FAQ for F/M Nonimmigrant Students Impacted by Hurricane Katrina

Updated 9/8/2005

If you are a J-1 exchange visitor contact your program directly. The following guidance may not be suitable for you. Your program will assist you.

If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, follow the directions in this FAQ if you are not able to contact your school.

This FAQ will be updated regularly as we are able to answer more questions. Please contact us at SEVIS.source@DHS.gov or at (202) 305-2346 if you have any questions we have not addressed.

1. I HAVE NOT YET ENTERED THE UNITED STATES. MY SCHOOL IS IN THE AREA IMPACTED BY THE HURRICANE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

2. I DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE OR MONEY? WHAT DO I DO?

3. IF MY SCHOOL WAS CLOSED, WHAT SHOULD I DO? [ Updated ]

3.1. Directions for students enrolled in schools that will be resuming operation for the Fall term

3.2. Directions for students enrolled in schools that will not be resuming operation for the Fall term

4. I AM A STUDENT AND I CANNOT CONTACT ANYBODY AT MY SCHOOL. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

5. I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT WILL ACCEPT ME. CAN I TRANSFER SCHOOLS?

6. I WANT TO FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT WILL ACCEPT ME. WHAT DO I DO?

7. I HAVE DECIDED I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO MY HOME COUNTRY AND POSSIBLY RETURN LATER. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

8. WILL I NEED A NEW VISA TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES?

9. HOW DO I GET MY TRANSCRIPT, RECORDS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM AN IMPACTED SCHOOL?

10. I LOST MY DOCUMENTATION. HOW CAN I REPLACE IT?

11. HOW DO I REPORT MY ADDRESS CHANGE IF I AM NOT AT MY SCHOOL?

12. HOW LONG CAN I REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES IF I AM NOT ENROLLED IN SCHOOL?

13. I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT AND WAS WORKING IN THE IMPACTED AREA. I NO LONGER HAVE A JOB, WHAT DO I DO?

1. I HAVE NOT YET ENTERED THE UNITED STATES. MY SCHOOL IS IN THE AREA IMPACTED BY THE HURRICANE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Try to contact the school directly. (Their Web site may be your best source of information.) We recommend that you delay travel until you can be sure that the school is operational.

New Students

If you are unable to contact your school prior to your report date (see block 5 of your Form I-20 if you are a new student), your school will assign you a new report date if they are operating. In this case, your school will also issue you a new Form I-20 that you must have before you travel.

If you wish to apply to another U.S. school, contact that school directly to obtain a new Form I-20. You will not need to repay the SEVIS I-901 fee but will need to obtain a new visa reflecting the Form I-20 that your new school sends you.

Continuing Students

If you cannot contact your current school (the one with your SEVIS record), please email SEVP at SEVIS.source@DHS.gov. Give us your name, date of birth, SEVIS ID number, and school information. Let us know if you wish to delay entry until the school is operational or if you wish to try to transfer to another school.

If you wish to transfer to another DHS approved school, you will need to contact that school directly. If the new school accepts you, they will work with SEVP to transfer your SEVIS records.

2. I DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE OR MONEY? WHAT DO I DO?

The Web site at http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml has links to government and relief agencies in the affected areas. After you get settled, please contact your school. If you cannot contact your school, contact SEVP at sevis.source@dhs.gov or at (202) 305-2346.

3. IF MY SCHOOL WAS CLOSED, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Check the list of schools below for your school and follow the instructions that they have given us for you. If your school is not on the list, call the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at (202) 305-2346.

The list contains all DHS approved schools in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. It contains the information we have about whether or not the school is operating normally.

If we have been in contact with the school, there is a yes under either Fully Operational or Not Operational, depending on the situation. If neither of these two columns has a yes, we have not been able to contact the PDSO via e-mail.

Some schools have indicated they will accept displaced F-1 students. We have also included information from DHS approved schools that have contacted us offering to accept displaced students.

The comments contain information we have been given by the school or may contain a Web site address and information from that site. Many Web sites update regularly. Our information may be dated. Please check the school’s web site when possible.

[We will continue to update this list. If you cannot contact your school, contact SEVP by phone or by email at SEVIS.source@DHS.gov.]

