drop your class AND lack of attendance (missing more than 2 weeks of class per quarter) during a quarter.

Your VP of Academic Affairs will decide if you are allowed to come back to ITS next quarter.

If you are allowed, your PDSO will request an reinstatement of your status in the SEVIS. You will have to file I-539 to USCIS to request the reinstatement. The cost of filing is $370, and it takes 2 -5 months for the USCIS to make a decision.

You can apply for reinstatement any time, but you will have to pay the SEVIS fee again if you wait for more than 5 months.

If you are NOT allowed to return, you will need to go back to your home country within 15 days.

Please read Termination Reasons explained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

How long can I stay in the US after graduation?

Maintaining a Full-Time Status

What is the definition of a Full-time status?

You are maintaining your Full-Time status if you engage in a "full course of study" every quarter defined by ITS.

The following is the guideline of the numbers of units needed per quarter for the major degree programs:

MA = 16 units (2-year program)

MDiv = 16 units (3-year program)

ThM = 12 units (2-year program)

DMin = 12 to 16 units (2-year program)

If you take less than the proposed number of units, you will NOT be able to graduate within the length of program.

Please refer to the Maintaining status explained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Can I take less units than a full course of study?

Can I apply for program extensions?

Practical Trainings and Employment

What are the practical trainings available at ITS?

At ITS, only Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) are offered to the international students.

Each international student is entitled to 12 months of full-time practical training per Master's or Doctoral degree program. Be aware that if you have completed more than 365 days of Full-Time (more than 20 hours per week) CPT , you are NOT eligible for OPT.

Please use a calculator tool to plan ahead for your C/OPT.

International students can only apply for CPT after one year of full-time study but before the program end date on their forms I-20. You need to have taken some courses related to the field of your internship.

Please enroll in a CPT course (MM101* or MM102) while doing your CPT. You are required to meet with Mr. Jay Thompson, the Director of Church Relations and Mentor Ministry, every week during the course.

For OPT, international students are allowed to submit Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications to USCIS within 90 days before the program end date on the I-20. Students have to start their OPT within 60 days after the program end date. It is highly recommended to apply as soon as possible as EADs can take 2-4 months to arrive at any US addresses.

For both CPT and OPT, your PDSO needs to make recommendations in SEVIS first before you apply for either practical training. A new I-20 will be issued, and you need to pay a fee of US$30.

Also at ITS, there is an OPT policy. If you have received tuition grant(s) from ITS, have done your OPT but change your F-1 status afterwards, you will have to pay back a certain percentage of your tuition grant. An OPT package will be given to you during the OPT request appointment with your PDSO.

For OPT, you must report your employer address. Each day without the address will count as an unemployment. You will be "Out of Status" if you are "unemployed" for more than 90 days. Your OPT will end immediately, and you will have to leave the US.

Please also refer to the CPT and OPT explained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Can I get a job on campus?

Can I work off-campus?

International students can only work off-campus with a "work permit" or Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the USCIS.

International students can only get EAD through Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

With EAD, international students will be able to apply for Social Security Numbers.

Please refer to F-1 off campus employment explained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Social Security Number and You

What is a Social Security Number?

Social Security Number (SSN) is mostly used for tax-filing purposes and applying for a credit card. Moreover, SSN is required for US permanent residents and citizens to apply for any government benefits. Therefore, SSN should be kept in a safe place as your identity and benefits could be stolen when it's lost.

If you are not eligible to get SSN but needs to report non-wage income, you can apply for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Please see Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) page for details.

Please refer to Obtaining a Social Security Number explained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

How do I get a Social Security Number?

At ITS, CPT is one way to get a Social Security Number (SSN).

First, you need to have completed one year of full-time study at ITS.

Second, you need to find an employer within your field of study who can offer you a practical training with pay.

Third, Both your PDSO and the employer need to write letters to prove your F-1 status and practical training respectively.

Fourth, you bring the two letters, I-94, your new I-20 and your passport to the Social Security office near you.

On-campus employment is another way of getting a SSN. Both your PDSO and your supervisor need to write letters to prove your F-1 status and on-campus employment respectively. Please bring a total of three letters, I-94, your new I-20 and your passport to the Social Security office near you.

Please refer to Obtaining a Social Security Number explained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Please refer to International Students and Social Security Numbers provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Bringing Dependents

Can I bring my family over?

Unfortunately, the answer is No.

Living in California USA, especially in Los Angeles and after the pandemic, is very expensive. Almost all of our students cannot afford bring their families over.

The following is a breakdown of the expenses involved:

- Your tuition fees for the whole degree program (ITS tuition grant is only for students who come here by themselves).

- Off-campus housing for your whole family (Dormitories are for single students only). Cost of rent is very high in the Los Angeles County.

- No on-campus job opportunities for students living off-campus and lack of off-campus employment eligibility.

- Medical expenses, including private health insurance, for the whole family.

- Education expenses for your dependents - Private schools for children under age of 14.

- A car to go places, a necessity living in Los Angeles.

- Food and daily necessities.

Is there a way I can appeal?

From LAX to Dormitory

Immigration Policy Orientation

Need to update your US address?

Planning to travel abroad during breaks?

Interested in Getting Practical Training?

Welcome to International Student Services!

Form I-20

Arriving and Leaving

Maintaining a Full-Time Status

Practical Trainings and Employment

Social Security Number and You

Bringing Dependents

Contact Us

540 E Vine Ave West Covina CA 91790 USA

iss@itsla.edu • 626-653-9547 ext. 106

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