UPDATE: If you need to leave the U.S. with an expired visa and will be renewing in your home country, please be aware that you may experience heightened scrutiny/vetting or delay in renewal. Please schedule your request for renewal appointment as EARLY as possible. Please note that this information is subject to change at any time.
USCIS policy/guidance change on UNLAWFUL PRESENCE and effects
USCIS’ updated policy on ability to initiate deportation
If your surname starts with A-G:
Katie Sylvester – sylvesterk@umkc.edu
If your surname starts with H-Z:
Joyce Ward – wardjc@umkc.edu
If you are sponsored by your home government, you can also contact the Sponsored Student Officer:
Alex Spenner – spenneral@umkc.edu
If you need advice from an immigration attorney:
- American Immigration Lawyers Association: https://www.ailalawyer.com/
- Bordeau Immigration: https://www.kcvisa.com/contact
- Legal Aid: https://lawmo.org/
Disclaimer: This does not reflect an endorsement and does not constitute any guarantees, warranties, or promises regarding the outcome of your legal matter. Exclusion of local or regional immigration lawyers from this list does not represent in any way a judgment on the services they provide.
To request to be transferred out of UMKC, please ensure you have done the following:
- Drop all UMKC classes
- Submit a copy of the official admission letter from your new school
- Submit a transfer form from your new school (if they have one)
- Tell us what date you would like your records released to your new school
- PLEASE NOTE: If you are currently on OPT/STEM, your work authorization will AUTOMATICALLY END the day that we release your SEVIS records to your new school
- When your transfer has been processed you will receive an email from your ISAO advisor.
- Federal regulations surrounding your student visa
- Staying In Status and Required Enrollment – PDF
- Am I In-Status? – PDF Checklist
- Things you are required to report to ISAO:
- Change in name
- Change in physical/mailing address
- Change in Visa
- Early completion/graduation or change of major
- Anything that may or will affect your visa or I-20/DS-2019 such as taking a leave of absence for a semester, suspension or dismissal from your department, etc.
- All F-1 or J-1 students are required to be enrolled in:
- Bachelor and English-only students: a minimum of 12 credit hours EVERY fall and spring semester
- Of the 12, only 3 credit hours can be online. If more than 3 of the 12 are online = you will be considered under-enrolled.
- Master and PhD students: a minimum of 9 credit hours EVERY fall and spring semester.
- Of the 9, only 3 credit hours can be If more than 3 of the 9 are online = you will be considered under-enrolled.
- Bachelor and English-only students: a minimum of 12 credit hours EVERY fall and spring semester
- If you absolutely cannot be enrolled full-time, you must submit a completed FTE form (form #1 or #2 found below)
- We often have to update this form so please take it directly from the website to ensure the most recent form is being used.
- If you do not fit into one of the allowed FTE form categories/reasons then you will NOT be allowed to be under-enrolled.
- ISAO monitors enrollment the entire semester. If you drop below the required enrollment at ANY point during the entire semester, we will send out 2 courtesy emails. If you do not answer the emails and take no action, we will be required to terminate your I-20/DS-2019 for unauthorized drop below a full course load and you will have 15 days to exit the U.S. or you will start accruing days of unlawful presence.
- Please note that the termination of an F-1 or J-1 record could now have long-lasting effects. US Immigration Services released new guidance/policies that could make it easier for them to block students from re-entering the U.S. for 3 to 10 years and they’ve made it easier for agencies to initiate removal.
- Call 816-235-1113 to set up an appointment
- We do not accept request via email
- You must state the reason for the appointment
Walk-in advising is Monday to Friday from 3:00pm to 4:30pm
Walk-in questions take less than 10 minutes and are on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Information & Forms
- Under-enrolled? FTE Form for F-1 Students
- Under-enrolled? FTE Form for J-1 Students
- Concurrent Enrollment Form: Taking Classes At Another School?
- Required TRANSFER IN Form
- Request to Extend I-20 or DS-2019
- Request to Add F-2 Dependent of F-1 Student
- Request to Add J-2 Dependent of J-1 Student
- Leaving the U.S.? Request a Travel Endorsement
- REQUEST FOR DOCUMENTS: Lose an I-20 or DS-2019?
- Affidavit of Support
- Getting your I-94 (Will not work in FireFox)
- Renewing Your Visa
- Holds on Your Account & Important Information
- Who To Ask and other Frequently Asked Questions
VERY IMPORTANT: Please be careful when filling out your I-9 as stating incorrect information would be considered fraud and could result in the denial of benefits or change of status in the future. If you are unsure about how to answer a question, consult your employer’s human resources (HR) office for clarification.
- How to Apply/Renew a Missouri Driver License
- More Information on Getting a MO Driver License
- Having Issues Getting a Driver’s License? See USCIS Info Sheet
- Information/Guide to Buying a Car
- Return from Leave of Absence Form
- UMKC Leave of Absence Form
- Leave of Absence Information
- Leaving UMKC? Fill Out an Exit Form
- I Feel Sick, Where Do I Go?
- UMKC Health Insurance Website: Aetna Student Health
- Abuse and Assault Resources
- Immigration Contacts and Resources
- SCAM Handout
- Change of Status: B2 to F-1
- Change of Status: B2 to F-2
- Change of Status: F-1 to J-2
- Change of Status: F-2 to F-1
- Change of Status: H1-B to F-1
- Change of Status: J-1 to F-1
- Change of Status: F-1 to F-2
- Change of Status: H4 to F-1
- Request to Change to F-1 Outside of U.S.
- Reinstatement Information
I-539 Form: Application and Instructions