If you are an international student studying at the University of Pittsburgh or want to be, you have come to the right place! If you are a prospective Pitt student, an F-1 or J-1 visa holder or another visa status that allows you to study in the US, you'll find links to resources that pertain to your status.
Prospective Students
Welcome to Pitt! We are excited to welcome you to the Pitt community. Please visit our New to Pitt page for all the information you need regarding how to get your immigration document, pre-arrival information, and orientation.
F-1 Students
The OIS is here to help you understand your F-1 visa status but we encourage you to become familiar with the requirements to maintain your status. You can do so by reviewing the F-1 Students webpage for an overview of your responsibilities. If you are looking for information about how you can work on-campus, internships, enrollment requirements and more, please check out the OIS Fact Sheets page and sort by "Immigration Status" to see relevant fact sheets. Last but not least, for requests such as a I-20 travel signature, program extensions, address changes, etc. login to My OIS
If you are an F-1 student currently or would like to learn more about OPT or the STEM OPT extension, visit the OPT webpage for online tutorials, fact sheets and FAQs.
J-1 Students
OIS supports students on J-1 visas, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the student to understand and maintain their own visa status. We have provided some resources for you to understand some of your main responsibilities while on J-1 student status. For more information about work authorization for both on- and off-campus employment, enrollment requirements, and more please check out the OIS Fact Sheets page and sort by Immigration Status to see the relevant fact sheet for your situation. J-1 students can submit requests directly to OIS for DS-2019 travel signatures, program extensions, address updates, and more via the My OIS portal.
Other Non-Pitt Sponsored Documents
Many students have a different visa status (other than F-1 or J-1) that allows them to study in the United States. These students do not need an immigration document from OIS, unless they are aging out of a dependent visa, or wish to transition to F-1 or J-1 status. Students who have not received an immigration document from OIS do not need to attend OIS’ Orientation events, since these are designed specifically for F-1 and J-1 students. However, they are welcome to participate in OIS’ outreach activities, since they are part of Pitt’s international community.
New Students to Pitt
When OIS receives admission information for a student who is classified as a non-immigrant, OIS sends general instructions about the I-20 / DS-2019 (F-1 and J-1) process. However, students who have a different visa status, or who will receive an immigration document from a different organization, can provide OIS with information about their visa status via the “Non-Pitt Other Sponsored Document” e-form group in the “Admission to Orientation” section of My OIS.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Some students receive Fulbright scholarships to study at Pitt. These students will receive a Form DS-2019 from their sponsoring agency, so they do not need an immigration document from Pitt. However, OIS encourages Fulbright students to submit the “Non-Pitt Other Sponsored Document” e-form group in the “Admission to Orientation” section of My OIS so that we can include them in our communications. Additionally, some Fulbright students may need to transition to a Pitt-sponsored immigration document during their academic program (e.g., length of academic program exceeds length of scholarship, etc.). In these situations, students should contact their OIS Student Team Immigration Specialist to discuss their future academic plans, and their options to receive a Pitt-sponsored immigration document (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019).
Dependent Visa Status
Some students may derive their immigration status based on their parent’s or spouses’ visa status. For example, F-2, L-2, and H-4, among others. Some of these statuses have age restrictions, and others have enrollment restrictions. So, depending on their visa status, dependents may be able to enroll on a full-time basis, or they may be limited to part-time basis. The government provides a general eligibility chart about these limitations. You can contact your OIS Immigration Specialist for more specific clarification. If you have a dependent visa status, and you wish to change your status to F-1 or J-1, review OIS’ Change of Status Fact Sheet for general information and consult an immigration attorney for advice.
Other Visa Statuses
In addition to the statuses above, OIS interacts with folks who have submitted applications to the federal government that permits them to remain in the United States and study. Some examples are applicants for adjustment of status or asylum, DACA and TPS recipients, and employment-based visa holders. These individuals typically do not need an immigration document from Pitt. Individuals in these situations should provide OIS with information about their visa status via the “Non-Pitt Other Sponsored Document” e-form group in the “Admission to Orientation” section of My OIS.