Designated school officials (DSO) are school employees dedicated to helping F and M students at their school maintain nonimmigrant status for the duration of their program. Ask a DSO is a series of articles with advice to help prepare F and M students for different situations they may encounter.

An F or M student must have the various documents (i.e., forms) issued by the U.S. government or the school where you are enrolled which show you are studying legally in the United States. It is important to keep these documents in a safe place. If you lose one of these important forms, contact your DSO immediately. Your DSO can advise you how to replace it quickly to maintain your student status. Key forms include the following:

• Form I-20 – If you lose your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” or your dependents (accompanying spouse or minor children) lose theirs, your DSO can provide replacements.
• Form I-94 – If your paper Form I-94, “Arrival Departure Record” is lost or stolen, you must replace it immediately. You must also file a police report and tell your DSO if this happens. To replace the Form I-94, you will need to file a Form I-102, “Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document,” with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and pay the associated filing fee.
• Passport – You must immediately replace a lost or stolen passport. It is your primary legal proof of your identity. You will need a valid passport to leave the United States and enter another country. Report the loss or theft of your passport to the nearest embassy or consulate for your country. Those officials can give you information on how you can replace it. If someone stole your passport, you should file a police report and tell your DSO.
• Visa –If you lose your student visa, which is inside your passport, you can still remain in the United States to study until the date listed on your Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record.” You only need a visa when entering the United States. However, you must report your lost visa to the issuing embassy or consulate. You cannot replace it while you are in the United States, so if you travel home for a break, you must re-apply for a new visa at the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate to re-enter the United States. You may not be readmitted to the United States with a lost or expired visa.

As a precaution, after you are issued forms and have confirmed that they are correct, it is also a good idea to make copies of them and keep them in a safe place in case they are ever lost or stolen. When traveling, always hand-carry your documents; never place them in your checked luggage.