The Office of Multicultural and International Affairs is located in Westlands on the second floor.

A DSO is a Designated Student Officer who is responsible for international student documentation and advisement of international students.

You must gain admission to a full-time program at Sarah Lawrence College that leads to an educational objective. You must also have sufficient financial resources to pay for your tuition, fees, and living expenses while at College. If you need financial assistance, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions office.

An F-1 student is someone who is in the U.S. to pursue a full time academic or language program. J-1 students/scholars are typically studying under the auspices of a foreign exchange program. J-1 students are usually sponsored by their home government, a U.S. government agency, or by other organizations that require J-1 sponsorship. They are often placed under a “two-year home residency requirement” which requires the J-1 visitor to return to his or her home country for two years before becoming eligible to pursue long term employment or residency options, including permanent residency, in the U.S.

Effective April 12, 2002, new immigration regulations explicitly prohibit individuals in the U.S. as B-1 visitors for business, B-2 visitors for pleasure, or B-2 “prospective students” from engaging in study of any kind, except for short term, casual study such as a single English class or a crafts class. Full-time study, or study that is focused toward a degree or vocational objective, is not permitted. Individuals who enter on a “visa waiver” are prohibited from study of any kind. If you are in the United States as a tourist, you should return to your home country and apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad.

I applied for my visa and was denied. Can you provide any assistance?

Keep in mind that the U.S government regards F-1 and J-1 visas as nonimmigrant visas. This means that you must show that you have a residence abroad that you do not intend to abandon--i.e., that you have continuing family, educational, vocational, or related ties to your home country. Failure to show such ties may lead to a denial of your visa application on the basis of “immigrant intent.” If you receive a denial, you should request a letter in writing. Unfortunately, our office is unable to assist with denials as we cannot certify your future plans or intentions. If your visa is denied for reasons other than immigrant intent, please contact our office for assistance.

What should I do if I left the U.S. without getting a valid travel signature?

You should send your most recent 1-20 or DS-2019 (IAP-66) to the Multicultural Office and International Affairs or to a DSO on campus, (see welcome information for details) along with copies of your passport and visa, and a brief letter requesting a travel signature. The Dean or DSO will sign your document and send it back to you. We recommend you use FedEx or DHL mail.

How do I request a travel signature?

To request a travel signature, bring your current I-20 or DS-2019 along with your passport and I-94 card to the Office of Multicultural and International Affairs or to the DSO in the Graduate Office at least three days before you plan to travel. It may be necessary to leave your visa document then pick it up the next day.

It takes one business day for the Office of Multicultural and International Affairs to issue a travel authorization signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 (IAP-66). DSO’s in other offices are also available to sign your documents.

The travel signature on the back of your I-20 or DS-2019(IAP-66) should be no older than 12 months when you re-enter the U.S. from abroad. If you are re-entering the U.S from Canada, Mexico or contiguous territories the travel signature should be no older than 6 months. Travel signatures from the Office of Multicultural and International Affairs are valid for multiple entries to the U.S. during the 12 or 6 month periods, so it is only necessary to get a new signature when your current signature has expired.

You may renew your visa by going to a US consulate in you home country.

Appointments are required by many of the US Consulates abroad. For most nationalities, it is also possible to apply for a new visa at a US Consulate in another country, such as Canada. However, if your visa is denied for any reason, you will not be allowed back in the US, and will have to return to your home country to reapply for a visa. In addition, some US Consulates will not handle third party nationals, so it is wise to contact the appropriate Consulate before your trip.

You do not need a valid visa to legally reside in the US. However, you do need a valid visa to enter the US from abroad, unless you are entering from Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands (except Cuba) after a stay in these countries of less than thirty days. Please note that nationals from states sponsoring terrorism as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, must have a valid visa, even if returning from these contiguous territories. The adjacent islands include the following: The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Trinidad and Tobago, The Leeward islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Nevis, St. Kitts and the British Virgin Islands), The Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St.Lucia and St. Vincent) and other British, French or Dutch territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea. (Please note that relationships to these countries may change. It is important to check the USCIS website for updates).

May I work on campus?

Yes. Students are allowed to work anywhere on campus for a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session, and full-time while classes are not in session, such as summer and winter breaks. It is recommended that students work 10 hours per week.

Not without special work permission, which you can apply for. The most common types of off campus work permission for F-1 students are OPT (Optional Practical Training) and CPT (Curricula Practical Training). To qualify for either one you must have been a full-time student for at least nine months.

On campus, call the emergency number at 393-2222 or Westland’s desk at 914-395-2209. You may use the last four digits to call from a campus phone. The on-call Student Affairs staff person and or a member of the Sarah Lawrence Security staff will respond.

