Form I-515A
What is a Form I-515A?
Form I-515A is an official document given to travelers entering the United States who do not have all the required paperwork. If a student is missing a required travel document they may be given Form I-515A.
When a POE issues a student a Form I-515A, the student needs to report to their International Advisor/Designated School Official (DSO) immediately. The DSO will assist the student by providing the proper guidance or documentation required to complete the submission process within the 30 days allowed. If these documents are not received within 30 days of the student's entry into the United States, he or she will not be in legal status and must leave. Once the documents are received by mail they will be processed and returned within 10 to 15 business days.
The issuance of an I-515A causes the student to experience delays at the port of entry and to wait 30-90 days for DHS to update their paperwork. All this is preventable.
Important Notice from USCIS
F-1 students who receive temporary admission into the United States with a Form I-515A, "Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor," must comply with the 30-day submission deadline. Starting July 15, 2011, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will terminate the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record status of any F-1 student who does not comply with the Form I-515A directive within the 30-day response period. Within five business days of the nonimmigrant receiving temporary admission into the United States, SEVP will notify the relevant designated school officials (DSOs) of the issuance of the Form 1-515A and the future termination date.
At the end of the 30-day response period, the nonimmigrant has two choices if the nonimmigrant has not complied with the Form I-515A requirements:
- Depart the United States immediately
- File immediately for reinstatement with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)