International Students

You may arrive to the United States no earlier than 30 days prior to the start date of your program of study. You must arrive at campus no later than the start date of your program. This date is found on your I-20.

Upon arrival to campus, you must submit the following to the International Student Coordinator, also known as your Designated School Official (DSO), via email to :

1. Passport- Data and signature pages only
2. US Visa
3. I-94 – This may be a stamp in your passport near your visa page but most of the time it is found on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
4. I-20 signed by you, the student.
5. International Orientation Certificate of Completion (Undergraduates only). This is emailed to you once you finish the online international orientation module.
6. Your US address.
7. Your US phone number if you have one.
8. Your MGA 983 student number.

International students are unique in having additional rules to stay in school and in the United States. If you have any questions, always email

• Enrollment: Maintain full-time enrollment as follows: Undergraduate level must have a minimum of 12 credit hours. Of those, 9 must be in-person/hybrid. Graduate level must have a minimum of 9 credit hours. Of those, 6 must be in-person/hybrid.

• • Dropping a class is not permitted unless the student still maintains a full-time course load.
  • Students cannot withdraw from a class without prior permission from the DSO and only if the student still maintains a full-time course load.

• Tuition & Fees: Pay your tuition and fees by payment deadline each semester. If you are not paid in full by the deadline, your classes will be deleted for non-payment. You will then be out of compliance for your visa and face termination if payment is not rendered promptly. Visit the Student Account Services page for more information on how to pay your bill.
• Personal Information Changes: Students must report a change of major, change of address, name, or phone number to the DSO within 10 days of the change by completing the SEVIS UPDATE FORM.
• Program End Date: Be aware of your program completion date on your I-20. If you find that you will need more time to graduate, you will need to request an I-20 Extension. It can only be extended for 1 year at a time. Advisor recommendations and financial statements will be required.
• Travel: If you need to leave the country for any reason, you must see your DSO first to acquire travel authority signature on your I-20. Please come prepared with your I-20, your flight details, and a reason for leaving. If you are traveling between terms, you must be registered for the next term before the DSO will sign your I-20. You must return to the United Stated before the first day of the next semester.
  • Be aware of your visa end date! If your visa will expire before you come back to the United States, you will need to allow time to make an appointment with the US Embassy in your home country to obtain a new visa. Plan ahead and be aware of extended wait times that could delay your return.
• Academic Standing: Maintain a 2.0 GPA or above to stay in good academic standing. If you are suspended and must sit out a semester, your visa will be terminated. You will have to return home and reapply for a new I-20 to return to the United States to finish your program in-person.
  • What do I do if I am struggling in class?
    • Talk to your professor
    • Seek support from one of our many resource centers:
      • Math Academic Resource Center (MARC)
      • The Writing Center
      • Tutoring with the Student Success Center
  • Talk to your DSO
  • Visit the Counseling Center
• Employment: Do not work off campus without special authorization. This includes Internships. See the Employment tab for more information.

F1 students are required to be registered by an advisor every semester. You will not register yourself but together you will decide which classes you need to take each term.

Find your advisor and schedule an appointment prior to registration opening every term to ensure you get the classes you need.

You can see your progress towards program completion under MyDegree Responsive in SWORDS. Note that every student must also satisfy US and Georgia History and Constitution Requirements. Most international students accomplish this by taking HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 and POLS 1101. Make sure you are discussing this with your advisor to avoid not graduating on time.

F1 students must be enrolled as a full-time student each Fall/Spring semester.

Undergraduate requirements:

• 12 credits hours / 9 credit hours in-person

• 9 credit hours/ 6 credit hours in person

Summer semester:

• Registration is not required / unless specified by your program

Applying for a reduced course load:
Under certain circumstances, you may apply for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) through your DSO. You must meet one of the following criteria:

• In your final semester and have applied for graduation. At least one in-person course is still required to remain in compliance.
• Illness or Medical Condition; cannot exceed 12-month aggregate per program level, must provide medical documentation to ISS.

On-Campus employment

You may work on campus after you have completed your check-in with the DSO. You may only work up to 20 hours a week. Since you will be earning income, you will need to obtain a social security number (SSN). Talk to your DSO to obtain an SSN support letter to take to the Social Security Administration office to apply for a SSN.

• Campus Jobs

Internships

You may only participate in an off-campus internship in the United States if the internship will satisfy a course that is required to graduate from your program of study. This does not include major level elective internships, internships just for the experience, or any other course that gives you the opportunity to choose between taking a class or participating in an internship to satisfy the requirement.

Students who are required to participate in an internship, nursing clinical, practicum, or student teaching experience must request Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization. Please see the CPT tab for more information.

