Current Students

The role of the International Student Services advisor at Franklin University is to support the educational goals of all students in a non-immigrant visa classification and to provide guidance on U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations for F-1 students and those wanting to change to F-1 status.

Maintaining F-1 Status

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a Web-based system that is provided and monitored by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Franklin University and other schools are required to report:

Name, date of birth, country of citizenship
Whether or not you are registered full time
Work permission you may receive
Your degree program
When you are expected to finish your degree
Physical address

Students admitted to the U.S. on an I-20 issued from Franklin University have a responsibility to maintain legal F-1 status in the U.S. By following the below regulations you will keep your status at Franklin. If you have questions about maintaining F-1 status or think that you may fall out of status, please speak to an International Student Advisor by calling 614.797.4700.

Maintain a valid passport and I-20
- Your passport must be valid six months into the future
- Your name should match exactly on your passport and I-20
- Your I-20 program end date must be current
Attend school full time for two terms before earning a vacation term
- Undergraduate students
  - A minimum of 12 credits
  - At least eight credits must be earned in person (not online classes)
Graduate students
- A minimum of six credits
- Classes must be earned in person (not online)
Work only with permission to work
Notify ISS within 10 days if you are changing your address

Possible Consequences of Being Out of Status

Lose any benefits of being an F-1 student, such as work permission and travel authorization
Have to apply for reinstatement with USCIS and pay fee
Have to leave the United States
Put yourself at risk of not being able to get a new F-1 visa in the future

Immigration Tips to Remember

•Communicate with ISS ahead of time (for vacation term, reduced course load, program extension, etc.)
• Keep your I-20 updated – If your major or financial sponsor information changes, you need to have your I-20 updated to reflect the change
• You need to register full time at the beginning of the term which is by the start of the 15 week section (ISS has SEVIS reporting deadline)
• Stay enrolled full time – It is better for you to fail a course and re-take it to keep your status than to drop the course

Travel

You must have your I-20 signed before you travel outside of the U.S. (see page three of I-20)
Carry a valid passport
Carry a valid visa when returning to U.S. (if traveling to Canada or Mexico, see ISS)
Carry proof of financial documentation
Obtain full-time enrollment letter from ISS
Obtain academic transcript from Office of the Registrar

Travel on OPT

If your application for Optional Practical Training (OPT) is still pending, you may travel with a valid passport, I-20 signed for travel, a valid visa, and your I-797 receipt notice.

If your OPT has been approved in addition to the passport, valid visa, I-20 signed for travel, and OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD), you will also want to travel with a letter from your employer verifying that you are currently working, and specifying the dates of employment.

If your OPT has been approved and you are still searching for employment, it is recommended that you do not travel. Information released from the Department of Homeland Security states that if you travel during OPT and are not employed, your OPT automatically ends and you may not re-enter the U.S.

For more information, visit the following Web sites:
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htm#_Toc81222042

http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f.htm

Travel to Canada or Mexico

Students with an expired U.S. visa can still travel to Canada or Mexico without having the visa renewed. This is called automatic revalidation. If the travel is for 30 days or fewer, you have maintained status, have a valid passport and I-20, and you are returning as a student to continue your studies, then your visa will be considered by USCIS as valid for the day of re-entry into the U.S. This does not renew your visa, however. If you travel outside of North America, you must apply for a new F-1 student visa to return to the U.S. Unless you are traveling by plane, keep your I-94 card in your passport when you re-enter and do not surrender it to the Border Patrol.

If you changed your status inside the U.S. and do not have a visa, then you are still eligible to travel under automatic revalidation without having the visa.

You may be required to obtain a visitor’s visa to travel to Canada or Mexico. Please check the appropriate country’s Web site for information on visa requirements, as well as the forms and process.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp
Mexican Immigration and Visas: http://www.mexperience.com/liveandwork/immigration.htm

Health Insurance

Health insurance is required of all F-1 students enrolled at Franklin University. Franklin’s health-insurance plan for international students is underwritten by United HealthCare Insurance Company. United HealthCare is one of the largest health-insurance providers in the United States, and is recognized and accepted by most doctors and hospitals around Columbus, throughout Ohio, and across the United States.

F-1 students enrolled in the Franklin International Student plan have access to medical providers (doctors, hospitals, etc.) through the United HealthCare Options PPO. To find a physician, visit the United HealthCare Web site and click on “Find a Physician” on the top line.
Enrollment Process – When you register for a class at Franklin, you will automatically be enrolled in the Franklin University International Student Medical Insurance Plan. After paying the $311 health insurance charge, you may pick up your temporary health insurance card from Franklin's Business Office. United HealthCare Insurance Company will then mail you your permanent card at the beginning of the term, along with a detailed brochure. Brochures and temporary ID cards will also be available online at http://www.firststudent.com.

Payment Deadline – The insurance deadline will match the first day of the 15-week section (the V section). Students must pay or waive your insurance by the start of the term to avoid the $100 late fee.

Waiver Petition Process – If you already have group health insurance coverage with benefits that are comparable to (or better than) the Franklin University International Student Medical Insurance Plan, you may submit a waiver petition. In order to be eligible for a waiver, your alternate health insurance must meet or exceed all of Franklin’s waiver criteria. Please make sure that your health insurance plan meets all of the criteria before submitting the waiver petition. Note that individual health insurance plans will no longer be accepted – Criteria #1 on the waiver: “My plan is a group major medical health plan provided by my parents, my sponsor, my employer, or my spouse’s employer/university.”
The Franklin Waiver Petition Form is available online at http://www.firststudent.com. This petition needs to be resubmitted each trimester, even during a break term. The health-insurance waiver petitions will be evaluated by the insurance company. Please note that supporting documentation will need to be faxed per instructions on the Web site. Waiver petitions that are submitted without the supporting documentation will be considered incomplete, and the waiver will be denied.

WAIVER PETITION DEADLINE – The waiver petition deadline will match the first day of the 15-week section (the V section). If you have not enrolled in the Franklin insurance plan or waived the plan by the beginning of the term, you will automatically be enrolled and a $100 late fee will be applied to your account.

If you have any questions about your health insurance waiver petition, please contact the Harbour Group, Franklin’s liaison with the health insurance company, at 1.800.252.8160 or http://www.hginsurance.com.

Living in Columbus, Ohio

As a student, you know that it is important to reach your educational goals. As an international student, a component of your education in the U.S. is also experiencing American culture. There are several opportunities for cultural events around the city, many which are free or low-cost. Here are links to event resources in Columbus:

http://www.experiencecolumbus.com/
http://www.discoverohio.com/
http://www.columbus.org

Utilities

Franklin University has no dormitories or on-campus housing, so you are responsible for your own housing and utilities. To set up utilities in Columbus, please visit The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for phone numbers of many utilities companies.

Transportation and Driver’s License

The bus transportation for Columbus is Central Ohio Transit Authority or COTA. You can find fares, routes and other information on its Web site at http://www.cota.com. Franklin is located on the #2 bus route.
If you have a car and need information on obtaining a driver’s license in the U.S., you will need to contact the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You will also need to purchase auto insurance, which is required by state law. The minimum requirement is liability insurance, which covers the other vehicle if you are at fault for an accident. Additional insurance is recommended to also cover your car in case of an accident.

The driver-license testing center closest to Franklin’s downtown campus is 1970 W. Broad St. (614.995.5353).