As an International Student, there are requirements that govern your status as such. These requirements must be maintained throughout your program of study.

By violating the requirements that govern your status as an international student, you may jeopardize your ability to remain in the United States as a student.

When you Travel Back Home:
In order to maintain International Student Status, you will need to have your I-20 signed by your DSO each time you travel back home.
Also, you will need your I-20 with you in order to get back into the U.S., and they will look for the DSO signature.

Examples of Violations of International Student Status:

Examples of violations include, but may not be limited to, the following:

• Failure to enroll by the date specified by your school program.
• Unauthorized employment during your stay.
  Realistically, during your time at Blue Ridge, the opportunity for work-study will most likely not be available to International Students, due to limits in the type of funds that would have to be utilized. Work outside of school will most likely never be allowed by USCIS/ICE. Unauthorized work is not forgiven by USCIS/ICE.
• Failure to maintain a full course load without prior authorization for a reduction from your Designated School Official (DSO).
  The student must maintain "fulltime enrollment". The student cannot drop below full-time without PRIOR approval, and approval is given only for a very few specific circumstances.
• Failure to report a legal name or address change to USCIS within 10 days of the change.
  This means that you would need to report any such change IMMEDIATELY to the DSO so she can record the change with USCIS within the time period.
• Failure to make normal progress toward completing the course of study.
  Dropping below a Cumulative GPA of 2.0 would be considered NOT making normal academic progress.
• Failure to leave the United States following completion of your course, exchange visitor program, or program-related employment.
  USCIS only allows international students to remain in the U.S. no longer than 60 days after program completion.
• Disciplinary action.
  If it is necessary to take disciplinary action against an International Student as a result of that student's misconduct or criminal behavior, it could have severe consequences for that student's I-20 status, including, but not limited to, having the I-20 revoked.

If you have ANY questions about ANY of the above items, please see the DSO BEFORE you take any action.

DSO - Pride Carson, Sink 137, 828-694-1801, e-mail
DSO - Marcia Stoneman, Sink 139, 828-694-1804, e-mail