Every U.S. school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to enroll international students must appoint at least one employee to serve in the role of designated school official, commonly known as a DSO.
These officials serve as liaisons between international students, the SEVP-certified school and the U.S. government. They issue prospective international students necessary immigration forms, help guide them through the process of studying in the U.S., maintain Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records and more.
As a prospective student, your DSO is available to guide you and answer questions while you study in the U.S. Here are some of the common questions DSOs receive from prospective international students.
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Question: Do citizens from all countries coming to the U.S. to study at an SEVP-certified school have to apply for an F or M visa?
Answer: Most countries require prospective international students to apply for an F or M visa at a U.S. embassy or consular office in their home country. If you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda and are exploring the possibility of studying in the U.S., you may apply for F or M status directly at a U.S. port of entry with a passport and a Form I-20 issued by the school you will attend.
Even if you are not required to obtain a visa, you still must complete certain tasks to obtain F or M status in the U.S. These include: paying the I-901 SEVIS fee, receiving a Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” from your school’s DSO, and attending and passing classes to maintain to your immigration status.
F and M student visas can be issued up to 120 days before your course of study start date. However, you will not be allowed to enter the U.S. in F or M status earlier than 30 days before your start date. The same holds true for international students from Canada and Bermuda.
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Question: Can my DSO send me a scanned copy of my Form I-20?
Answer: Given the potential for fraud, scanned or reprinted copies of your Form I-20 will not permit you entry into the U.S.
Upon acceptance to an SEVP-certified school, you will receive an original, hard copy of the Form I-20 from your DSO. You must hand-carry this form with you when you enter the U.S. so it is easily accessible. You will need to show it to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers when you enter the U.S.
Question: What if I need to defer my program start date listed on my Form I-20?
Answer: A DSO can only defer an international student’s program start date to a future school term if two criteria are met. First, you must not yet have entered the U.S. Second, you cannot intend to arrive and enroll for the term currently listed on your Form I-20.
Note, if you arrive at school after the program start date listed on your Form I-20, but still within the school’s time limit to enroll you for that session, your DSO does not need to defer the program start date.
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Question: When do I need to submit transcripts to a U.S. school?
Answer: School officials must receive and evaluate your transcripts and other supporting academic records during the application process before they can issue you a Form I-20. Some schools require original transcripts, while others accept copies.
Question: What happens if I get to the U.S., begin my studies and have to withdraw from a class?
Answer: In order to maintain immigration status, international students must enroll in a full course of study while studying in the U.S., which is typically 12 credit hours for an undergraduate.
If you can still maintain a full course of study, you will not face immigration issues based on the withdrawal from one class. If your withdrawal from a class results in dropping below a full course of study you could be out of status and have to depart the U.S.
You should immediately discuss this issue with your school’s DSO as there are some instances where international students are permitted to temporarily drop below a full course of study and remain in valid immigration status.
For more information on how DSOs assist international students, visit the Study in the States website managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
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5 Answers to Common Designated School Officials Questions originally appeared on usnews.com
