• The I-20 is technically called the "Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status". This title is listed in small letters at the top of your I-20.
• This is a document which is issued by the Office of Admissions at RPI. It certifies that RPI has admitted you to the institution, states your program of study and the length of your program, provides information about the financial documentation you showed, and much more.
• You should keep all of your I-20s forever. You never know when you will be asked to provide a copy and your institution is only required to maintain documents for a certain period of time.
• To learn more about what you can do with the I-20, see this link from Study in the States

You should contact ISSS as soon as this happens to get guidance on what you should do. Please do not wait until the next time you need your I-20 to request a new one.

Keep copies of all previous I-20s for ever and ever and ever! You may be asked to provide a copy or original in the future

• Your F-1 visa is a sticker put into your passport after you attend an interview at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy outside the U.S. and are approved to seek entry into the U.S.
• The sticker is what you will show the Custom and Border Protection (CBP) agent at the border when you enter, along with your I-20, to indicate you are here to study as a F-1 student.
• You can only obtain a F-1 visa outside of the U.S.. The purpose of the F-1 visa is to permit you to enter the U.S.

• If you are inside the U.S. and your F-1 visa has expired, that is okay. You can remain in the U.S. with an expired visa.
• The purpose of your F-1 visa is to let you enter the U.S., and if you are already here you do not need to be permitted to enter the U.S. If you travel outside of the U.S., you must have an unexpired visa to enter the U.S.

• Your I-94 Record is formally known as the Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record". It shows the terms of your admission to the U.S.
• If you enter the U.S. via an air or sea port of entry, you will be issued an electronic document which you can access online. If you enter the U.S. via a land port of entry, you will be issued a paper I-94 in your passport (and do not remove it).
• The I-94 Record proves your legal F-1 status in the U.S., so it is important for you to check it every time after you enter the U.S., especially if you hold another visa in your passport, so that if something is wrong you can get it fixed immediately. Your I-94 record is only updated after you have entered the U.S..
• For more information about your I-94, see this link from Study in the States

• If you entered via an air or sea port of entry, you can access your Most Recent I-94 Record online from the Customs and Border Protection website.
• You will need your passport information to access the document.
• Please check to make sure that your Class of Admission lists F1 and the Admit Until Date lists D/S. If anything else is listed, contact ISSS immediately.

If there is incorrect information on your Most Recent I-94 Record or your Travel History, please save the document and email it to ISSS along with your RIN and explain what was incorrect for us to provide you with guidance.

• The DS-2019 is technically called the "Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status". This title is listed in capital letters at the top of your DS-2019. This is a document which is issued by International Services for Students and Scholars at RPI, except when issued for Exchange Students by the Office of International Programs.
• The DS-2019 identifies you, your designated sponsor and provides information about your program and category as an exchange visitor. You should keep all of your DS-2019s forever. RPI only keeps immigration documents for three years after completion of your program.
• To see a detailed description of the DS-2019, see this link from the Department of State: https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/about-ds-2019/detailed-description-of-the-ds-2019/

• You should contact ISSS as soon as this happens to get guidance on what you should do. Please do not wait until the next time you need your DS-2019 to request a new one.

• If you lose your passport, you need to immediately contact the Consulate/Embassy for your country of citizenship to report it is lost and to get instructions on how to apply for a new passport. If your passport is stolen, please notify the local authorities and file a police report, then immediately contact the Consulate/Embassy for your country of citizenship to report it is lost and to get instructions on how to apply for a new passport.
• Your passport does not impact your I-20, so you do not need to report to ISSS if you receive a new passport.

• Your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months into the future at all times as a part of maintaining your F-1 status.
• You can renew your passport inside of the U.S.. For guidance on how to do this, contact the Consulate/Embassy for your country of citizenship to get instructions on how to apply for a new passport.

You may want to get an official document from New York State to carry with you in the Troy area instead of your passport. The document is issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV, or DMV).

Non-citizens are able to apply for a New York driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card.

• See this website from the DMV to learn about options for non-citizens: https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/resources-non-us-citizens.
• Note that you may only get one of the three documents at one time: driver license, permit, or non-driver ID card
• You may exchange one document for another by following the DMV processes (such as getting a non-driver ID card and then deciding to get your learner's permit so you can eventually get a driver license)

"You can drive in New York State with a valid driver license from another country. You do not need to apply for a New York State driver license unless you become a New York State resident.

To get a New York State driver license, you must pass a written test, complete a 5-hour pre-licensing course and pass a road test.

When you pass your road test, you must give your foreign driver license to the DMV road test examiner.  The local DMV office will destroy your foreign driver license."

- From the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYS DMV) website: https://dmv.ny.gov/more-info/resources-non-us-citizens