Failing to comply with immigration regulations will result in losing student status.
Any student out of immigration status loses all student visa status benefits, such as on-campus employment. Deportation is also possible.
Applying for reinstatement is time-consuming, costly, and risky.
Because this is a very serious matter, a student who falls out of status must be sure to make an appointment with International Advising immediately. An advisor will explain how to be reinstated to F-1 through application to the USCIS or re-entry to the U.S.
- Applying for reinstatement through the USCIS must be done as soon as possible and no later than five months after the status violation.
- Apply for reinstatement early to make approval more likely.
- While applying for reinstatement, all tuition fees must be paid, and you must be enrolled in classes full-time.
Required Documentation
The following documentation is required to receive a Form I-20 for reinstatement:
- The UNO financial affidavit form completed by the student and sponsor.
- Supporting financial documentation showing funding for at least one academic year. Bank documents must have a recent date and can be original or a photocopy.
Submitting Your Documentation
When you receive your updated Form I-20, submit Form I-539 and the required documentation to USCIS.
Please note that approval is not guaranteed.
View current processing times for USCIS reinstatement applications.
Approval
If your reinstatement application is approved, you will be back in F-1 legal status with F-1 benefits upon receiving an approval notice from the local USCIS office.
Denial
If your reinstatement is denied:
- The visa used to enter the U.S. is automatically canceled.
- You are permanently limited to applying for non-immigrant visas in the future in your country of citizenship or permanent residency.
- You will begin to accumulate days of "unlawful presence." If you remain in the U.S. after the denial for more than 180 days, you will be barred from returning for three years.
- If you remain in the U.S. after the denial for one year or more, you will be barred from returning for 10 years.