This is the primary location for all information and application forms related to F-1 international student visa benefits and status maintenance.
Information found on this page will also be helpful to international students currently under other visa types who are interested in changes to F-1 visa status at some point.
Advisor name and location: | Student last name starts with: |
Cord Cochran, WDE 1800 | Chak-Kaml |
Becky Leevey, MIC | A - Ank, Kamm-Moh |
Jeffrey Couch, MIC | Bati - Chaj, Moi-Redc |
Keith Harrison, WDE 1800 | Anl - Bath, Redd-Z |
Walk-in/Phone Advising hours:
Please feel free to walk-in or call-in during the below scheduled advising hours and ask to speak with an International Student Advisor. The front desk will transfer you to talk with an available International Student Advisor when you arrive or call. No prior signup is required to participate in walk-in advising hours.
Monday, and Wednesday - Friday 1-3 pm
Tuesdays 10 am - 12 pm
Warrensburg, MO - Ward Edwards 1800 front desk
Lee’s Summit, MO - MIC front desk
Phone line: 660-543-4092
International students are required to update UCM with their current address and phone information within 10 days of any move or update. This is also mandatory for F-1 visa holders due to the SEVIS regulations regarding address corrections.
You must update your address and phone information in MyCentral within 10 days of any move or update.
Follow these steps to update the address details:
1. Collect your address information.
Make sure you have the format of the address for when you receive mail. Ensure that the apartment number is included (if applicable).
Note, the name of the apartment complex should not be entered in MyCentral.
Note, the city and state should not be entered in MyCentral. It will automatically populate when you enter the zip code.
Address example- (the fields to be entered by you are bolded in the example below)
Address 1: 123 W Main St. Apt 10
Address 2:
Address 3:
City, State: Lee's Summit, MO
Zip: 64081
Phone: (816) 222-4444
2. Login to MyCentral and update the information.
1) Scroll down to the bottom right corner of the page and select 'Update Address, Phone, Email and Emergency Contacts' 2) Enter your phone and local address information. 3) Click save within each section. 4) Scroll down and check both Address Agreement boxes and click submit.
You must update your address and phone information in the SEVP Portal within 10 days of any move or update.
Follow these steps to update the address details:
1. Collect your address information.
Make sure you have the format of the address for when you receive mail. Ensure that the apartment number is included (if applicable).
Note, the name of the apartment complex should not be entered in the SEVP Portal.
Address example-
Address 1: 123 W Main St. Apt 10
City, State: Lee's Summit, MO
Zip: 64081
Phone: (816) 222-4444
2. Login to the SEVP Portal, update and save the information.
3. Complete and submit the Change of Address Form for ISS
Students may apply to change visa status from F-2, H-4, or another status to F-1 status.
If you are interested in applying for a change of status, please review this flier and follow the steps outlined in the Change of Visa Status Guide for more information.
If you would like to enroll part time at another university in the U.S. while pursuing your degree here at UCM, you will need to review and complete the following process to be approved to concurrently enroll:
Students may apply for an internship program within their degree field while they are still working to complete their degree. Students must enroll in an internship course, and they must have a job offer to apply for CPT. Please review this flier for more information.
Please review the following PowerPoint for more information about CPT.
To apply for CPT please complete all of the following steps at least two weeks before your CPT start date in order for us to process your request:
If you are an Active Status F-1 Student and would like to add a Spouse or Child as an F-2 Dependent, you may use this form to do so.
Students may apply for a Driver's License or non-driver's state ID. Submit the following form to receive a letter from our office to support your application:
Please review the following guide for information on the full process to obtain a Driver's License.
If your I-20 program end date is nearing, and you will not be completing your program in the current semester as expected, please submit the following I-20 program extension request form at least one month before your I-20 end date.
Students requiring a letter confirming full time enrollment status at the university may follow the following steps to obtain an enrollment certificate from the university.
If you receive an error when following these steps please contact the Registrar’s Office for assistance.
Please see the following Insurance Fact Sheet for information regarding the UCM Health Insurance plan.
Choose your below student type for health insurance information specific to your situation.
If you are searching for housing in the area for when you attend UCM, please review this Apartment Guide for ideas.
If you will need temporary housing between your arrival and move-in to permanent housing, please search the Kansas City, Lee’s Summit and/or Warrensburg area for hotels that fit into your travel plans and budget.
Please view the ISS Information Sessions regarding topics related to visa maintenance, travel, enrollment, and more using the links below.
After students enter the U.S., an electronic I-94 is issued.
The I-94 can be accessed and printed from here: I-94 website.
If you cannot access your I-94, or if there is an error on your I-94, follow this
process for assistance:
1. Go to the following website: https://help.cbp.gov/s/
2. If you do not receive a response within 10-15 days, send an email to ISSS@ucmo.edu and provide a short description of what the issue is.
Your advisor will then contact Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on your behalf to assist with the corrections.
If you would like to submit a request to change your major, you can use this form to do so.
Students who would like for our office to check SEVIS for any updates based on your H1-B application may submit this form. Please notice that checks may only be done by our office every one to two weeks. You may contact the employer that filed your H1-B for up to date updates on application processing.
Beginning on April 1st, students who are currently on OPT and who are in the process of applying for H1-B status may apply to receive their cap gap I-20 to extend the end date of OPT if their current OPT end date is before September 30. Please also submit the following form to request a Cap Gap I-20:
Please note, that the I-797 registration notice from USCIS for online registration cannot be used to apply the cap-gap to your record. You must be able to present proof of a mailed H-1B change of status filing/application to receive the preliminary cap-gap or full cap-gap.
