Through collaborative programs and services, the Center for Student Achievement, Resources and Enrichment (CARE) at Pacific Oaks College, assists international students in obtaining their educational and professional goals. The center provides diverse and culturally centered services and resources, advisement and immigration advocacy.​​
Full-Time Enrollment Requirements
In order to maintain status, F-1 students must be enrolled full time each semester. The number of credit hours required to be considered full time varies depending upon your program of study and the semester (see your program catalog for additional information on enrollment requirements).
In most cases, international students do not need to be enrolled full time during the summer term. Students may choose to be enrolled full time, half time or not at all.
Exceptions to full-time enrollment:
Immigration regulations do provide some exceptions to the full-time enrollment requirement in special situations. However, all exceptions MUST be authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO) in CARE before you drop below full time. Dropping below full time without authorization from CARE is a violation of your F-1 status! The exceptions are:
- Academic difficulties. A DSO may authorize a reduced course load on account of a student’s initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods, or improper course level placement.
- Medical conditions. A DSO may authorize a reduced course load (or, if necessary, no course load) due to a student’s temporary illness or medical condition. In order qualify, the student must provide medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor or clinical psychologist to a CARE advisor to substantiate the illness or medical condition.
- Completion of course of study. A DSO may authorize a reduced course load in the student’s final term, semester, or session if fewer courses are needed to complete the course of study.
To learn more about these exceptions or see if you qualify for a reduced course load, please make an appointment to see a Designated School Official in CARE before you drop any classes.
Like most educational institutions, the majority of international students enrolled at Pacific Oaks College (POC) are in F-1 (nonimmigrant student) status. Some international students may hold other immigration statuses that allow them to study as well (i.e., H1-B, L-2, E-2).The Center for Academic Achievement, Resources and Enrichment (CARE) seeks to support all current and prospective international students at POC. However, international students should be advised that CARE directs the majority of its immigration advice to those students in F-1 status. International students who do not hold F-1 status should contact CARE with any immigration questions you may have about your status. The CARE staff will seek to provide you with additional guidance or refer you to an immigration attorney, as needed.
*Note: All students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are considered international students by Pacific Oaks College.
STAYING IN STATUS
It is very important for international students to maintain their immigration status at all times. CARE is here to advise you and help you better understand the immigration regulations governing your status, but it is your responsibility to maintain your status.
Failure to maintain the terms and conditions of your nonimmigrant status is grounds for removal (deportation) from the United States.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- United States Department of State (DOS)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Flight Delay Information (airport status)
- Financial Aid Information
​​​​The following information provides resources for students seeking to participate in practicum (CPT) and/or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
NOTE: Advanced approval of employment participation is mandatory for international students seeking to participate in any employment training.  Please contact the CARE Office to receive approval prior to participating in any employment or training including practicum, field work, or work study. Requests for OPT should be communicated at the start of the final semester. ​​​​
As nonimmigrants in the United States, international students are subject to special rules with respect to the taxation of their income. While you are in the United States, you are required to report any taxable income you receive by filing the appropriate federal and state tax returns. In some cases, taxable income may include fellowship and scholarships.
What is Income Tax?
Income tax is taxes on the income that you have received in one fiscal year, which is January 1 to December 31. Taxes from one fiscal year can be filed between January 15 and April 15 of the next fiscal year.
Do I Need to File Taxes?
As an international student with an F or J visa, the first step in determining whether you are required to file an income tax return is to determine your tax filing status. Most international students present in United States for less than 5 years are considered nonresident aliens for tax purposes.
Most international students on F, J, M, and Q visas present in United States for more than 5years and teachers, researchers, and professors present in U.S. for more than 2 years can be considered resident aliens for tax purposes.
What Forms do I File?
All international students who are nonresidents for tax purposes must file Form 8843, Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals With a Medical Condition, regardless of whether you earned any income. If you earned income in the United States and are a nonresident for tax purposes, you will also need to file Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ and the appropriate state tax forms. If you determine that you are considered a resident for tax purposes, you must file Form 1040, 1040EZ or 1040A, and the required state tax forms.
