F-1 Immigration Information for PIE Students
Welcome to the PIE!
We want you to be successful while you study English at the Program for Intensive English, or PIE. As a student with F-1 visa status, here are some rules you must follow to keep your stay in the U.S. legal:
Check your email daily.
You must check your IUPUI email regularly. We suggest checking at least one time per day. OIA will use your email to communicate very important immigration information to you.
Keep your address updated.
Students on an F-1 visa MUST keep their address updated. You can update your address by logging into Student Center at https://one.iu.edu
Attend your classes.
F-1 students must enroll and attend classes full-time.
If you miss 26 hours of class, your stay in the U.S. will be in trouble.
Watch for emails from PIE and OIA every week on the total number of class hours you have missed.
Talk with OIA if you have problems attending class.
If you are very sick (more than 1-2 days), talk with an immigration advisor or PIE staff for help.
If your doctor recommends you to enroll less than full-time, OIA can help. You will need to complete this form with your doctor.
Understand all your immigration documents.
It is up to you to understand your immigration documents. You most likely have an I-20 or DS-2019, visa stamp, and passport.
Know when you can take a break from studies.
F-1 students are eligible to take a break from English study after they have been at PIE for four sessions AND kept their immigration status legal.
Prepare in advance for any international travel.
Be sure to make sure your I-20 and visa stamp will be valid when you return to the U.S.
Check to see if you need a Travel Signature.
Will you need a Letter of Good Standing?
You can work on-campus.
Some students want to work while they are in the U.S. As a PIE student, you may work on the IUPUI campus up to 20 hours per week.
Ask an OIA advisor or PIE staff how you can look for on-campus jobs.
Health insurance is mandatory.
The U.S. healthcare system is very hard to understand and medical care is very expensive. F-1 students at PIE are required to have health insurance.
Know the rules for your F-2 dependents.
F-2 dependents CANNOT work anywhere.
F-2 children must attend primary and secondary school if they are eligible.
F-2 husband or wife can attend university or English study part-time only.
Know what to do when your studies at PIE end.
It is up to you to talk with OIA immigration advisors and let them know what your plans are. Students have very specific deadlines to make plans and updates to their programs of study.
If you will not finish your study at PIE by the end date on your I-20, you MUST extend your I-20 before it expires. You can do this by completing the Extension of Program request in your iStart account.
When your study at PIE ends, you have 60 days to:
- Begin a new program - this means transfer to a new school for a degree or a new English program. You must complete the SEVIS Transfer Out request in iStart to let OIA immigration advisors know you plan to move to a new school.
- Go home
You may not exit and re-enter the U.S. during this 60 day grace period. This grace period is for you to make any arrangements for your affairs that you may need to.