Off-Campus employment

You may not obtain employment off campus without prior approval from the DSO and USCIS. Failure to obtain proper permission will result in immediate termination of your visa. After one year of study at MGA, students may qualify if they are experiencing one of the criteria listed below:

1. They and their sponsors are experiencing a substantial economic hardship.
2. Seeking Special Student Relief (SSR) due to emergent circumstances that have been approved by the Department of Homeland Security. Only certain countries can be considered if they are on the Federal Register.
3. Participating in an internship with an international organization located in the United States and fall under the International Organization Immunities Act.

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives F1 students the opportunity to work in the United States in a job directly related to their program of study one year after graduation. This can lead to obtaining a permanent position if the employer initiates a change of status to an employment based visa on your behalf. Students should apply for OPT between 30 and 90 days before they graduate for an optimal turnaround time for approval from the USCIS. While on OPT, you should report any changes to employment, address, phone number, etc within 10 days of the change.

At the end of your time on OPT, you must either be in the process of changing your status, ready to start a new program of study, ready to start STEM OPT, or leave the country within 60 days.

• OPT Application

STEM OPT Extension

STEM majors can apply for a STEM OPT extension after completion of their first year of OPT. This requires employer support and prior approval from the DSO and USCIS.

1. Student and employer complete the I-983. The last page regarding evaluations will be blank for now.
2. Student submits the I-983 to DSO at .
3. DSO will request STEM OPT Extension in SEVIS then send an updated I-20 to the student.
4. Student will apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
5. Student will be notified by USCIS and the SEVP Portal when approved for STEM OPT.
6. Student should notify DSO of approval.

Once approved, you will be able to do STEM OPT for two years. During that time frame, it is imperative that you check in with the DSO along this timeline:

• 6 months - Email the DSO to inform them you are still employed, let them know if any changes need to be made to your SEVIS record.
• 12 months - Email the DSO your I-983 with the 12 month evaluation (top of the last page) completed by your supervisor. DSO will upload this to SEVIS.
• 18 months - Email the DSO to inform them you are still employed, let them know if any changes need to be made to your SEVIS record.
• 24 months - Email the DSO your I-983 with the 24 month evaluation (top of the last page) completed by your supervisor. DSO will upload this to SEVIS.

Additionally, while on STEM OPT, you should report any changes to employment, address, phone number, etc within 10 days of the change.

At the end of your STEM OPT, you must either be in the process of changing your status, ready to enroll in a new program of study, or leave the country within 60 days.

• STEM OPT Application

Resources

• Goin Global (a great place for international students to find CPT and OPT jobs)
• CPT/OPT Resource
• Working in the United States
• STEM OPT Extension

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is only authorized for certain programs so that international students can complete their off-campus required internship, clinical, practicums, and student teaching experiences. You must have CPT authorization on your I-20 before you can start any work. A student who works 12 or more months of FULL TIME CPT will not be eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Only students in the following programs and courses may have CPT authorization.

Programs Eligible for CPT Authorization

• Biology (Secondary Education Track): EDUC 4150
• Elementary/Special Education: ESE 4477, ESE 4588
• English (Secondary Education Track): EDUC 4140, EDUC 4150
• Mathematics (Secondary Education Track): EDUC 4150
• Nursing ASN: All required off-campus clinical courses
• Pre-Licensure BSN: All required off-campus clinical courses
• Rehabilitation Science: RHAB 4900 only
• Social Work: SOCW 4300, SOCW 4600

Programs Eligible for CPT Authorization

1.  Complete the CPT Application form complete with a signature from the faculty or other appropriate department designee.
2. Submit the completed form and documentation or email confirmation of your assignment location and dates to work to .
3. The DSO will authorize CPT in SEVIS and give the student a new I-20.
4. Students may start work on or after the CPT start date on the I-20.
5. You must reapply each semester that you are enrolled in a course that requires CPT authorization.

Obtaining a Georgia License

Full-time F-1 students who wish to drive in Georgia must obtain a Georgia license. The Georgia Department of Drivers Services (DDS) website has a lot of information about how non-citizens may obtain a license.

In order to get your license, visit https://dds.georgia.gov/ to find the DDS closest to you. You will need the following:

• Pass a vision exam at DDS
• Pass a knowledge exam at DDS
• Pass a driving test at DDS
• Passport
• I-94 card
• I-20 or DS-2019
• Current international license or other US state license, if you have one
• Proof of local residence (signed lease agreement, utility bill with your address and name, bank statement with your address and name)
• $20 (cash or card)
• Social Security Number (SSN) or SSN Denial Notice. If you do not have a social security number, you will need to obtain a SSN Denial Letter (see next section).

Social Security Number (SSN)

A Social Security Number is a special number assigned to every individual in the United States. As an international student, you only need an SSN if you earn income or required to file taxes due to a scholarship. Wait ten days after arriving to the U.S. before applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) to allow all of the systems to sync up with your arrival to be sure they can verify your status.