What is an ITIN?
ITIN stands for Individual Taxpayer Identification Number and is an identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to people who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer ID number but are not eligible for a Social Security number (SSN). An ITIN is used for federal tax reporting ONLY. It does NOT have the same functions as a SSN.
For more information visit: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/index.html, scroll down and click on “Individual Tax Identification Number.”
More information on federal tax forms, tax conditions, and frequently asked questions can be found at https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers.
There are a number of businesses that, for a fee, will assist taxpayers in the preparation of their income tax returns. However, not all tax professionals are trained to file taxes for nonresidents, so you must make sure they understand that you are an international student. To find a tax preparer near you, look in the telephone directory yellow pages under “Tax Return Preparation” or visit the following websites:
- H&R Block
- Liberty Tax Service
- University of Texas at Austin: International Office website developed to assist nonresidents in completing their tax returns. It walks you through the process, includes a FAQ, and it’s FREE!
- International Student Taxes: A federal tax self-help website that costs approximately $19.99 to file Form 1040NR-EZ and $9.99 to file Form 8843.
- Tax Back: A federal and state tax self-help website
- All F-1 students must have a valid travel signature from a Designated School Official (DSO) on page 3 of their I-20 in order to re-enter the United States. Travel signatures are valid for one calendar year, or until the completion of your program, whichever comes first. However, it is recommended to have it signed every six months. If you need a new signature, please request one via email at least a month before you plan to travel.
- You will need to receive a new I-20 from CARE if there have been any changes in your situation—for example, changes in your major, degree level, or source(s) of financial support—that are not indicated on your current I-20. In all cases, updated financial documentation will be required to process your new I-20.
- Check your completion date in section 5 of your I-20 to see whether it is about to expire. If it is—and you have not yet completed your program—you will need to apply for an extension. You do not need to request a travel signature; when your extension is approved, a new I-20 will be printed and signed for travel.
Note: You need a signature even if you are just traveling across the border into Canada or Mexico.
U.S. Visa
Is the U.S. visa stamp in your passport valid beyond the date you plan to re-enter the United States? If not, you must apply for a new visa while you are abroad. We strongly advise that you to carry the following documents with you when applying for a new visa at a U.S. Consulate:
- Official Transcript issued by the Registrar at Pacific Oaks College
- Valid I-20 issued and signed by DSO
- Current financial documentation: documents indicating the source(s) and amount(s) of financial support for your study in the current academic year. This must match the information listed on your I-20.
As U.S. Consulates will not be open on certain days during the Christmas-New Year’s holiday period, there may be difficult time constraints in obtaining a new visa during winter break.
If you need to apply for a new U.S. visa, visit the Department of State’s U.S. Embassies and Consulates section for an updated list.
Note: If you intend to apply for a new U.S. visa while in Canada or Mexico and are not a resident of either country, please contact CARE to discuss this possibility.
Visitors’ visas (for travel to countries other than your home country)
If you are traveling to a country other than your home country, you may need a visitor’s or transit visa. To find out, visit that country’s embassy website at Foreign Embassies of Washington, D.C., and search for the Consular Section nearest you.
After completing your academic program
If you plan to travel to Canada or anywhere else outside of the U.S. during the grace period following completion of your degree requirements, CARE will not be able to sign your I-20 for travel. If you travel outside of the U.S., you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. as an F-1 student at POC.
Travel during Optional Practical Training
At the present, USCIS processing of applications for Optional Practical Training takes at least three to four months. You will need to plan your travel accordingly. Once you receive your EAD, you may travel outside of the U.S.—but be sure to travel with your signed I-20, job offer letter and your EAD. The OPT recommendation on page 3 of your I-20 validates the travel signature for six months. We strongly advise you to consult with CARE regarding travel while on OPT prior to making plans to travel outside the U.S.
Contact us
The CARE Team
Patricia Meda, Director
626-529-8261​
[email protected]
Ruth Hwang
Learning Assistance ​Specialist
626-529-8428
[email protected]
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Location
45 Eureka, Room A104
Pasadena, CA 91103​