Visa basics (U.S. study)

Who actually owns your status

• For most degree-seeking students in the U.S., that is a Designated School Official (DSO) in the international student office. For many exchange visitors, it is a Responsible Officer (RO).
• Do not take visa or work-authorization advice from a roommate, a recruiter chat, or a social post as final. Use it as a question to bring to your DSO.
• If you are not studying in the U.S., ignore the F-1 / J-1 labels below and use your host country’s official immigration site plus your university office.

Documents people mix up

• I-20 (typically F-1) or DS-2019 (typically J-1) is issued by the school, not printed at the embassy. Keep the original with you when you travel.
• A visa stamp in your passport is permission to ask to enter. It is not the same thing as maintaining status after you arrive.
• SEVIS is the government record tied to that form. Your DSO updates it — you cannot “fix” it in a Facebook group.

After you arrive, confirm these with your office

• The deadline and location for immigration check-in / orientation (often required to stay in status).
• Full-time enrollment rules, online-course limits, and what happens if you drop below full time.
• Whether on-campus work, internships, or training (for example CPT / OPT in the U.S.) need prior authorization — many do.
• Travel signatures on your I-20 or DS-2019 before you leave the country, even for a short trip.

Use official sources

Start with your university’s international student pages, then Study in the States and the State Department study-visa pages. If those pages disagree with a blog or an agent, follow the official page and your DSO.