INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISING

Megan Ward, Senior Academic Advisor/International Student Advisor

Email: mfanouth@aii.edu
Phone: ( Inside US ) : (800) 351-3450 x8621
Phone: ( Outside US ) : (312)-777-8621

WELCOME to The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago! We are pleased to welcome you into our international student community of aspiring artist and designers.

The International Student Advisor looks forward to serving you in a variety of ways. The services that the advisor provides are as follows:

Personalized advising to assist students one-on-one with issues related to compliance with United States immigration laws;
New student orientation programs to assist students in adjusting to life in the United States;
Social programming;
Counseling with emphasis on cultural diversity and sensitivity;
Academic advising designed with international student issues in mind.

Maintaining Lawful F-1 Status

Responsibilities of International Students - Rules for Maintaining Visa Status

Click Here for Document

top

Important Immigration and Visa Documents

Passport

Your passport can be renewed through the embassy or consulate of your home country that is here in the United States. For more information, please refer to the following website: http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/
Immigration regulations state that you are responsible for keeping your passport valid at all times while in the United States.

Visa

The visa is a stamped endorsement made in your passport by an American consulate or embassy in your home country. The visa indicates that all requirements have been met for entry into the United States. The number of entries allowed within a specific period is indicated on the visa stamp and can vary from country to country. A valid visa is essential for entering and re-entering the U.S. (except for Canadian citizens who do not require a valid visa); however it does not determine the length of time that you may stay in the United States.Please refer to your I-94 arrival/departure record for the date you are required to depart the United States.

I-94 Arrival/Departure Card

This index-card sized document is usually stapled to the visa page in your passport by an immigration inspector at a port of entry to the United States. This card records the length of time that you are authorized to stay in the United States. For F-1 visa holders, the I-94 is usually marked "D/S," which stands for "duration of status." This means that you have permission to remain in the United States for the length of your academic program as long as you are fully engaged in and maintaining valid F-1 status. These requirements can be found under the “maintenance of status” section of the handbook or you can receive further clarification from your International Student Advisor at the Institute

top