Under U.S. immigration regulations, the primary responsibility for understanding and following U.S. immigration rules is placed on the individual student. This means that each student is expected to know and follow all important rules and regulations. 

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is here to help you to understand what you need to do, but following these recommendations will help you to meet your requirements:

• Read through all emails and documents carefully: Read through any emails from ISSS or Brown as well as your official documents (including your I-20 or DS-2019) carefully, as they contain important information that you're responsible for understanding and following.
• Don't hesitate to ask questions: Contact ISSS if you have any questions about your visa, international travel, working in the U.S., and other rules essential for immigration safety. ISSS is responsible for providing accurate information and advice, but we rely on you to ask questions!
• Be proactive and think ahead: If you are planning to work or travel, or are thinking about changes to your educational program, contact us well in advance. Waiting until the last minute will mean fewer options, if any.
• Use our website: Our website is always being updated to provide the most recent immigration information. If there is anything missing from our website that you believe would be helpful, let us know by writing to isss@brown.edu.
• Read our emails: While everyone receives too much email, be sure to read our messages when you receive them. They may contain important information or alerts regarding your immigration status.
• Attend our workshops, webinars and events: When special workshops or webinars happen, we'll notify you (usually by email). You can also look on our Events calendar for upcoming events.

Student visas (like the F-1 and J-1 visa) are non-immigrant visas. This means that by coming to the U.S., you are supposed to be pursuing a specific and temporary goal (e.g., a degree or other educational objective) while maintaining continued ties to your home country. 

If a visa or border officer believes you have “immigrant intent" (i.e., you plan to remain in the U.S. for a long period of time, even permanently), your visa and/or entry into the U.S. may be denied. In order to overcome the possibility of immigrant intent, you must be able to show continued ties to your home country, such as family connections, property, long-term career plans or commitments, frequent return travel home, or other similar indicators.

While students who are just starting their educational careers in the U.S. may not have significant evidence to show home country ties, they should still be aware that F-1 and J-1 visas are non-immigrant visas and any sign that they may stay in the U.S. beyond their studies could be interpreted as evidence of immigrant intent.

International students are required to have adequate resources throughout their programs to cover tuition, fees, and everyday living expenses for themselves (and their dependents). There are different reasons for this:

• Being able to show that you have sufficient financial resources and a realistic plan to pay for your education is critical to the success of your visa application. You may be denied your visa if the visa officer does not believe you will be able to pay for your education.
• Without adequate financial planning, you may experience economic hardship that will impact your ability to study and to complete your program on time. Inadequate funding may lead to temporary interruptions to your studies and require your departure from the U.S. until additional funding can be secured.
• Obtaining additional financial resources through unauthorized employment or becoming a “public charge” (i.e., using certain types of U.S. government or state benefits) to help you with your educational causes may have serious immigration consequences.

It is critical when making the choice to come to the U.S. to plan your finances carefully. While students may be supported through different means - including personal or family savings, loans, Brown financial aid, fellowships and scholarships, etc. - it is up to each student and their family to develop a strategy so that you can start and complete your program successfully, without having to worry about interruptions to your studies.

F-1 and J-1 students are required to enroll full-time each semester (excluding summer vacations) and make full-time progress toward their degree objective. While part-time study is permitted in very specific situations (such as when a student has a medical condition), F-1 and J-1 students are expected to study full-time and make normal progress toward their degree.

Other objectives, such as work, are considered secondary, unless your academic program requires internship or work experience as a part of the degree.

Any student who is not able to enroll full-time and/or make full-time progress toward finishing their program should discuss their situation with their academic department and with an ISSS advisor.

While in the U.S., F-1 and J-1 students must follow rules that are specific to their visa (click on the links below). In addition, students should also comply with other U.S. and state laws, such as those concerning driving, drug use, taxes, and more. Failure to follow both the visa rules and other laws and regulations can have serious impacts on student visa status.

• Read for more information about F-1 student visa requirements
• Read for more information about J-1 student visa requirements