Handouts
(For International Students & Scholars Only)
The content on this page pertains to international students and scholars. If you are interested in Study Abroad information, please visit the Study Abroad website. Otherwise, click on the links below to see relevant information.
Contact OIPS |
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OIPS is required to report information about your status, your local address, and other information about your appointment to the U.S. government via the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). For this reason, you MUST contact our office whenever you make changes in your program, your address, ID numbers, name, etc. The consequences for not updating our office on this information could be very severe, so it is extremely important that you consult with us if you make a change or are unsure if the change needs to be reported. Please visit the links below for more information about when you should contact OIPS.
[back to top]Immigration Information |
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- Extension of Immigration Documents (I-20 or DS-2019, FOR STUDENTS ONLY)
In order to complete your studies at UNM and maintain your legal status in the US your I-20 or DS-2019 form must remain valid at all times. If the I-20/DS-2019 will expire, you must apply for a program extension 30 days before the expiration date. Failure to do so could jeopardize your legal status in the US, interrupt your study and have other serious legal consequences. Click the link above to find out more information on how to extend your I-20.
- Full Time Enrollment
- Maintaining Legal Student Status (FOR STUDENTS ONLY)
- Visa Types for Scholars/ Employees at UNM
- Special Registration under NSEERS
- Travel, Visa and Status Information
Non-immigrants to the U.S. are required to maintain legal status to remain in the U.S. and to return to the U.S. after traveling abroad. Specific documents and signatures are needed in order to return to the U.S. even if you will only leave the U.S. for a brief period of time. If you plan to travel out of the U.S. for an extended period of time (more than 5 months), you must come in to speak with an OIPS advisor about requirements and options. If you plan to travel out of the US for a short visit and return to study, please make sure you are aware of all the documents you need for re-entry to the US and whether or not you need a valid visa to return. If you will need to apply for a new visa while outside of the U.S., you must plan enough time to obtain the visa while you are abroad. This section has general information on travel regulations, changing visa status and maintaining legal status.
- Applying for a new Student Visa for Continuing Students
- Applying for a new F-1 Visa in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
- U.S. Department of State Website
- U.S. Immigration Website for Travel
- Changing your immigration status (e.g., from F-1 to F-2)
- Reinstatement to legal F-1 student status after violating your status
- Immigration Contacts and Information
OIPS is the main contact for student and scholar immigration issues at UNM. However, if a student or scholar has a complicated immigration issue or problem or wants to apply for permanent residency he/she may need to contact the Albuquerque office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or an immigration attorney. These references are listed below. Please note that the Albuquerque USCIS office does not deal with student or scholar immigration questions.
- Hiring an Immigration Attorney
- Albuquerque USCIS Office
Before you visit the Albuquerque USCIS office, you must make an appointment online using the InfoPass system. To do this, visit http://infopass.uscis.gov. The USCIS office is located at:
1720 Randolph Rd. SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106-4245
Phone: 505.241.3850
Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30am-3:30pm
and Fridays, 8:30-12:00pm
Working in the U.S. |
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International students do NOT have permission to work in the US unless specifically authorized. In general there are two types of employment: on-campus and off-campus employment. Please read this section to find out more information about these types of employment and whether you qualify to apply for them. You will also need to apply for a Social Security number with the Social Security Administration immediately after you are hired for proper identification and taxation purposes. For assistance finding a job or preparing for the job search process (including resume help, mock interviews, career fairs and job postings) UNM’s Office of Career Services is here to help- see their website www.career.unm.edu or visit their office for more information.
- On-Campus and Off-Campus Employment
- Applying for a Social Security Number (SSN)
- Career Issues for International Students - Presentation
- Work Visas and Permanent Residency Session - Noble Law Firm Presentation
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Living and Studying the U.S. |
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Spouse, Family & Dependents Information |
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- General Information for Spouses and Families
- Bringing your family to the United States (for F-1 and J-1 Students)
- International Couples Organization
- J-2 Employment Authorization
- Obtaining a New Mexico Marriage License
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Leaving UNM (for Students and Scholars) |
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This is information that you must know as you near the end of your academic program. In most cases, you will want to contact OIPS at least three months before you graduate to find out your options. Remember that by law you have a limited time to take action from the date you COMPLETE your studies before your presence in the US is no longer legal. Be aware that the date you complete your studies is the day you finish the last requirement for your degree and NOT the graduation date; for example, the day of your last final exam or the date you hand in your thesis corrections. This date is important for interpreting information contained in the links below.
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