Below are the answers to the most frequently asked questions by international students regarding, passports, visa, employment, and travel.
FAQs for International Students
If you are experiencing an issue with your immigration status please contact us at the number provided below. MICA's PDSO and RO, Brandie Shackelford, can be reached directly at (443) 908 0667.
Please note that this emergency phone line is exclusively for urgent matters and should not be used for inquiries regarding OPT or CPT.
Contact your country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S. to report your passport lost. You will need to apply for a new passport at your country’s embassy. You can also find passport information for most countries on the internet. Remember to keep a copy of your passport (personal data, signature page and visa page) in a safe place. Scan them and save them onto your computer.
Your passport must always be valid for six months into the future. If you travel and try to re-enter the USA with a passport that will expire in under six months, you may be denied entry to the USA. Contact your country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S. They will be able to tell the procedures for renewing your passport.
You may remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa if your passport and I-20 are current. If you leave the U.S. with an expired visa and wish to re-enter, you will need to apply for a new visa. You may ONLY apply for new visas from outside the country. Students should apply for visas from their home countries or country of residence. You should obtain a visa renewal letter from International Education before you leave the U.S.
Check your I-20 ‘Program End Date’ on the front page of your I-20. You may be eligible to apply to extend your I-20. Visit International Education for more information. Note that you must apply to extend your I-20 at least two weeks before your current I-20 expires. Be advised that before we are able to extend your I-20, you must provide proof that you are financially able to pay for a year of tuition/living expenses at MICA. Be prepared to provide bank statements.
Visit the Office of International Education as soon as possible to request a new copy. An explanation will need to be provided in SEVIS, so please be ready to share this information.
The US Government expects you to report changes of your US address. You can do this by emailing International Education staff with details of your new address. You also should report your address change to MICA Enrollment Services by completing a Change of Address form at their office on the second floor of Bunting.
MICA’s Office of Student Accounts will be able to give you information about your tuition bill. They are located on the second floor of the Bunting Building. You may email them at studentaccounts@mica.edu or call them at 410-225-2356.
You may wish to speak with your Resident Assistant (RA) or staff in MICA’s Office of Residence Life. You can reach Residence Life at 410.225.2398 or residencelife@mica.edu. Don’t hesitate to contact International Education or Counseling Services if you have further issues, too.
Do not hesitate to visit Student Health Services - Chase Brexton in the MICA Wellness Center. You can reach them by calling 410-225-4118 or emailing healthservices@mica.edu. Contact them for walk-in hours, or to make an appointment. If you experience a true emergency, you should visit a hospital emergency room or call 911.
MICA’s Counseling Center (in the MICA Wellness Center) has counselors who are available to speak with you about anything that concerns you, causes you stress, or in any other way affects your life in the U.S. If you think you might harm yourself, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.
Don’t hesitate to speak with a member of International Education staff or Student Affairs staff regarding any concerns you have. We can help you understand both U.S. culture and any transition issues you may be experiencing.
Most F-1 students are not eligible for off campus work until they speak with International Education staff. Off-campus employment must be related to your MICA major and must by authorized by International Education + Department of Homeland Security BEFORE you begin working. Many students are not eligible to work off-campus until they have completed two consecutive semesters at MICA.
Current students may order official transcripts directly through their Student Center. Look for the link to "order an official transcript" in the links on the bottom right side of the page.
Without a My MICA Account MICA partners with Parchment Inc to provide secure ordering and delivery of official transcripts. Order updates are mailed to you and you can also check your status and history through your Parchment account.
Speak with the Financial Aid Office, located on the third floor of Bunting.
Please reach out to the office of internationaleducation@mica.edu for a late arrival letter. Also, contact your academic advisor and faculty member to inform them you may miss the first few day of class.
The US Government expects you to report changes of your US address within 10 days of the change. You can do this by emailing International Education staff with details of your new address and we will enter this information in SEVIS. You should also report your address change to MICA Enrollment Services by completing a Change of Address form at their office on the second floor of the Bunting Building.
One of the first things J1 and F1 students notice is the difference in teaching styles from their homeschool. MICA, like many U.S. colleges and institutions offers a liberal learning curriculum, which allows students to also learn about Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts, to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. For some students, this is a vastly different approach to learning. If you should experience adjustment issues with learning, please visit the OIE and we will be happy to make referrals to the most appropriate office.