School	City	State	Operational		Fall Term	Accepts displaced students	Comments	As Of
School	City	State	Fully	Not	Fall Term	Accepts displaced students	Comments	As Of
Academy of the Sacred Heart	Grand Coteau	LA	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University	Normal	AL	Yes		Yes		"School has been impacted and had to close part of operations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Registration is extended. Students should contact Antonio Boyle 1-256-372-5248 or 1-800-553-0816"	9/7/2005
"Alabama Alliance for Christian Education, Inc."	Decatur	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Alabama State University	Montgomery	AL	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
Alcorn State University	Alcorn State	MS	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
All Saints' Episcopal School	Vicksburg	MS	Yes			Yes	www.allsaintsweb.com	9/7/2005
American Christian Academy	Tuscaloosa	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Archdiocese of Mobile - Catholic School System	Mobile	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Archdiocese of New Orleans	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
Archdiocese of New Orleans	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
Athens State University	Athens	AL	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
AUBURN UNIVERSITY	Auburn	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Auburn University Montgomery	Montgomery	AL	Yes			Yes		9/7/2005
Aveda Institute	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts	Jackson	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Bass Memorial Academy	Lumberton	MS						9/7/2005
Baton Rouge Community College	Baton Rouge	LA	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
Belhaven College	Jackson	MS	Yes		Yes	Yes	http://www.belhaven.edu/	9/7/2005
Bevill State Community College	Sumiton	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College	Birmingham	AL					See web site http://www.ecoleclassique.com/	9/7/2005
Birmingham Theological Seminary	Birmingham	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Birmingham-Southern College	Birmingham	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Bishop State Community College	Mobile	AL						9/7/2005
Blue Mountain College	BLUE MOUNTAIN	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Briarwood Christian School	Birmingham	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Bryman College	New Orleans	LA					http://www.bryman-college.com/about.php?schoolLocation=New%20Orleans	9/7/2005
Centenary College of Louisiana	Shreveport	LA						9/7/2005
Central Alabama Community College	Alexander City	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Central Park Christian School	Birmingham	AL						9/7/2005
Chamberlain-Hunt Academy	Port Gibson	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Chattahoochee Valley Community College	Phenix City	AL						9/7/2005
Christian Life Academy	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
Colorado School of English	Denver	CO	Yes		Yes	Yes	Please post this information for students displaced by Hurricane Katrina:	9/7/2005
							"Colorado School of English, located in downtown Denver, Colorado, is offering a discounted tuition rate to ESL students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. All other fees will be waived for these students. CSE enrolls new students every Monday making it possible to meet the 30-day transfer deadline for I-20 students. Homestay is readily available."
							Please contact laura@englishamerica.com or visit our web site
							at www.EnglishAmerica.com for more information.
							Laura Davis
							Director
							Colorado School of English
							"Denver, CO 80202"
							Tel: 720-932-8900
							Fax: 720-932-0315
Concordia College	Selma	AL						9/7/2005
Coosa Christian School	Gadsden	AL	Yes			Yes		9/7/2005
Copiah Lincoln Community College	Mendenhall	MS						9/7/2005
Copiah Lincoln Community College	Natchez	MS						9/7/2005
Copiah Lincoln Community College	Wesson	MS						9/7/2005
Delgado Community College	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
Delta State University	Cleveland	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Dillard University	New Orleans	LA		Yes			"Students and staff evacuated to Centenary College in Shreveport, LA. See the school Web site for instructions http://www.dillard.edu/"	9/7/2005
Diocese of Baton Rouge	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
Diocese of Birmingham Catholic Schools	Birmingham	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Douglas High School	Douglas	AL						9/7/2005
East Central Community College	Decatur	AL						9/7/2005
East Mississippi Community College	Scooba	MS						9/7/2005
Ecole Classique	Metairie	LA		Yes			Information from the Web site at http://www.ecoleclassique.com/	9/7/2005
							"We have not been able to get into town to see if any damage has occurred to Ecole Classique. Our plan as of today, 09/02/05, is to get to the campus next week, survey damage and begin to create a schedule, if possible, to get back to school. We will also be speaking with local police to see what we are able to do now and hopefully get a much more accurate timeline of events. Please keep checking the website for updates frequently. We hope you all stayed safe, we wish you luck and hope to see you back in school as soon as it is possible."
English Language Center	Mobile	AL						9/7/2005
Enterprise -Ozark Community College	Enterprise	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Episcopal High School	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
