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You will have a dedicated office for International Advising staffed with DSOs (Designated School Officials) to expertly meet your unique needs as a student on an F1 visa. When you become a student at NEC, you will have your very own assigned DSO throughout your degree program with a helpful portal to get answers and help.
And, like all students, you can get help from Student Affairs and Residence Life! Contact ResLife@nec.edu聽(Henniker)聽for arrival information and forms such as:
For payment, financial aid, and tuition help, you may contact: sfs@nec.edu
For academic advising help or tutoring, you may contact Academic Advising (for undergraduate students)聽advising2@nec.edu and (for graduate students) studentservices_gps@nec.edu.
Once you have received an F-1 visa for studying in the U.S. from the U.S. government, you will follow certain regulations to protect this status and remain in the U.S. as a student. Our goal in International Advising is to make sure you have access to the information you need to 鈥渕aintain status鈥�.
Below are a few of the basics. For a more thorough explanation, refer to the official U.S. government website . For any additional information on any of these topics, contact us international@nec.edu.
Know these basics, and always reach out to your DSO to make sure you have the right information:
Additionally, once you are a student, your DSO/International Advisor can help you with this kind of information:
We look forward to being your dedicated International Advisors. We hope you to hear from you very soon!
For F-1 students who have been offered employment (all employment must be within F-1 regulations and authorized by an NEC DSO prior to employment), the Social Security Administration will accept an application for a Social Security Number. Below are important links.
Instructions:
Application:
Students should read the instructions carefully, fill out an application, collect required documents, and go to a local SS office with the proper documentation, for example, Passport, I-20, I-94, DSO letter, employer offer, etc. Find a local SS Office
For questions and before accepting employment, reach out to your NEC DSO or: international@nec.edu
For F-1 students who have not been offered employment and have been told they need a SS Denial letter for licenses or other financial business.
Complete the portions of the application (see links below) that you can complete, gather all your documents, go to a SSA appointment and request a Denial Letter
Instructions:
Application:
Use the Denial letter for applications that require you to have a SS Number
Find a SS Office:
For questions, reach out to your NEC DSO or: international@nec.edu
Driving without a driver鈥檚 license in the US is illegal.
Visitors to the US may use their English Language foreign driver鈥檚 license for up to one year.
After that, you will need a US based driver鈥檚 license. However, if your driver鈥檚 license is not in English, apply for an International Driving Permit which translates your home country license into English.
If you need a US driver鈥檚 license, each state in the US has its own Department of Motor Vehicles (often called RMV or DMV). Access the DMV/RMV in the state where you temporarily reside in the US. Follow the specific instructions from your state of temporary residence
Important information:
Documentation you will need:
Additional considerations:
A driver鈥檚 license applicant may also need to pass both a driving and written test. Depending on your state, if you have a license from your home country or another state, the DMV may not require you to take the tests. However, not all states accept driver’s licenses from other countries.
For questions, reach out to your NEC DSO or: international@nec.edu
F-1 students are highly regulated for employment. If there is an open position at NEC, On-Campus Employment is an opportunity that you may be qualified for. You do not need special USCIS permission to do On-Campus Employment, but you must discuss it with your NEC DSO.
On-Campus Employment is not guaranteed to any F-1 student. The US government requires that an F-1 student not displace a US student for on-campus employment.
You would start by looking for an open position through Career and Life Planning office鈥檚 handshake platform. Go through the process for application. If you are offered a position, you must disclose that information immediately to your NEC DSO so that your DSO can ensure you maintain your status and discuss the limits to employment.
For example, here are some maintenance of status issues:
You will need to file a US Tax return for any earnings from On-Campus Employment. You should look up assistance such as to understand your tax liability.
For questions, reach out to your NEC DSO or: international@nec.edu
After acceptance, a New P站视频 College (NEC) DSO will provide you with an I-20 which provides a SEVIS number that you will need to make a visa appointment at your U.S. Consulate. When you receive the I-20 from your NEC DSO, check all information for accuracy so that you will not have any problems during your visa interview. Check this link for instructions on how to apply for an F-1 visa . Here is another useful link: Be sure to pay the SEVIS fee before you go to your visa appointment:
Reach out directly to your New P站视频 College Designated School Official (DSO) who was assigned to you upon enrollment. Check your NEC email for the introductory email. If you are concerned that you did not get that email, contact international@nec.edu
You will have your own dedicated DSO at NEC during your studies to help with your questions, requests, and guidance needs. A DSO is a Designated School Official at New P站视频 College (NEC) for the Department of Homeland Security鈥檚 ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). DSOs are responsible to help F-1 students maintain their status, which means follow the federal regulations required for studying in the states as a non-immigrant. DSOs issue as I-20 in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) after you are accepted to NEC so you can apply for an F-1 visa.
The best way to get assistance is by email (your DSO will always send you an introductory email. Make note of your DSO鈥檚 name and email! Save it and use it as often as you need to get help, resources, F-1 advice, make SEVIS requests.
If you do not remember your DSO, you may use international@nec.edu
The International Students and programs Office is at 20 Main Street, lower level. Email ahead for an appointment. Drop-ins may not be possible, especially during high volume times!
