Immigration Information and Assistance
The Office of International Student Services welcomes new international students to the Troy University campus each year. One of our main responsibilities is to guide students through the immigration process.
Our Office Provides Advising And Assistance With Immigration Regulations And Paperwork.
Travel Requirements
- Valid passport that does not expire in less than 6 months
- Valid visa
- Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a travel signature from an International Student Advisor. We recommend having a travel signature less than 6 months old.
- Financial documentation, less than a year old, that matches the funding stated on
your I-20/DS-2019.
a. Assistantship Letter
b. Athletic Scholarship Letter
c. Government Sponsorship Letter
d. Bank Statement - Proof of full-time enrollment
If you are currently on OPT, please make sure that you also have a letter from your employer stating your travel dates and that you will still be employed when you return.
Electronic I-94
Entry information is recorded electronically by Customs and Border Protection. Please print and keep a copy of your I-94 at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home . Each time you enter the US you get a new electronic I-94, each time you should print out a copy of it and keep for your records. If you have any problems finding your I-94 or if the information is incorrect, you need to see an international student advisor.
Visa Applications
If you are traveling and need to apply for a new U.S. visa, it is important to thoroughly review all information the specific Embassy Consular Section website (https://www.usembassy.gov/) for local procedures and instructions.
Due to security screening procedures, international students and scholars should expect delays when attempting to get a new U.S. visa. Visa processing time can range from a few days, to six to eight weeks. Click here (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas.html ) for more information on visa wait times.
Additional Information
As an F-1 or J-1 student, you are given a specific period of time to complete your degree requirements. For F-1 students, this period is reflected in the Program of Study Section of your 1-20 and for J-1 students, this period is reflected in Section 3 of your DS-2019. If you are unable to finish your degree requirements by that date, you must apply for a program extension BEFORE your current document expires. To extend your I-20/DS-2019 you need to get a letter from the Records office (Adams Administration) stating your expected graduation date. Please bring this letter to an international student advisor in Hawkins Hall to extend your I-20/DS-2019.
Students must notify International Student Services of their U.S. address within 30 days of initial enrollment at Troy University and within ten days of any subsequent address changes so that International Student Services can report it to SEVIS (Immigration).
To update your address, go online to Webexpress and under User Account click Address Change
Students on Optional Practical Training (OPT), Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and Academic Training must continue to update their local address to International Student Services.
Students must be offered a job in writing before they can apply for a Social Security number. Secure the following documents from either below, and take them to the Social Security Office in Dothan or Montgomery to make an application. It takes somewhere between 3-6 weeks for the Social Security card to arrive.
- University jobs: Take the job offer letter to Human Resources and get their approval letter, then go to the Center for International Programs to get an additional approval letter. Take all three documents to the Social Security Office in Dothan or Montgomery, along with your passport, printout of I-94 and I-20.
- Campus vendor: Take the job offer letter to the Center for International Programs to get an additional approval letter. Take the two documents to the Social Security Office in Dothan or Montgomery, along with your passport, printout of I-94 and I-20.
For more information www.ssa.gov
Curricular Practical Training (CPT - Internship, Practicum, Clinicals)
If a student wants to participate in an internship, practicum or clinical they must complete the CPT approval process. An F-1 student is eligible for Curricular Practical Training if they have been a full-time student at Troy University for two semesters prior to CPT authorization and are in good academic standing. The internship must be an integral part of an established curriculum, and the student must receive academic credit for the internship. To start the process work with your Academic Advisor to find a class that you can be enrolled in to participate in the internship, practicum or clinical. Before you start the Advisor Approval process you will need a letter from your employer with the following information:
- how the internship relates to the students major studies
- the start and end date of the internship
- how many hours the student will be working
- the name and address of the company
Follow the link below to complete the approval process and to receive a new I-20 with CPT approval.
Advisor Approval of Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
F-1 students are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training after completion of one full year of academic coursework. Students must be in active SEVIS status and making normal progress towards a degree completion.
OPT is available for a total of 12 months at any given academic level. Training completed concurrently with academic study will reduce time available after the degree is awarded. For this reason, students normally prefer to complete OPT following the completion of their degree. An application fee is assessed each time you apply for OPT.
Additional questions may be addressed to International Student Services at isa2@troy.edu.
Academic Training
Academic Training is available for J-1 students. It can be pre- or post-completion of your program. Academic Training can be granted for the number of months you have studied in the U.S. up to 18 months. A student will only get 18 months total for Academic Training while studying in the U.S. as a J-1 student. During the academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 J-1 degree seeking students in the STEM filed will be eligible to do 36 months. This includes all academic training the student might have done before. Students must have health insurance while on Academic Training. Students must receive a job offer before program end date and have a letter from the employer with the following information:
- how the internship/job relates to the students major studies
- the start and end date of the internship/job
- how many hours the student will be working
- the name and address of the company
Follow the link below to complete the approval process and to receive a new DS-2019 with Academic Training approval.
Academic Training Advisor Approval
ACADEMIC TRAINING EVALUATION
Economic Hardship
Students that have been in the F-1 visa status for at least one academic year are eligible to apply for off-campus employment based on demonstrated unforeseen severe economic hardship provided: they are in good academic and financial standing with Troy University. They must be full-time students and acceptance of employment may not interfere with the student's full course of study.
Students must make a good-faith effort to locate employment on campus prior to making application for off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship.
Students are expected to complete the equivalent of 2 semesters to be eligible for off-campus employment based on severe economic hardship.
Additional questions may be addressed to International Student Services at isa2@troy.edu.
You are limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session. You can work full-time (more than 20 hours) during official school breaks.
No approval is needed, but you must let International Student Services know about employment on campus.
You may not continue employment after completion of studies unless approved for OPT or beginning a new program of study.
Transferring to another school or falling out of status ends employment immediately.
Additional questions may be addressed to International Student Services.