Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is there an Advisor to assist me with my questions?
2. Who is responsible for maintaining my F-1 student status?
3. How do I report change of address?
4. Who do I talk to, I am having academic difficulty?
5. Who can I talk to; I am having difficulty adjusting to my new environment?
6. Do I need to attend school full-time?
7. How do I change to part-time status in my last semester?
8. How do I extend my Form I-20?
9. Am I required to attend classes during the Summer Break?
10. How many hours can I work on campus?
11. How do I apply for a Social Security number?
12. Can I apply for a Social Security number?
13. What do I need to apply for a Social Security number?
14. Can I work off Campus?
15. What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
16. Can CPT be part-time or full time?
17. Do I need authorization to work during CPT?
18. How do I process my CPT?
19. How long can I work on CPT?
20. What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
21. When do I apply for OPT?
22. How do I apply for OPT?
23. Do I need a job to apply for OPT?
24. When is the deadline for OPT application?
25. Can I renew my visa in the United States?
26. What do I do if my visa expires while I am studying in the U.S.?
27. If my visa expires, does that mean I am not maintaining legal status?
28. I plan to travel to Canada, Mexico or one of the islands (except Cuba) adjacent to the United States. Can I still use my expired visa?
29. Can I apply for a new visa in a third country?
30. What do I do if my I-20 expires?
31. Do I need a travel Signature?
32. How do I apply for a Driver’s License?
33. Can I use my International Driver’s License?
34. What do I need to transfer to another Academic Institution in the United States?

1. Is there an Advisor to assist me with my questions?
Yes, you can meet with the International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator by making an appointment. Appointments can be made in person, over the phone or via e-mail. Call 860.832.2040 to schedule an appointment.
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2. Who is responsible for maintaining my F-1 student status?
You are solely responsible for maintaining your legal status in the United States. It is your duty to always check the expiration date on your Form I-20 (page 1, item #5).
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3. How do I report change of address?
You can e-mail, print out, drop off or mail a copy of the change of address form to the International Student and Scholar Services, CIE within 10 days of moving from your previous residence.
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4. Who do I talk to, I am having academic difficulty?
Call 860.832.2040 to book an appointment to talk to the International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator to discuss your situation and the options available to you.
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5. Who can I talk to; I am having difficulty adjusting to my new environment?
Call 860.832.2040 to book an appointment to talk to the International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator to discuss your situation and ways to cope.
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6. Do I need to attend school full-time?
Yes, you are required by immigration law to attend school full time, at all times, except in your final semester.
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7. How do I change to part-time status in my last semester?
You need to pick up a change of status from the Registrar’s Office, fill it out and drop it off to the International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator for signature. In addition, you need to inform your Academic advisor to send me an e-mail at ayeni_olu@ccsu.edu stating that the semester in question is your last semester at CCSU.
The change of status form from the Registrar’s office can not be signed without e-mail verification from your Academic advisor.
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8. How do I extend my Form I-20?
It is your duty to always check the expiration date on your Form I-20 (page 1, item #5).  To extend your I-20, you need a letter from your academic advisor (IELP students need a letter from Christie) stating your new program completion date, reason for new program date and current affidavit of support. Start process to extend your Form I-20 at least a month before it expires. Drop all paperwork at the International Student and Scholar Services, CIE. You will be contacted in approximately 2 weeks to sign and pick up a new Form I-20.
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9. Am I required to attend classes during the Summer Break?
No, you are not required by Immigration law to attend classes in the Summer.
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10. How many hours can I work on campus?
All students can work on campus (IELP students are only allowed to work in the bookstore or Sodexho) no more than 20 hours during the semester and 40 hours during vacation (Summer and Winter Break).
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11. How do I apply for a Social Security number?
The Department of Social Security Administration visit CCSU to assist international students in processing Social Security numbers at the beginning of each semester. An e-mail notification is sent at the beginning of each semester announcing Social Security office’s visit to Campus. Alternatively you can go to the New Britain Social Security office: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/Controller
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12. Can I apply for a Social Security number?
You can only apply for a Social Security number if you have a job.
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13. What do I need to apply for a Social Security number?
You need to have a job, employment verification form signed by your employer and the International Student and Scholar Services Office and a completed Social Security application form.
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14. Can I work off Campus?
You need authorization to work off campus. You can work off campus by applying for Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training.