Off campus call 9-1-1 for local police.

I need a Social Security number. How do I get one?

F-1 students are permitted to apply for a Social Security Number provided they have a job offer from Sarah Lawrence College. A social Security Number is intended for individuals who will work in the United States and cannot be issued simply for identification purposes.

To open a bank account, take your passport, I-20, Sarah Lawrence ID, letter of enrollment in addition to a check or money order to be deposited. See banking options open to International Students for a list of banks near Sarah Lawrence College. Sarah Lawrence College also provides a banking options table with some bank representatives during orientation.

Am I eligible for CPT?

You may be eligible if you have been a full-time F-1 student for at least nine months and your degree program consists of a work/study, internship, or cooperative education program. You may be eligible if the employment is necessary for your thesis or dissertation research, or is part of your rotationals required for program completion, e.g. Human Genetics Graduate Program.

Since it can take up to three months to receive approval from the Office of Homeland Security for your OPT card. We recommend that you apply at least three months before you want to begin working or before your graduation date, whichever comes first.

No, but you may begin be actively searching for a position. However, many companies require proof of your ability to work before they will consider you for a position.

Yes, you may work for more than one employer and or/change your employers during the period of authorized optional practical training provided that each position is directly related to your field of study and commensurate with your educational level.

May I travel during my period of Optional Practical Training?

Yes. In order to re-enter the United States, you must present the following at the border: a valid passport, a valid visa, your OPT authorization card, and an I-20 with a valid travel signature. It may be helpful for you to carry a “job offer letter” with you if you are questioned by the interviewing Homeland Security Officer. Please note: while you are engaged in OPT, travel signatures are valid for only six months.

For information about your personal account you will need the bank’s name, address, phone number, your account number and a bank routing number. (See Banking Information in the “Welcome” for additional details).

You may also send and receive money by wire transfer through one of the following:

Western Union: www.westernunion.com

Money Gram: www.moneygram.com

Vigo: www.vigousa.com

Credit card companies generally require a social security number to run a credit check. The following are credit card companies willing to process applications without a social security number: Please note that card approval is not automatic. Applications are judged on a case by case basis.

American Express-www.americanexpress.com or call 1-877-621-2639 for “Blue Card for Students”

MBNA-www.mbna.com

A driver’s license is required to operate an automobile anywhere in the U.S. Drivers are required to obtain a license in the state they reside in, even if they have another state license. New York honors all foreign licenses. The law will honor a valid driver’s license issued by any other nation to a resident of that nation. You should not apply for a New York driver’s license unless you become a resident of New York State. Students from other states or other nations are not normally considered residents of New York State.

All international individuals, including Canadian and Mexican citizens as of September 2006 must obtain a student visa as part of your passport before traveling to the United States to study at Sarah Lawrence College. Canadian and Mexican citizens may not need to go the consulate to get a visa; they can be accessed at the border. If you intend to enter the U.S. from Canada to pursue full-time studies at Sarah Lawrence College, you need an I-20, copies of your financial documents and admission letter, and must specifically request F-1 status. Upon entry, you should be given an I-94 departure card stamped and marked F-1 D/S. Failure to obtain an I-94 card from an immigration inspector is tantamount to entering the U.S. as a tourist. Since tourists are not eligible to study or to work in the U.S., it is essential that you obtain an I-94 card upon entering the U.S showing that you have been granted F-1 student status.

The Sarah Lawrence mailroom sells postage stamps and handles all kinds of mail services, including international mail, mailing and receiving packages. The mailroom is centrally located on the side of Bates hall.

Where can I shop for general goods in town?

An international students shopping trip is available in early September for those wishing to purchase items. A sign-up sheet will be posted for your convenience. Other information regarding stores, restaurants, etc. is also available in the bulletin “Where to go in Westchester.”

All international students in the U.S. are required to file their taxes with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), whether you are employed or not.

Am I required to maintain a health insurance plan?

International students at Sarah Lawrence College must carry health insurance for the duration of their full-time academic program.

J-1 visa holders are required by the US Department of State to carry health insurance, or be deemed out of legal status. The insurance provider will give you an identification card to use as proof of your coverage when you are seeking health care from a hospital, medical facility or a doctor.

How can I purchase airline tickets?

There are many web sites you can visit to reserve airline tickets, as well as hotels, rental cars, etc. for travel in the U.S. or internationally. Here are a few commonly used by students:

Cheap tickets: www.cheaptickets.com

Expedia: www.expedia.com

Orbitz: www.orbitz.com

Travelocity: www.travelocity.com

Have a DSO sign the travel page of your current I-20 or DS-2019. Request a letter of good standing from a DSO. If you will need to renew your visa at home, request an academic transcript.