International Students and Scholars Services

Documents and policies international students and scholars need to travel within the United States and oversees during their program.

How to extend your F-1/J-1 immigration status to complete your program.

Are you currently in F-1 status and the recipient of an approved H-1B petition?If so, congratulations on your change of status!Please review the following information about completing your reporting requirements and ending the F-1 status:

If you are in the United States in a valid immigration status, you may be eligible to change your status to become a student or scholar at the University of Maryland.

You have been offered an appointment as a Research Scholar or Professor within a department of the University of Maryland College Park. The J-1 visa is the most commonly used visa for post-doctoral researchers and non-tenured teaching positions.In order to change your status to J-1 within the United States, please refer to the procedures information below. This process is dependent on your current immigration status. Please consult with an ISSS advisor before deciding to change status in the U.S.PROCEDURES

As stated in the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations, F-1 students wishing to participate in an off-campus training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum must first obtain work authorization known as CPT. The training is defined as an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education, or any other type of required internship or practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school, and must be in the student's major field of study.

In some instances, if there is a location that is affiliated (a Memorandum of Understanding exists) with the University of Maryland, College Park, on-campus employment at an off-campus location work authorization may be used.

On-campus employment primarily means positions paid by the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) and conducted on campus. Employment with outside organizations which are physically located on campus may be considered on-campus employment only if they provide direct services to students (such as the bookstore or dining services). Employment with an outside contractor which does not provide services to students is considered off-campus employment.