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15. What is Curricular Practical Training (CPT)?
It is an off campus work benefit available to F-1 student maintaining legal status, must have completed an academic year (2 semesters) and have at least 1 class left to complete program at CCSU. It can be done as an internship through your Academic Department or as a Co-op through Career services.
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16. Can CPT be part-time or full time?
You can work during CPT part-time or full time. If you are working part-time you will need to take additional credits to maintain full-time status.
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17. Do I need authorization to work during CPT?
Yes, you do need authorization from the International Student and Scholar Services Coordinator before you can begin work. * Remember that working without authorization will jeopardize your immigration status*
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18. How do I process my CPT?
Once you have been offered a job, you will need to submit all information on CPT Checklist and the CPT Approval form to the International Student and Scholar Services at CIE. It takes about 2 weeks to process your authorization from date of paperwork submission.   
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19. How long can I work on CPT?
Immigration regulations specify that working during CPT for 12 months makes a student ineligible for OPT. I recommend that you work during CPT for about 11 months and 2 weeks at the most.
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20. What is Optional Practical Training (OPT)?
It is an off campus work benefit available to F-1 student maintaining legal status and must have completed an academic year (2 semesters) at CCSU. You can apply for OPT at any time during your program.
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21. When do I apply for OPT?
OPT application processing by USCIS takes 3-4 months to process. I recommend that you apply at the beginning of the semester you plan to graduate.
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22. How do I apply for OPT?
Off-Campus work authorization sessions will be offered at the beginning of every semester. An e-mail will be sent to all students indicating the informational session start date. Form I-765 required to apply for OPT (Employment Authorization) can be downloaded at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-765.pdf
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23. Do I need a job to apply for OPT?
No, you do not need a job to apply for OPT.
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24. When is the deadline for OPT application?
All OPT applications must be received by USCIS before the end or completion of your program at CCSU. ** All applications received after the student’s completion date will not be processed** Once a student graduates, applying for OPT is no longer an option. **
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25. Can I renew my visa in the United States?
No, you can only apply for a visa at United States Embassies or Consulates outside the United States.
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26. What do I do if my visa expires while I am studying in the U.S.?
If your visa expires while you are still in the United States studying, it is okay so far as you do not plan to travel outside the U. S. and your Form I-20 is still valid.
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27. If my visa expires, does that mean I am not maintaining legal status?
An expired visa does not affect your status in the United States as you only need it at the point of entry upon your return to the States. Always make sure you have a valid I-20.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1298.html
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28. I plan to travel to Canada, Mexico or one of the islands (except Cuba) adjacent to the United States. Can I still use my expired visa?
You can automatically revalidate an expired visa if you return to the U. S. within thirty days with a valid Form I-20 (automatic visa revalidation). You must not have applied for a new visa or denied a new visa while you were out of the country. “It excludes all aliens who are nationals of designated state sponsors of terrorism from being able to re-enter using an automatically revalidated visa”.
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29. Can I apply for a new visa in a third country?
Yes, you can apply for a visa, but there is no guarantee that you will be issued a visa. If you are denied a visa, you will need to depart from that country to your home country and can not come back to the U.S. (For more information go to http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1260.html#notapply
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30. What do I do if my I-20 expires?
If your Form I-20 expires while you are in the U. S, you have a grace period of 60 days. If you are still attending classes, you will need to process a Reinstatement through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as soon as possible. See reinstatement checklist and Form I-539
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31. Do I need a travel Signature?
The International Student and Scholar Services offer a Travel Advisory Session 2 weeks before every break (Spring Break, Summer Vacation, Thanksgiving Break, Winter/Christmas break). If you will be traveling in between any of these times, bring your most current Form I-20 or DS-2019 along with your passport.
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32. How do I apply for a Driver’s License?
As a Non US Citizen, you can apply for a Driver’s License, please refer to the checklist on how to apply for a driving license.
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33. Can I use my International Driver’s License?
According to DMV,CT, a full time student maintaining status and an out of the country residency is allowed to use their valid ‘out-of-country’ license here in Connecticut along with an International Driver Permit. (DMV Link)
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34. What do I need to transfer to another Academic Institution in the United States?
You need to fill out a transfer in form and drop it off at the International Student and Scholars Services, CIE. Your request will be taken care of within 5 business days.
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