International Student Services

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES

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

Need to update your personal Information?

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.

Email your PDSO

Plan to get some practical training?

Please see your PDSO regarding CPT or OPT before submitting your application to USCIS.

Email your PDSO

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 office of VP in Student Life, the ISS is established to provide guidance and assistance to international applicants 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 help with applications 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.

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 Dr. John by email so he can have the documents ready.

Email Dr. John Jae Suk Lee 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 Dr. John if DHL needs his cellphone number for pick-up.

When do I need a new form I-20?

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)

- Add dependents

- Program extensions

You also need to inform your PDSO if you have changed your addresses or phone numbers. The information won't show on your I-20 but needs to be updated in SEVIS.

When does an unused form I-20 expire?

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

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?

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 for the major degree programs:

MA = 16 units (2-year program)

MDiv = 16 units (3-year program)

ThM = 12 units (2-year program)

DMin = 15 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. For instance, if you have done 6 months of CPT, you will only have 6 months left for your 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.

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. It is highly recommended to apply as soon as possible as EADs can take months to arrive at any US addresses.

For both CPT and OPT, your PDSO needs to make recommendations in SEVIS first before you take your next major step.

Also at ITS, getting OPT means that you could lose your tuition grant for the whole degree program. Please consult with your PDSO for the matter.

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

Can I get a job on campus?

ITS only hires student interns to work for various departments on campus.

Internships mean that you do NOT get paid with money; you only get credits to pay off your balance in your student financial accounts.

At ITS, there is an "one-job policy". You cannot hold more than one intern job at ITS. Also, you cannot get an intern job on campus if you are one of key members of the student EXCO.

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 a possible 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. You PDSO also needs to record your CPT in SEVIS as well as issuing you a new form I-20 (fee: US$30 each time).

Fourth, you bring the two 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?

Yes, you can. But you need to put the following question into your considerations.

Can you afford ALL of the following living expenses?

- Your tuition fees for the whole degree program (no ITS tuition grant).

- 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.

You need to show the US Embassy that you have personal fund of at least US$40,000 per year to cover all of the above living expenses (for one spouse and 2 children).

What is the first step?

Need to update your personal Information?

Planning to travel abroad during breaks?

Plan to get some 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

susan.liu@itsla.edu • 626-653-9547 ext. 106

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