SSN Denial Notice

This is a letter for those who wish to obtain a GA driver’s license but do not have an SSN number and are not eligible for one at the time. You must complete a Certification of Social Security Denial Status Form (SSA-L676). You can find your nearest Social Security Administration (SSA) office by visiting the website and using the office locator tool.

SSN for On-Campus Employment

1. Visit the DSO to obtain a SSA Support Letter confirming your enrollment and active status.
2. Visit the SSA office with the SSA letter, your job offer letter, and your signed I-20.
3. Complete the application at the SSA Office.
4. A SSN card will be mailed to you in 2-6 weeks.

SSN for Off-Campus Employment, CPT, and OPT

1. Visit the DSO to obtain permission and apply for off-campus work, CPT, or OPT.
2. Once the application to work off campus has been submitted to SEVIS by the DSO, the DSO will give you a new I-20 that you will use to file the I-765 Application for Employment Authorization with the USCIS.
3. Once approved, you will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card. You will take this to the SSA with your I-20 to apply for an SSN. An SSN card will be given to you then or mailed to you in 2-6 weeks. In some cases, the USCIS will issue you a SSN at the same time they approve your EAD.

If your I-20 program end date is nearing and you need more time to complete your degree, you will need to apply for an extension. The extension can only be granted for one year at a time.

Please complete the I-20 Extension Request form and submit it to .

Every international student is required to have a Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). This will be billed to your account when you register every semester. You will receive a health insurance card to use at the Student Health Clinic, doctor’s offices, urgent care centers, hospitals, and pharmacies.

You may have health insurance already, but the University System of Georgia (USG) requires specific items of policy coverage to be in your plan to comply. If your personal plan does not meet the USG requirements, then you will need to have our health insurance plan. If it does meet the requirements, you may receive a SHIP waiver to opt out of the plan and take the charge off of your account.

• Review the MGA SHIP information.
• Students must complete the SHIP waiver process every semester, with the exception of the summer semester if you were enrolled in the spring semester.
• Students can email questions or concerns about the enrollment and waiver process to shipquestions@mga.edu. Please include your MGA ID number and your student status (health sciences major or international).

If you are transferring to a new school or starting a new program of study at a new SEVIS certified school, you may request to have your SEVIS record transferred to the new school to maintain your same SEVIS number and not have to pay the I-901 fee again. The timing of this is very important. Please plan ahead so that the MGA DSO and your new DSO have ample time to process your request before your window of eligibility runs out.

Transferring during your program 

Please submit the Transfer Out form to the DSO with your acceptance letter from the new school to request to have your SEVIS record transferred to a new institution.

You must start the new school within 5 months from the date you last attended MGA.

• If you leave the country, you may only reenter with the new Initial I-20 you will receive from the new school no more than 30 days before your new Program Start Date.

Transferring after MGA graduation

If you graduate from a program at MGA and plan to start another program of study at a different school, you will need to submit the Transfer Out form and your acceptance letter from the new school to the DSO to request to have your SEVIS record transferred to a new institution.

• You must submit the request before the end of your 60-day departure period. If you do not, then the new school will start a new SEVIS record for you, and you will need to pay the I-901 fee again after they issue you a new Initial I-20.
• You must start the new program within 5 months of your Program End Date.
• If you leave the country, you may only reenter with the new Initial I-20 you will receive from the new school no more than 30 days before your new Program Start Date.

1. New institution’s acceptance letter
2. MGA transfer out form

Congratulations, you made it to graduation! Now what do you do?

1. Talk to your advisor to be sure you’re on track to graduate ahead of time.
2. Apply to graduate. This must be submitted at least two full semesters before the term of completion. You must pay the graduation application fee before it can be reviewed.
3. If you are graduating before the program end date on your I-20, you need to email iss@mga.edu to request the DSO to shorten your program in SEVIS and issue you a new I-20.
4. Talk to the DSO to discuss your post-graduation plans. You have a few options to consider:
   1. Enroll in a new program of study at the next level up (ex: graduating undergraduates can enroll in a master’s program. A graduating master’s student can enroll in a specialist/PhD program).
   2. Apply for OPT. See the Employment bar above for more information.
   3. Apply for a change of status with an employer, spouse, etc. MGA cannot assist you with adjusting your status to anything other than remaining an F1 at a different school.
   4. Leave the country with a new degree! You have 60 days to leave the country after you graduate if you are not doing one of the other plans above.
5. Follow up with your advisor, professors, and DSO if you find that you are not going to graduate. Failure to report this to your DSO before the program end date on your I-20 will lead to termination of your visa.

• Student Success Center (tutoring and so much more!)
• Career Services
• Health Clinic
• Counseling
• Student Organizations
• Student Account Services (tuition & payments)
• Campus Maps

F1 Visa Status Regulation Resources

• Study in the States
• International Student Resource Center
• Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)