All international students, including athletes and exchange students, have been granted an immigration document by Ashland University through the authority of the United States’ government. International students must report to the International Student Services Office to speak with their Designated School Official (DSO) by the first day of International Orientation, per US Government stipulations. Throughout their educational tenure at Ashland, international students should stay in close, regular contact with their DSO about any changes that they may be planning: address, dorm room, major, phone number, employment, health, or travel. ISS must record much of this information in the government immigration system called SEVIS. As the international students’ host, ISS is responsible to be able to locate or contact students at any time in addition to providing support and accommodations that students may need to keep their immigration status current.

ISS is the government representative to the international students. As such, it holds the authority to make decisions about students’ government documents. Students who do not follow the government guidelines and/or the school’s immigration policies may be in danger of losing their active immigration status. Because they are bound to uphold the government regulations,  Designated School Officials often have no choice but to terminate a student’s immigration status, if that student has committed an offense that puts them out of status.

In addition, ISS provides immigration training at the beginning of each term to help new international students understand their rights and responsibilities under US immigration law. Students who have trouble maintaining their immigration statuses are generally those who have not attended the required International Orientation upon their arrival in the United States.

ISS represents Ashland University international students to the government through the SEVIS system. At the beginning of each semester, the DSO’s report every international student who is attending courses. DSO’s also recommend students for off-campus internship opportunities, which must be approved by the USCIS before students can work them. In addition, ISS manages reduced course loads due to medical emergencies, language difficulties, and end of program needs, all of which must be reported in SEVIS.

When students find themselves out of status through a mistake, the ISS DSO’s also assist them in getting back into active immigration status by recommending them for reinstatement. DSO’s write letters of explanation as well as supply evidence of ongoing attendance for students when the USCIS requests these pieces.

Without the proper immigration status, no international student may participate in courses, employment, or athletics, per the US Government. Because of this fact, International Student Services must be an integral part of every international student’s support system.

International Student Services also offers the following supplemental services to all international students:

• Support in finding housing and food
• Support for homesickness and culture shock
• Advising on academic majors
• Authorizing internships
• Referring to other campus offices
• Answering general questions
• Getting involved with the International Student Club
• Assisting with HR and SSN paperwork
• Guidance on getting a driver’s license
• Supplying connections, activities, and friendship

Students who need to return home suddenly due to an emergency situation should speak with a DSO in the International Student Services Office. The DSO will help students make a suitable plan both to meet their immediate needs and to support their educational efforts.

At times, international students find that they need to return to the university a few days late. A DSO may be able to assist students in doing so if the following criteria are met:

1. The student has a true emergency
   (life and death situation, imperative surgery, sudden weather disaster)
2. The student reports the situation to the DSO immediately
3. The student can supply written proof of the emergency that can be submitted to SEVIS and/or kept in the student’s immigration file at the university

When students contact their DSO, the DSO will advise them on the best course of action for their immigration status. If a student needs to return weeks late into a semester, the DSO may advise that the student take an authorized early withdrawal, a designation that will put their immigration status on a temporary hold until the student can return. When authorized early withdrawal is granted, students generally need to wait to return until the next open term or semester, depending on when their next set of classes is offered. The US Government stipulates that international students must request authorized early withdrawal before they miss courses. Authorized early withdrawal may last for up to five months.

During break periods (Spring Break, Winter Break, Summer Break), international students may travel wherever they like within the United States. ISS recommends students travel in groups for safety. While not absolutely necessary, ISS also recommends that students tell a DSO where they plan to travel so someone at the university is aware that they are away from campus.

International students must have their I-20’s signed by a Designated School Official (DSO) from International Student Services before they travel out of the United States. Without a travel signature, the immigration officers at the airport may not allow students to re-enter the United States.

Ashland University requires all international students to arrive on campus before the start of their classes at the beginning of each semester. If international students are in their first semester at Ashland University, they must arrive before International Orientation and attend the required introductory sessions with their Designated School Official (DSO).

International students need to remain in the country while they are taking courses on their active I-20’s. Students may depart the country after they have completed all tests, projects, and examinations for all of their courses. They may not take examinations or turn in projects after leaving the United States, nor may they take online courses while in another country.

The US Government stipulates that students must ask permission of their DSO before missing any classes. The government has granted international students entrance into the country so that they can study full-time. Those who miss classes without permission of their school official are considered out of status and will have their immigration documents terminated. To avoid this situation, international students should stay in close communication with their DSO about their travel plans. Planning ahead will also help students avoid unanticipated travel problems.

International students may work on campus up to twenty hours per week. The university campus offers multiple working opportunities which can be found via the Handshake app.

At times, students misunderstand the twenty-hour rule and think that as long as a two-week pay period equals forty hours, then they have maintained status properly. However, the US Government limits working hours to twenty hours per week so that students still have plenty of time to be successful in their academic pursuits, as studying full-time is why they have been allowed to enter the country. During summer and winter vacations, as well as weeks when school is not in session such as spring break, students may work up to forty hours in a week.

CPT stands for Curricular Practical Training and is a work opportunity allowed by the government when international students’ academic programs require them do an internship. For example, if students are studying to be teachers, they might need to do student teaching, or if they are nursing majors, they might need to do rotations at the hospital. Alternatively, a program might require students to choose an elective, and the elective they choose requires an internship. That internship would then become a required part of the curriculum. If students do not have any academic requirement to do an internship, then they would not be eligible for CPT. Students should note that a full year of CPT will make them ineligible for post-completion Optional Practical Training.

However, all international students get one year of OPT, an acronym that stands for Optional Practical Training, for each educational level (bachelor’s, master’s, doctorate). Students may use these twelve months either before or after graduation. Using them before graduation is referred to as Pre-completion OPT; using them after graduation is referred to as Post-completion OPT. Please note that applying for Pre-completion OPT is a separate process from applying for Post-completion OPT. In other words, having approval for Pre-completion OPT does not grant permission for Post-completion OPT; students would need to apply a second time for Post-completion OPT. In addition, students must have completed one full year of study in the United States before applying for either type of OPT.

Students may apply for Post-completion OPT as early as 90 days before their graduation date and as late as 60 days after their graduation date.

Pre-completion OPT may be worked full-time during summer break or part-time during the academic year.

The application process for either Pre-completion or Post-completion OPT is similar:

1. Complete one full year of study in the United States before applying.
2. Fill out an OPT application for the ISS Office.
3. ISS will enter your information into the SEVIS record.
4. Complete the online OPT application (there are separate applications for pre and post).
5. Pay the application fee, which is almost $500.
6. Begin applying for jobs while waiting for the Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card) to be issued. The wait time can be up to three months.
7. After receiving the EAD Card, begin the internship.
8. Contact ISS right away to report information about your new job or report it yourself through your SEVP account.

Students may report their new employment though their SEVP accounts. If not, they must report their employment to their DSO within ten days.

Students who are taking a STEM major, may apply for an additional twenty-four months of OPT towards the end of their first full year of OPT. If approved, they would be able to work for a total of three years.

Students who wish to volunteer either on or off campus may do so if they do not receive any form of payment including, but not limited to, funds, gifts, housing, meals, or reduced costs.