SEVP has confirmed that the registration notice cannot be used to issue the initial cap-gap extension for students whose OPT/STEM OPT extensions are ending prior to 06/01 and for the cap-gap extension through 09/30. Your employer will need to file the H-1B petition (Form I-129) and submit the form to USCIS.
In order to receive the initial cap-gap through 06/01, your OPT/STEM OPT extension must be expiring prior to 06/01. Please have your employer email a copy of the H-1B petition and the tracking information that they used to file the petition on your behalf to isss@ucmo.edu. Once we have received the documents, we can extend your OPT end date through 06/01.
If you receive the I-797 notifying that USCIS has received or approved your petition,
please submit a copy of that form to isss@ucmo.edu.
Please review the information from USCIS with regards to H-1B Petitions: USCIS H-1B Cap Petitions
Workshop Schedule
Live Webinars (click link to register):
Eligibility:
Students currently participating in 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) may be eligible to apply for a 24-month OPT STEM extension. Students must ensure that the following requirements are met to apply.
Application Process:
Students that have verified that the requirements for the OPT STEM extension have been met may follow the following steps to apply. We encourage you to review our pre-recorded STEM OPT Webinar for helpful information.
Health Insurance:
For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance.
Students approved for 24 month OPT are required to update employer details within 10 days each time that they begin working for a new employer. Please complete the following form and submit a new form I-983 to update 24 Month OPT STEM employment details.
Students who participate in OPT are required to report their participation in OPT every 6 months. This reporting requirement is required even if the student has not changed employers or addresses. Failure to report this information in a timely manner will result in failure to maintain valid F-1 visa status.
Please watch our short video on STEM OPT Reporting Requirements to ensure that you are meeting all F-1 visa requirements while participating in STEM OPT.
Report requirements for OPT Report Participation are:
Please note that if the information reported does not match what is currently in SEVIS, one or more additional forms may be required in order to update the information in SEVIS. OPT Report Participation cannot happen in SEVIS until all forms are submitted. It is in the best interest of the student to ensure they follow the USCIS mandate and report all changes in address and any changes in employment within 10 business days.
Eligibility:
F-1 students in their final semester before graduation, or just after graduation, are eligible to apply for 12-month OPT work authorization. Students must ensure that the following requirements are met to apply.
Application Process:
Students that have verified that the requirements for 12-month OPT have been met may follow the following steps to apply. We encourage you to review our pre-recorded 12 Month OPT Webinar for helpful information.
Workshop Schedule:
Health Insurance:
For information regarding enrolling in UCM Health Insurance while on OPT please go back to the forms page and select Health Insurance.
Students approved for OPT are required to update employer details within 10 days each time that they begin working for an employer. This includes the first employer, even if it is the same employer from previous CPT approval. Please complete the following form to update 12 Month OPT employment details.
If you recently changed work site locations or have a new client site and have remained with the same employer, please use the following link to update your work site address information.
If you will not maintain full-time enrollment: 6 credit hours for graduate students, and 12 credit hours for undergraduate students, and you have a valid reason for under enrolling, please submit the following request form before the start of the semester, or at the time of the enrollment change.
F-1 International Students must review all information regarding how to maintain status in the F-1 Visa Status Maintenance section of this webpage. Students are fully responsible for maintaining their visa status, and they must consider their next options if they fall out of valid status. Students may consult with our International Student Advisors anytime for advice on specific situations to avoid falling out of status.
If you have misplaced your current I-20 and you are requiring a reprint of your I-20 document, please submit the following request. If you would like to request copies of I-20s previously issued, please also submit this request.
This letter is required for students without an SSN to obtain a Driver’s License.
Students applying for an SSN:
Please be sure to attend an appointment with your local SSN office within 30 days of the issuance of the SSN letter. You must request an updated letter from our office if it is beyond 30 days.
You must also attend an appointment with the SSN office no more than 30 days prior to your employment start date.
Submit the online application to the SSN office.
o If you do not complete the online application, then you must bring the Completed form SS-5 'Application for a replacement Social Security Card' with you to the SSN office.
Before going to the SSN office to obtain an SSN please be sure that you have already received your SSN letter (mentioned above) and for new students, the Continued Attendance I-20/DS-2019 from ISS.
*New students - please note that the continued attendance I-20s will be issued and available a few weeks after the start of your first semester.
Office Locations:
The policy is to contact the field office that services the zip code where you live. However, the Sedalia, MO office mentioned that they help students regardless of address when possible.
Use the following website to identify locations and hours for your local SSN office. Generally, students are required to come prepared with all documents and just walk-in during open hours, rather than calling ahead.
Tax Requirements and Forms:
See the U.S. Tax Requirements Guide for information.
Review the following IRS tax requirements for F-1 and J-1 international students. Notice that all students must file for U.S. taxes, regardless of receipt of an income.·
Please note that if you are on STEM OPT, you are transferring out, and...
MIC/Warrensburg Shuttle Services
Many students travel from the Warrensburg campus to the MIC Lee's Summit campus regularly- here is information regarding the shuttle service available: MIC Shuttle
Amtrak Train
Student may consider the Amtrak train as a transportation option, as it travels to multiple cities in the area:
Amtrak Flyer- student discounts available
Amtrak Timetable Schedule- schedule of arrivals and departures by city
#amtrakhowto-Youtube- how to board the train, how to handle baggace, etc.
Please review the following travel tips document if you are traveling outside of the U.S.
If you would like to invite your family or friends to come to the U.S. on a B2 visitor visa, you can provide an invitation letter written by you in support of their application. Unfortunately, we are not authorized to provide a letter from the university to support visitor visa applications, but your personal letter should be sufficient. Please feel free to use the template below as a guide when writing the visitor invitation.
Please review the Visitor Letter Guide from the Registrar's Office for more information.