International Student Services

International students begin the process with the Harding University admissions office. After they are accepted, students work with the International Student Services office to apply for a student visa.

FORM I-20

After admission, the International Student Services office issues a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility, which allows students to begin applying for an F-1 student visa. Students should review the I-20 carefully and notify the office of any needed corrections.

I-901 SEVIS FEE

The first step in applying for a student visa is to pay the Form I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System fee. The $350 fee is nonrefundable and subject to change. Students are encouraged to pay by debit or credit card to avoid delays. Students from Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria must use an alternative payment method, such as Western Union. Students who need more information should contact the International Student Services office.

Pay your 901 fee

FORM DS-160 AND YOUR F-1 VISA

Students can use the State Department’s student visa guidance to learn how to apply for a visa and what documents are required.

Review student visa steps

PREARRIVAL PLANNING

After students are approved for a student visa, the International Student Services office emails them the steps they need to take to prepare for arrival. The office provides guidance throughout the transition, from arriving on campus and attending orientation to finding housing and settling into a new home.

TRAVEL TO HARDING

On the day of travel, students should keep their Form I-20, passport and visa, Form I-901 fee receipt, and Harding University acceptance letter on hand, since they will need these items at the U.S. port of entry. 23

PRE-ARRIVAL FORM & AIRPORT PICKUP

The International Student Services office emails incoming students a prearrival form, which all students are asked to complete whether they need an airport pickup or not. Completing the form helps ensure arrangements are ready when students arrive on campus.

The office offers airport pickup from Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. 

NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION

Orientation for new international students is a mandatory program designed to help them transition smoothly to campus life. The one-day program covers U.S. immigration regulations, immigration record check-ins and health insurance requirements. Beyond administrative requirements, orientation connects students with peers and introduces them to campus resources.

FORM I-94 ARRIVAL RECORD

After entering the U.S., students should review their most recent Form I-94 record. Students whose record doesn’t match their expected student status, or who have questions, should contact the International Student Services office.

Get your Form I-94

TUBERCULOSIS TESTING

Students from certain countries must be tested for tuberculosis. The International Student Services office emails these students the date and time of their test, a blood draw performed on campus at Student Health Services.

The International Student Services office helps students maintain their visa status. Advisers are available to help students navigate the requirements of their student visas.

MAINTAIN YOUR F-1 STUDENT STATUS

To maintain their visa status, students should consult the International Student Services office before changing their major, dropping a class or extending their program beyond the end date on their Form I-20.

STUDENT INFORMATION UPDATE

Students must report changes to their contact information and academic plans within 10 business days. They should ask the International Student Services office which changes must be reported and what deadlines apply.

MEDICAL INSURANCE

International students on F-1 visas must have health insurance. Harding University offers medical insurance through Lewermark, and the cost is charged to the student’s account. More information about the policy is available online.

Lewermark Harding University.

COURSE LOAD

Before registering for or changing classes, students should confirm their full-time enrollment requirements and limits on online coursework with the International Student Services office. These requirements vary by education level and program.

REDUCED COURSE LOAD

Students should consult the International Student Services office before dropping below the course load their visa status requires. They may drop below full-time status only once per education level and only if they meet certain requirements.

SEVIS TRANSFER

Students who plan to transfer their student record to or from Harding University should contact the International Student Services office. They should coordinate the transfer before changing schools or making related travel or employment plans.

TRAVEL ENDORSEMENT

Before traveling internationally, students must get a travel signature on their Form I-20 from the International Student Services office. The signature is valid for 12 months.

PASSPORT & VISA

Students should check the expiration dates on their passport and visa well before traveling. Students may continue studying in the U.S. with an expired visa. However, students who leave the country with an expired passport, visa or both must renew the expired document before returning. Visas can be renewed only in the student’s country of citizenship or residence, while passports can often be renewed from within the U.S. through the student’s home-country embassy or consulate.

Career planning and work authorization are separate steps. Students should check with the International Student Services office about their eligibility before starting a job or internship.

ON-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

F-1 students are generally eligible to work on campus part time, up to 20 hours a week, while classes are in session. Job placement is not guaranteed, and students must confirm their eligibility with the International Student Services office and complete the necessary steps before starting any job.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

To apply for a Social Security number, F-1 students must have a job offer or employment authorization. After securing a job, students should visit the International Student Services office to get the required documents and endorsement letters before applying to the Social Security Administration.

CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING

Curricular practical training is available only when a student’s program requires off-campus work, such as an internship, of all its students, international and domestic alike. The International Student Services office helps students get approval before they begin any off-campus work or job shadowing.

CAREER PREPARATION

Students can use the Center for Career Connections to explore their professional goals and prepare for opportunities. Students with questions about immigration or employment authorization should contact the International Student Services office.

Center for Career Connections

Students should discuss their plans with the International Student Services office before their program ends. The office can help them identify the steps for training, further study, transferring or leaving the U.S.

OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING

Optional practical training, known as OPT, allows eligible F-1 students up to 12 months of temporary work authorization in the U.S. in a job directly related to their major. Unlike curricular practical training, OPT does not require a job offer, but U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has strict application windows and reporting rules. Students should contact the International Student Services office early to check their eligibility, review key deadlines and get the required Form I-20 recommendation before applying.

STEM OPT EXTENSION

Graduates with a qualifying degree in science, technology, engineering or math, known as a STEM degree, may be eligible to extend their post-completion OPT for an additional 24 months. A STEM degree alone does not guarantee approval. Students must also work for an employer that uses E-Verify, complete a formal training plan on Form I-983 and meet specific filing deadlines. Students should contact the International Student Services office to confirm their degree eligibility and review the full requirements.

GRACE PERIOD AND YOUR NEXT STEP

After students complete their academic program or authorized OPT, they enter a grace period to wrap up their stay. During this time, students may prepare to leave the U.S., transfer their student record to a new school or move to a new program or visa status. Because leaving the country ends the grace period early, students should consult the international student services office before making travel or enrollment changes.