Episcopal School of Acadiana	Cade	LA						9/7/2005
Evangel Christian Academy	SHREVEPORT	LA						9/7/2005
Faulkner State Community College	Bay Minette	AL				Yes		9/7/2005
Faulkner University	Montgomery	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Gadsden State Community College	Gadsden	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Gadsden State Community College	Gadsden	AL						9/7/2005
Genesis One Christian School	Mendenhall	MS						9/7/2005
Grambling State University	Grambling	LA						9/7/2005
Hebron Christian School	PHEBA	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
Heritage Christian University	Florence	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Hinds Community College	Raymond	MS	Yes		Yes	Yes	Delayed registration. Now fully operational. Displaced students may contact Sharon Leggett (spleggett@hindscc.edu 601-857-3382) or Theresa Stevens in the Admissions Office on the Raymond Campus (tlstevens@hindscc.edu 601-857-3213) as soon as possible as registration will close soon.	9/7/2005
Huntingdon College	Montgomery	AL						9/7/2005
Huntsville City Board Of Education	Huntsville	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Indian Springs School	Indian Springs	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Itawamba Community College	Fulton	MS						9/7/2005
J. F. Drake State Technical College	Huntsville	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Jackson State University	Jackson	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Jacksonville State University	Jacksonville	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Jefferson State Community College	Birmingham	AL	Yes			Yes		9/7/2005
Jehovah-Jireh Christian Academy	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
John C. Calhoun State Community College	Decatur	AL						9/7/2005
John Curtis Christian School	River Ridge	LA						9/7/2005
Judson College	Marion	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
"Kaplan Test Prep, a division of Kaplan, Inc."	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
Lafayette Parish School System	Lafayette	LA						9/7/2005
Lawson State Community College	Birmingham	AL						9/7/2005
Lee-Scott Academy	Auburn	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Louisiana College	Pineville	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
Louisiana Community Technical College System	Bossier City	LA						9/7/2005
Louisiana State University	Shreveport	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
Louisiana State University and Agric. & Mechanical College	Baton Rouge	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
Louisiana State University at Alexandria	Alexandria	LA						9/7/2005
Louisiana State University at Eunice	Eunice	LA	Yes			Yes		9/7/2005
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center	New Orleans	LA					www.suhsc.edu	9/7/2005
Louisiana Tech University	Ruston	LA	Yes		Yes	Yes	UNO Students may attend after paying for UNO with no added charge. Classes start Sep. 12.	9/7/2005
							"Dan Erickson, Director"
							International Student Office
							Louisiana Tech University
							(318) 257-4321
Louisiana Technical College	Morgan City	LA						9/7/2005
Louisiana Technical College System	Metairie	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
Loyola College Prep	Shreveport	LA						9/7/2005
Loyola University New Orleans	New Orleans	LA		Yes			From the Loyala Web Site at http://www.loyno.edu/international.html:	9/7/2005
							Loyola is closed for the fall semester. Many of you may decide to return home for the semester or transfer to other schools. There is information about universities willing to accept Loyola students for the semester at the emergency website.
							"It is very important that you e-mail me your current situation, your plans and your current address even if you have already returned home. I do have access to SEVIS and can make the necessary notations to make sure that all of our international students do not have immigration problems because of this disaster. "
							Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you adjust to this tragic situation.
							"Stay safe, "
							Debbie Danna
							e-mail: debradanna@yahoo.com
							Messages can be left at 504-586-8570
							When the phones start working again my cell is 504-810-5231
							Emergency number: 469-547-0712
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College	Andalusia	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Lutheran High School	Metairie	LA						9/7/2005
Lyman Ward Military Academy	Camp Hill	AL						9/7/2005
Macon-East Montgomery Academy	Cecil	AL						9/7/2005
Madison Academy	Madison	AL						9/7/2005
Magnolia Bible College	Kosciusko	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
MARION MILITARY INSTITUTE	Marion	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Mars Hill Bible School	Florence	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
McNeese State University	Lake Charles	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
Meridian Community College	Meridian	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
Metairie Park Country Day School	Metairie	LA		Yes			Closed until further notice. See the web site www.mpcds.com	9/7/2005
Miles College	Birmingham	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Millsaps College	Jackson	MS		Yes	Yes		"Millsaps College has been affected by Hurricane Katrina. Millsaps will reopen and begin classes on September 12,"	9/7/2005

