The Department of Education (ED) recently blogged about tips to counter the “summer slide,” a time when students sometimes experience a learning loss between terms. Ideas include volunteering, discussing finances or working on your resume. Summer vacations are perfect for relaxing but also are a good time to remind yourself how to maintain status, not only during summer break, but during every school term.

To maintain your student status, you must:

• Enroll in a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school.
• Enter the United States no more than 30 days before your program begins.
• Contact your designated school official (DSO) when you enter the United States and when you arrive at your school.
• Attend and pass your classes.
• Enroll in a full course of study.
• Not drop any classes without speaking to your DSO first.
• Only begin employment with the required authorization from your DSO and USCIS, as applicable.

If you travel home during summer vacation, remember the following when you return to the United States:You should hand-carry important documents like your Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility of Nonimmigrant Student Status,"

• You should hand-carry important documents like your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility of Nonimmigrant Student Status,”
  and passport.
•  When you arrive at the port of entry, you will present these documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials.
• If your information is incorrect or incomplete, you may be directed to secondary inspection and may receive a Form I-515A, "Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor." If you receive a Form I-515A, you have 30 days to submit your missing information to SEVP. Your DSO can help you comply.

If you ever have questions about how to maintain your status, talk to your DSO.