Travel Tuesday: Know What to do After Receiving the Form I-515A
December 30, 2014
In this week’s Travel Tuesday post, we provide you with tips for what to do if you receive a Form I-515A upon your return to the United States.
Upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry, you must present certain documents to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. These include a signed Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” a valid passport and proof of financial support. If you did not hand-carry these documents with you, or if they are incomplete or inaccurate, the CBP officer may deny you entry to the United States. As an alternative, the CBP officer may issue you a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor,” that will allow you to temporarily enter the United States for 30 days to provide the proper paperwork.
You can validate your stay in the United States by sending the required documents below to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) within the period of temporary entry listed on your Form I-515A. If you received a Form I-515A, here are the steps to follow:
- Contact your designated school official (DSO) and explain the issue;
- Complete the Form I-515A;
- Provide the original Form I-20, signed by an official at your school;
- Provide Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” that was issued at the port of entry; and
- Submit all the documents to SEVP by the required date.
Work with your DSO to mail the required documents to this address:
Student and Exchange Visitor Program
DHS/ICE
ATTN: SEVIS/I-515A Processing Team
500 12th Street SW STOP 5600
Washington, DC 20536-5600
If you fail to complete and send all necessary documents to SEVP within 30 days, your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will need to depart the United States immediately. It is important to work with your DSO throughout this process.
Missed a previous Travel Tuesday post? Check out the Study in the States blog for advice on how to maintain your status during the holiday season. Have international student travel tips? Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter using #TravelTuesday.