							"Affairs/International Programs Office, Sherryl Wilburn, Director (601)"

Mississippi College	Clinton	MS	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College	Perkinston	MS			Yes		By phone hope to start classes the week of 9/10/05	9/7/2005
Mississippi State University	Mississippi State	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
Mississippi State University	Mississippi State	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
Mississippi University for Women	Columbus	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
Mississippi Valley State University	Itta Bena	MS						9/7/2005
MOBILE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	MOBILE	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Modern Languages Institute	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary	New Orleans	LA	Yes				http://www.nobts.edu/hurricane/OnCampus-FacultyStaffStudents.htm	9/7/2005
Nicholls State University	Thibodaux	LA	Yes			Yes	There have been displaced students from Nicholls. Nicholls is also accepting some displaced students. See the Web site at http://www.nicholls.edu/	9/7/2005
Northeast Alabama Community College	Rainsville	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Northeast Mississippi Community College	Booneville	MS					http://www.mgccc.edu/severe_weather_notice.htmsdThe international student office is operational; hopes to resume operations 9/12/05	9/7/2005
Northwestern State University	Natchitoches	LA						9/7/2005
Northwest-Shoals Community College	Muscle Shoals	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Notre Dame Seminary	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
Nunez Community College	Chalmette	LA		Yes			Relocating to Baton Rouge. See Web site at www.lctcs.state.la.us/hurricane.html	9/7/2005
Oakwood Adventist Academy	Huntsville	AL						9/7/2005
Oakwood College	Huntsville	AL						9/7/2005
"Oktibbeha Educational Foundation, Inc."	Starkville	MS						9/7/2005
Our Lady of Holy Cross College	New Orleans	LA		Yes			No information available. Web site is www.olhcc.edu	9/7/2005
"Penn-Tex Helicopters, Inc."	Jeanerette	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
Picayune School District	Picayune	MS						9/7/2005
Randolph School	Huntsville	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Reformed Theological Seminary	Jackson	MS	Yes		Yes		http://www2.rts.edu/newsevents/news.aspx	9/7/2005
Remington College	Metairie	LA						9/7/2005
Reserve Christian School	Reserve	LA						9/7/2005
Ridgewood Preparatory School	Metairie	LA						9/7/2005
Riverside Academy Corporation	Reserve	LA	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Rust College	Holly Springs	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Saint Bernard Preparatory School	Cullman	AL						9/7/2005
Saint James School	Montgomery	AL						9/7/2005
Saint Joseph Seminary College	St. Benedict	LA						9/7/2005
Samford University	Birmingham	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
School of Urban Missions	Gretna	LA						9/7/2005
Shelton State Community College	Tuscaloosa	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
South Louisiana Community College	Lafayette	LA						9/7/2005
Southeastern Baptist College	Laurel	MS						9/7/2005
Southeastern Bible College	Birmingham	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Southeastern Louisiana University	Hammond	LA	Yes		Yes		"All attempts are being made to continue with the Fall 2005 semester. We will resume classes on Thursday, September 8."	9/7/2005
Southern Christian University	Montgomery	AL						9/7/2005
Southern Union State Community College	Wadley	AL						9/7/2005
Southern University and A&M College	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
Southern University at New Orleans	New Orleans	LA		Yes			The school is heavily impacted. Students can call 1 866 334 8294. Web site is: www.suno.edu.	9/7/2005
"Southern University at Shreveport, Louisiana"	Shreveport	LA						9/7/2005
SOWELA Technical Community College	Lake Charles	LA						9/7/2005
Spring Hill College	Mobile	AL			Yes		Classes were temporarily interrupted. Will resume 9/5/05.	9/7/2005
Springwood School	"Lanett,"	AL						9/7/2005
St. Andrew's Episcopal School	Ridgeland	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
