CBP - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection became the nation’s first comprehensive border security agency with a focus on maintaining the integrity of the nation’s boundaries and ports of entry.
CPT – Curricular Practical Training is employment authorization available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least one full academic year. CPT employment must be “an integral part of an established curriculum” and must be enrolled in a required internship course. Please review the CPT Information Guide in order to learn more about the additional CPT requirements and off campus employment authorization based on your F-1 status.
D/S - Duration of Status which defines a certain amount of time to arrive in the country, complete your studies and return to your home country.
DHS - The US Department of Homeland Security established in 2002, combining 22 different federal departments and agencies into a unified, integrated Cabinet agency. ICE, USCIS, CBP, and SEVP are part of this department.
DOS - The US Department of State's mission is to protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values and shape an international environment in which all Americans can thrive. The Bureau of Consular Affairs is under this department which helps foreign nationals connect with the United States by issuing visas to qualified visitors, workers, and immigrants.
DSO —Designated School Official is a regularly-employed member of the school administration designated by the head of a Student and Exchange Visitor Program-certified school to provide recommendations to F students enrolled at the school regarding maintenance of nonimmigrant status, and to support timely and complete record keeping and reporting to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
F-1 status —The F-1 is a non-immigrant status that allows foreign students to pursue academic studies at an SEVP-certified institution. This student status has many requirements including full time enrollment.
I-20 —The Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status" – is a United States Department of Homeland Security document issued by an SEVP certified academic institution. This document is needed to apply for a student visa to enter the US and apply for benefits. The I-20 provides the length of time to arrive in the US, complete your studies and return to your home country. Here is more information on Students and the Form I-20. Download a sample of the Form I-20.
I-94 —The Form I-94 is an admission record denoting the Arrival-Departure Record of particular foreigners which is provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Form I-94 is considered a lawful record of admission and must be completed at the time of entry to the United States. International students who have Form I-20's should be sure to be admitted into the US in F-1 D/S.
ICE —U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that enforces the nation’s immigration and customs laws.
IRS —The Internal Revenue Service is the US government agency responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement.
ISS — The International Student Services office at Sarah Lawrence College.
OPT —Optional Practical Training is a form of employment authorization that permits F-1 status students to work for a period of one year. They can apply for Pre-completion OPT or Post-completion OPT. Review this link to learn more about this type of employment authorization.
SEVIS —the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) tracks and monitors schools and programs, students, exchange visitors, and their dependents throughout the duration of approved participation within the U.S. education system.
SEVP — The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is the web-based system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to maintain information on Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools, F-1 students who come to the United States to attend those schools, U.S. Department of State-designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsors and J-1 visa Exchange Visitor Program participants.
VISA - A visa (stamp found in the passport) only allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. Also, your visa expiration date does not determine your permitted length of stay in the United States.
USCIS —U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States and part of the US Department of Homeland Security.