If you have an Active I-20 from another school and you have maintained your status as an F-1 student, you may request to Transfer you SEVIS record from your current school to NEC and remain in the US while you wait to transfer to NEC.
It is best (but not mandatory) to apply for an F-1 visa from you home country when possible. Check here for local consulates:
Every approved SEVP school in the U.S. has its own Transfer Out process. Talk to the DSO at your current school and follow their instructions to request the Transfer Out to New P站视频 College. Your SEVIS record must be electronically released by your current DSO before the NEC semester starts. Ask your DSO to set the release date:
Give your current DSO the NEC school SEVIS code: BOS214F00408000.
Be sure to keep your passport and the NEC I-20 with your carryon when you travel. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will ask to see your passport, your NEC issued I-20 and possibly proof that you can afford to live and study in the U.S. before you are allowed to enter the U.S. and retrieve your luggage. See CBP link for more information: .
Follow the links for two very helpful videos for F1 students:
The program end date appears on page one of your I-20. The end date is the date by which you are expected to complete your program of study making 鈥渘ormal academic progress.鈥� SEVIS Program Extensions are strictly regulated by DHS/ICE/SEVP. They may only be granted to F-1 students who are unable to complete their course of study by the program end date on their I-20 due to compelling academic or medical reasons. Department of Homeland Security expects F-1 students to finish their programs on time.聽Making 鈥渘ormal academic progress鈥� is a condition of maintaining F-1 status.
In order to be eligible for a program extension a student must:
To plan ahead from the beginning of your program, be aware that there are reasons that are聽not eligible for program extensions. Those will be discussed during your Orientation and reinforced through messaging from your DSO.
Checking final grades at the end of each term to keep track of any unsuccessful courses will allow you to stay on track and plan for your final semesters.
For questions related to end dates and I-20 extensions, please reach out to a DSO at international@nec.edu
F-1 students must maintain a full course of study each term to maintain their status. That means a full-time course load. NEC has varied full-time credit configurations which are program specific.
For questions related to full time studies or term/semester breaks, please reach out to a DSO at international@nec.edu
Some F-1 students are H1B visa applicants during their course of study as F-1 students. If approved for Change of Status (COS) to H1B, your SEVIS record automatically terminates. If approved take these next steps:
If/when you have the I-797A:
Since you have already paid for the term, we recommend that you continue/finish the semester successfully. However, you will no longer receive I-20s or submit the CPT extension request. On the other hand, you will still have to complete the internship course work (required by your program).
NEC has an online program option that does not require residencies or an internship component. You may reach out to Student Services if you would like to explore this option in the next term, or if you would like to take a semester break studentservices_gps@nec.edu.
Finishing a degree you started will always look better for your future endeavors!
If you have the I-797B:
NEC strongly recommends that you make no changes to your current enrollment, that you maintain your fulltime F-1 status and compliance, and that you communicate with a DSO, since the final H1B decision is pending your Consular interview.
Please be aware that if you change your enrollment status before completing the Consular process and without discussing it with a DSO, we will not be able to help you after-the-fact. Please consider it our strong recommendation that you contact international@nec.edu as soon as possible.
Since all NEC Executive Masters programs require a work placement / internship enrollment from the beginning of the program, CPT will be approved and then authorized by your DSO for eligible experiences tied directly to your program of study so that you may work immediately from the beginning of your program.
Please be reminded that any prior work authorization (if you had it) ends with your SEVIS record transfer date if you are Transferring to NEC.
Students are not authorized to work again until they receive NEC鈥檚 I-20 with a CPT authorization on page 2.聽聽Always remember to safeguard your status: Unauthorized work will jeopardize your SEVIS record, your status, and future applications, such as for H1Bs.
To be approved and then authorized for your required Internship and CPT, you will complete an EAF (Employment Authorization Form) which will be provided with your Acceptance materials along with the Next Steps documents.
Your NEC DSO will process your request and send you an I-20 documenting your CPT authorization.
If you have any questions, please don鈥檛 hesitate to be in touch with a DSO for more information international@nec.edu
Eligible students may request Curricular Practical Training CPT approval and authorization when internships are not required in a program if there is an option for an internship course in the program of study.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an F-1 student benefit that is regulated by DHS/ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). CPT is permitted after a year of studies have been completed (unless an internship is required before a year of studies have been completed).
An internship or work placement tied to program learning (CPT) must be authorized in SEVIS by a DSO and appear on the I-20 once it is approval by academic administration. CPT must be directly related to learning in the degree program. Academics must approve it; a DSO must authorize it.
If you have any questions, please don鈥檛 hesitate to be in touch with a DSO for more information international@nec.edu
Any student who has maintained status, will successfully complete their program on time, and who has not done more than 364 days of CPT or OPT at the same level, will be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training through USCIS.
Students may apply for OPT 90 days before their expected program end date. NEC DSOs can offer resources, advice, and information.
If you have any questions, please don鈥檛 hesitate to be in touch with a DSO for more information international@nec.edu