St. Louis Catholic High School	Lake Charles	LA						9/7/2005
St. Paul's Episcopal School	Mobile	AL						9/7/2005
St. Stanislaus College Prep	Pascagoula	MS						9/7/2005
St. Stanislaus College Prep	Gulfport	MS						9/7/2005
St. Stanislaus College Prep	"Bay St. Louis,"	MS						9/7/2005
Stillman College	Tuscaloosa	AL				Yes		9/7/2005
Talladega College	Talladega	AL	Yes			Yes		9/7/2005
The Accent International Language Institute	Baton Rouge	LA	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
The Capitol School	Tuscaloosa	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
The Donoho School	Anniston	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
The Dunham School	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
The Montgomery Academy	Montgomery	AL						9/7/2005
The Montgomery Academy	Montgomery	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
The Piney Woods School	Piney Woods	MS						9/7/2005
The University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa	AL						9/7/2005
The University of Alabama in Huntsville	Huntsville	AL						9/7/2005
The University of Louisiana at Monroe	Monroe	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
The University of Mississippi	University	MS						9/7/2005
The University of Mississippi Medical Center	Jackson	MS	Yes		Yes		Because of power outages and severe gasoline shortages our school was suspended on August 29 and is scheduled to resume classes on September 6.	9/7/2005
The University of Southern Mississippi	Hattiesburg	MS	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
The University of Southern Mississippi	Hattiesburg	MS	Yes		Yes	Yes		9/7/2005
The University of West Alabama	Livingston	AL						9/7/2005
Top Garden School	Irvington	AL						9/7/2005
Tougaloo College	Tougaloo	MS	Yes		Yes		"Tougaloo College will be having classes this fall. Although we only had minor damage, we did not have power until Saturday. The College reopened today and classes will resume tomorrow. We have also extended registration until September 16 to accommodate Tougaloo students and other students who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina."	9/7/2005
Trenholm State Technical College	Montgomery	AL						9/7/2005
Trinity Episcopal Day School	Natchez	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
Troy University	Troy	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Tulane University	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005
Tuscaloosa Academy	Tuscaloosa	AL						9/7/2005
Tuskegee University	Tuskegee	AL						9/7/2005
United States Sports Academy	Daphne	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
University of Alabama at Birmingham	Birmingham	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
University of Louisiana	Lafayette	LA	Yes					9/7/2005
University of Mobile	Mobile	AL	Yes		Yes		Registration was extended. Contact the international student office with questions.	9/7/2005
University of Montevallo	Montevallo	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
University of New Orleans	New Orleans	LA					http://www.uno.edu/	9/7/2005
University of North Alabama	Florence	AL						9/7/2005
University of Richmond	Richmond	VA				Yes	Contact the International Student Office at (804) 287-6499	9/7/2005
University of South Alabama	Mobile	AL			Yes	Yes	Registration was delayed due to the Hurricane. Current students should contact the school and register.	9/7/2005
Vestavia Hills City	Vestavia Hills	AL						9/7/2005
Virginia College	Birmingham	AL				Yes		9/7/2005
Virginia College at Huntsville	Huntsville	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Vortex Helicopters Inc.	Long Beach	MS					No information received from the school. Check the web site at www.vortex-helicopters.com/contact.html	9/7/2005
Wallace Community College	Dothan	AL	Yes					9/7/2005
Wallace State Community College	Hanceville	AL	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Wesley Biblical Seminary	Jackson	MS	Yes		Yes			9/7/2005
Westminster Christian Academy	Huntsville	AL	Yes			Yes		9/7/2005
William Carey College	Hattiesburg	MS	Yes					9/7/2005
World Evangelism Bible College & Seminary	Baton Rouge	LA						9/7/2005
Xavier University of Louisiana	New Orleans	LA						9/7/2005

