Fall 2023 FAQs for Continuing Students

If you plan to leave and re-enter the United States, be sure to review Re-entry to the U.S. and COVID-19 Policies and Recommendations: Pre- and Post- Arrival Information.

This FAQ applies to continuing students only. If you are a new student and have not yet entered the United States, please refer to the FAQs for Newly Admitted Students. The FAQs for Newly Admitted Students also apply if you are transferring to U-M after attending an institution located in the U.S. or changing to a new academic level at U-M.

 

Immigration Status

As a current, continuing F-1 or J-1 student, can I take all remote classes, or must I take a mixture of in-person, mixed and remote classes?

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program SEVP) has announced that beginning with Fall Term 2023, pre-pandemic enrollment requirements will once again be in effect. This means that F-1/J-1 students will not be able to count more than three online credits towards their full-time enrollment requirement. Your other courses must be in-person or hybrid.

If I move to a new U.S. address, even temporarily, do I need to report it within 10 days? How do I report it?

Yes, you need to report any change of residential address in the U.S. – even a temporary one -within 10 days of the change. Be sure to change it again when you move back into your regular residence. Follow our guidelines for updating your address, and please remember that your “SEVIS” address needs to remain a U.S. address.

 

Health Insurance

Will the mandatory U-M International Health Insurance plan cover COVID-19 testing and treatment?

Yes. The International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan covers COVID-19 testing and treatment. GradCare also covers COVID-19 testing and treatment. Please review Health Insurance and COVID-19 Insurance Information for International Students and Scholars for details. If you still have questions, contact the International Center’s Health Insurance Advisor.

 

Travel and Visas

If I plan to leave the U.S. during the Fall Term and need a new travel signature in order to return, what should I do?

F-1 students: Go to M-Passport > Requests > Travel Signature and submit your request. Check your Requests page to see when your request has been completed. You will then be able to download your signed I-20 with your travel signature.

J-1 students: To request a replacement DS-2019, go to M-Passport > Requests > DS-2019 Reprint or Travel Signature. and submit your request.

My visa has expired, or will expire before I plan to return to the U.S. If I leave the U.S. now, will I need a new visa, or can I re-enter on an expired visa?

If you leave or have left the U.S. and your visa will expire by the date you wish to re-enter the U.S., then you will need to obtain a new visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate before you can re-enter the U.S. (Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter the U.S.).

Local conditions and restrictions at U.S. embassies and consulates continue to impact availability of visa appointments. Check with the U.S. embassy or consulate nearest you for more information.

If you will be travelling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands, please contact the International Center to see if you are eligible to return to the U.S. with automatic visa revalidation.

If I need to renew my F-1 or J-1 visa, will an in-person visa interview be required?

The Department of State’s Important Announcement on Waivers of the Interview Requirement for Certain Nonimmigrant Visas explains situations in which a visa interview may not be required. If you need to renew your visa to re-enter the U.S., check the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you plan to apply for your visa for detailed information on what services are currently available as well as for eligibility information and instructions on applying for a visa without an interview.

 

Employment

I have an on-campus job. May I continue that work remotely elsewhere in the U.S. or from outside the U.S.?

Your on-campus employer must obtain U-M permission for you to work remotely. In many cases, permission to work outside the United States is not granted.

I need to apply for OPT (Optional Practical Training). Can I do this from elsewhere in the U.S.? Can I do it from outside the U.S.?

You must be physically present in the U.S. at the time you submit your OPT application to USCIS. The International Center will continue to process OPT requests as we receive them. If you are interested in applying for OPT, review the OPT information on the International Center website.

Can I leave the U.S. and return home after I mail my OPT application to USCIS? Will I be allowed to re-enter the U.S. to start working once my application is approved?

Yes, you can leave the U.S. when an OPT application is pending with USCIS, but there has always been an element of risk in doing so. The basic risk factor is that if you receive correspondence from USCIS in the mail, such as a Request for Evidence (RFE), you would not be there to respond.

In the best-case scenario, if your application is approved without any issues, your EAD will be delivered to a valid U.S. address (see the OPT online course for more information). USCIS will not send your EAD to an address outside the U.S. You will need to arrange for someone to send you the EAD because you should have it with you when you re-enter the U.S. Please be aware that you are still considered to be an F-1 student while on OPT, and you will need to have valid travel documents with you when you re-enter the U.S.

I am a J-1 student, are there any changes to Academic Training I should be aware of?

The Department of State has announced a temporary special J-1 STEM Extension of Academic Training (AT) for Bachelor’s/Master’s STEM graduates whose degree code in the Subject/Field Code section of Form DS-2019 is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List. This J-1 STEM AT extension is available for a total of 36 months or for a period equal to the length of the study program, whichever is shorter.  The International Center must request approval for the extension directly from the U.S. Department of State. The special extension only applies to degree programs ending by December 21, 2024.

 

Taxes and Social Security

How do I apply for my Social Security Number?

Follow the instructions at Applying for a Social Security Number and Card. You should plan to apply for your SSN as soon as possible after you receive a job offer. However, since you do not need an SSN to begin working, a delay in obtaining your SSN should not affect your employment start date.

I have questions about U.S. taxes.

For the 2023 tax year, the filing deadline for both federal and state tax forms is April 15, 2024. The International Center’s Tax Assistance page links to webinar records and handouts . The Glacier Tax Prep software for the 2023 tax year will be available in early February.

Reminder: International Center staff are not tax experts. The tax information on our website does not substitute for advice from a qualified tax professional or the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Last Updated: 05/15/2023