Parents: How to Help Your Students While They Study in the United States

While your student may be far away studying in the United States, as a parent you can still give valuable guidance. The most important thing you can share about studying away from home is that F and M students

 in the United States must follow certain rules and regulations to maintain nonimmigrant status.
Here are some responsibilities F and M students need to know and follow:

• F and M students may only enroll only in a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school. Use our School Search page to make sure the school is SEVP-certified.
• They must arrive in the United States no more than 30 days before the program start date. This date is listed on the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” that the school sends your student.
• Students must contact their designated school official (DSO) within 30 days of entering the United States.
• Students should pack the DSO’s contact information in an accessible location, such as in carry-on luggage. If there is any question or uncertainty at the port of entry, a quick phone call to the DSO can be a great help.
• Students must enroll in a full course of study, attend classes and make normal progress towards the educational objective (e.g., degree or certificate). If your student is having trouble in classes, advise them to talk to their DSO about their options.
• Students may work only with proper authorization. 
• An F student who completes a program of study has three options:
  • Enroll in a new program of study
  • Apply to change visa status
  • Leave the United States
  As completion time nears, talk to your F student about these options. Ask the DSO any questions either of you have. For questions that involve administrative processes either with the school or the government, allow time for accomplishing those processes.

• An M student must depart the United States after completing a program of study.

Some schools offer unique tools to the parents of F and/or M students. For example, since Chinese students make up the majority of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s international student population, the school recently added a section of information in Chinese on their Parent Program website. The information answers common questions about life in the United States and how academics differ between the two countries. Talk to the DSO at the school your child attends (or wants to attend) to see if they offer any resources for parents.
Your student’s DSO is the best person to talk to with any questions. You also can find more resources in our recent blog post.