There is also a Web site for displaced students at www.campusrelief.org. It lists schools that will accept displaced students. If you contact one of these schools, you should ensure that they are authorized by DHS to accept F-1 students. This is not a U.S. government Web site and we cannot vouch for its accuracy.

3.1. Directions for students enrolled in schools that will be resuming operation for the Fall term

If the list does not have a point of contact, the school’s Web site may have someone you can contact. If you have already contacted the International Student Office, follow the procedures outlined by the school. If you have not contacted your International Student Office, try to do so. If you cannot contact them, follow the directions for students who cannot contact their school.

3.2. Directions for students enrolled in schools that will not be resuming operation for the Fall term

If the list gives specific directions from the school, follow the school's directions. Otherwise, check the school’s Web site for specific instructions. If you cannot find any instructions that pertain to you or the school's Web site is not operational, follow the directions for students who cannot contact their school.

4. I AM A STUDENT AND I CANNOT CONTACT ANYBODY AT MY SCHOOL. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Call SEVP at (202) 305-2346.

If possible, send us an email at SEVIS.source@DHS.gov. . In the email, give your name, your SEVIS ID number, if you have it (N followed by 10 digits on your Form I-20), the name of your school, and your contact information (include your current address, telephone number, and email address if possible). Briefly describe your situation and what concerns or problems you have. Let us know if you have your documentation (passport, visa, Form I-20, and Form I-94) with you.

If you do not have access to email, provide this information to SEVP at the time you telephone us. Try to have the information listed in the paragraph above available when you call.

We will work with you to find the best solution for your situation.

5. I HAVE FOUND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT WILL ACCEPT ME. CAN I TRANSFER SCHOOLS?

If another SEVIS school will accept you, you may ask for a transfer. Contact the Designated School Official (usually this is a person in your International Student Office) at your new school.

6. I WANT TO FIND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT WILL ACCEPT ME. WHAT DO I DO?

You can identify other schools approved for enrolling F/M nonimmigrants on the SEVP Web site at http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/pdf/ApprovedSchools.pdf

7. I HAVE DECIDED I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO MY HOME COUNTRY AND POSSIBLY RETURN LATER. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

If possible contact your school to let them know of your intentions.

If it is not possible for you to contact your school, send an email to SEVIS.source@DHS.gov. Give your name, your SEVIS ID number if you have it (N followed by 10 digits on your Form I-20), the name of your school, and your contact information (include your current address, telephone number, and email address if possible). Briefly describe when and where you will depart the United States. Let us know whether or not you have your documentation (passport, visa, Form I-20, and Form I-94) with you.

If you do not have access to email, call SEVP at (202) 305-2346. Try to have the information listed in the paragraph above available when you call.

Before you return to the United States as a nonimmigrant student, be certain to contact your school to receive necessary guidance and documents.

8. WILL I NEED A NEW VISA TO RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES?

You will need a new visa if:

Your visa expires while you are out of the United States
You change visa categories
If you are a new student and you want to go to a different school

9. HOW DO I GET MY TRANSCRIPT, RECORDS AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM AN IMPACTED SCHOOL?

If your school was impacted by the hurricane, allow a reasonable amount of time for the school to resume normal operations. Contact the International Student Office and they will advise you how to get transcripts and records. If you have lost personal property as a result of the hurricane, they should be able to advise you about the likelihood and procedures for recovery of that property.

10. I LOST MY DOCUMENTATION. HOW CAN I REPLACE IT?

Your school can reprint a Form I-20 for you. If the school is not available, contact SEVP at SEVIS.source@DHS.gov. In the email, give your name, your SEVIS ID number if you have it (N followed by 10 digits on your Form I-20), the name of your school, and your contact information (include your current address, telephone number, and email address if possible). Briefly describe your situation and what concerns or problems you have.

For the short term, you will not need a Form I-94. We will provide directions for replacement of the Form I-94 at a later time.

You can contact your country’s embassy or consulate to get a replacement passport.

11. HOW DO I REPORT MY ADDRESS CHANGE IF I AM NOT AT MY SCHOOL?

Follow the directions for students who cannot contact their school.

12. HOW LONG CAN I REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES IF I AM NOT ENROLLED IN SCHOOL?

If you arrived in the United States as a new student and were not enrolled in your program of study before the hurricane, you should leave within 30 days of your arrival, unless you transfer to another approved school.

If you were enrolled in classes, but are no longer able to attend classes due to the hurricane, you should do one of the following immediately:

Report to the school where you were enrolled and attend classes when they resume, if the school will resume classes for the fall term.
Transfer to another approved school
Depart the United States

13. I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR POST-COMPLETION OPT AND WAS WORKING IN THE IMPACTED AREA. I NO LONGER HAVE A JOB, WHAT DO I DO?

You are allowed to seek alternate employment. Be sure to report any changes of address to your Designated School Official. If you are unable to contact your school, send an email to SEVIS.source@DHS.gov. Give your name, your SEVIS ID number if you have it (N followed by 10 digits on your Form I-20), the name of your school, and your contact information (include your current address, telephone number, and email address if possible). Explain your current situation.

Keep your school informed of your situation (or SEVP if you cannot contact the school.)

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