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ISSS Forms

This section contains forms for requests by international students and scholars.

Please allow 2 weeks processing time for any forms submitted. You will receive an email notification once any forms or documents are ready to be mailed from the ISSS Office.

This page was last updated on: August 19, 2020.

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ISSS Form Policy

To submit forms to ISSS, please send them via email to the ISSS office at ISSSoffice@rpi.edu. 

Your documents should be scanned by a scanner or mobile app. These scans must be clear and easy to read. For some free mobile scanning apps, see this Wirecutter article: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-mobile-scanning-apps/

Digital Signature Policy

  • ISSS forms which are submitted digitally must have either an original signature on the form or an Adobe digital signature.
    • Original signatures are original “wet” ink signature. Anything that is not a scanned copy of an original “wet” ink signature, or a “wet” ink signature, is considered to be a digital signature.
    • ISSS has a specific format that we accept for an Adobe digital signature. Please use the appropriate guide below for instructions:
  • Federal forms and documents (such as the Form I-765 and Form I-983) CAN NOT have digital signatures.
    • Federal forms must be signed with an original "wet" ink signature, and scanned.
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F Student Requests

This section of forms are for those students who are in F-1 or F-2 status.

I-20 Requests

Fill out the I-20 Request Form to request an updated I-20 (e.g. program changes, funding changes, travel signatures)

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/I20-DS2019requestform

* If you are requesting a travel signature and intend to have someone else pick up your immigration document, please send an email to ISSS with authorization for the person you name to pick up your immigration document. They must bring valid ID to pick up your document.

Address Updates

If you are a current student who has recently moved, please update your address on SIS.

  • Your U.S. address must be listed under the Local address type and your foreign address outside the U.S. must be listed under the Permanent address type.

If you are a student on Pre-Completion OPT who is still enrolled at Rensselaer, you must complete the ISSS Employer and Personal Updates Form, found here: https://rpi.box.com/v/ISSSemployerupdateform

If you are a student on Post-Completion OPT, please see our Alumni page and review the ‘Employment Reporting' section for guidance. Do not complete the Employer Update Form.

If you are a student on STEM OPT who has recently moved or changed employers, please fill out the ISSS Employer and Personal Updates Form, found here: https://rpi.box.com/v/ISSSemployerupdateform and provide a new I-983 if you have changed employers.

Affidavit of Support

If you need to obtain a new I-20 (most often for a dependent or for readmitted students) and have a sponsor for your financial requirements, the sponsor must complete and sign the Affidavit of Support to indicate their confirmation of their financial support.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/affidavitofsupport

Change of Education Level Requests

Students must request a new I-20 when they change their education level. The I-20 is a Change of Education Level I-20, or COL I-20. The three possible education levels at Rensselaer are Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate. Please review the following form and submit all documents in the instructions to ISSS.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/noncotermCOLI20request

Students in the Co-Terminal (co-term) program must submit a request for a Change of Level I-20 (COL I-20) to the Masters education level. There is a specific form for students in the co-term program to request a COL I-20. Please review the following form and submit all documents in the instructions to ISSS.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/cotermCOLI20request

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Submit the application for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to ISSS to request work authorization for off-campus internships and Co-op. For additional information, see the ISSS Current Students page, in the Employment In the U.S. section - Curricular Practical Training.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/CPTapplication

Dependent Request Form

If you wish to bring a F-2 dependent who is your spouse or child to the U.S., you must first obtain a new I-20 for yourself and your dependent(s), which they will then use to apply for the F-2 visa. To request the addition of the F-2 dependent(s), use the Dependent Request Form.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/dependentrequest

Letter Requests

Please note: Full-time certification letters (letters which attest that you are a full-time student) are provided by the Registrar's Office.

For an invitation letter for relatives overseas, use this form: https://rpi.box.com/v/inviteletterrequest

To request a letter for a Social Security Number, use this form: https://rpi.box.com/v/SSNletterrequest

To request a letter for Travel to the U.S. after 5+ months spent outside of the U.S., use this form: https://rpi.box.com/v/travelletterrequest

  • If you will be outside of the U.S. for more than five months due to your participation in The Arch, RPI Co-op, or COVID-19, ISSS recommends that you obtain a letter from us to show the CBP Officer at the Port of Entry.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) Forms
  1. Review the ISSS Optional Practical Training (OPT) Process instructions for guidance on what you need to submit to ISSS and the process of submitting documents to USCIS.
  2. Download and complete the ISSS Optional Practical Training (OPT) Request Form to hand in with the documents listed on the OPT Process form.
    • Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/OPTrequestform
    • Effective 01/22/2020, ISSS will no longer accept OPT application forms with a revision date earlier than August 2019. To check the revision date, look at the bottom left corner of the form.
  3. For instructions on how to complete Form I-765, review the Form I-765 Instructions.

August 19, 2020 Form I-765 Update: USCIS will not accept Applications for Employment Authorization postmarked on or after Aug. 25, 2020, if you do not file them with the updated edition of Form I-765 and the correct fees. You can find the edition date on the bottom left corner of each page of the form.

  • The postmark date of your OPT application is what impacts which form you should use.
    • If your Form I-765 is postmarked before August 25, 2020, you must use the 12/26/19 edition. You cannot use the 08/25/20 edition.
    • If your Form I-765 is postmarked on or after August 25, 2020, you must use the 08/25/20 edition. You cannot use the 12/26/19 edition.
Program Extension Request

F-1 students who require additional time to complete their program(s) of study must complete the Program Extension Request Form and submit this to ISSS along with all required documents at least 30 days before the Program End Date on the I-20.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/F1programextension

Readmitted Student I-20 Request

For students who have been readmitted to Rensselaer, you must apply for a new I-20 with ISSS. Please complete the Readmit I-20 Request Form and submit this via email to ISSS along with the required documentation.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/readmitI20request

Reduced Course Load Request

The Reduced Course Load Request Form is for students who are requesting to be part-time for a semester. Undergraduate and graduate students need to complete different forms to request part-time status.

Undergraduate Students

Graduate Students

Social Security Number

See the link below for instructions on how to apply for a Social Security Number.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/SSNinstructionsF1

See the link below for the F-1 Social Security Number Letter Request to provide to your on-campus employer:

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/SSNletterrequest

STEM OPT Forms

COVID-19 Update: While we are still working remotely, ISSS will acccept the Form I-983 without signatures at the start of the STEM OPT application process. All other content must be completed, and Emilie will complete a review of the content and advise on any changes before you obtain a signature from your employer. The Form I-983 will need to be signed before Emilie can process your STEM OPT I-20, and Emilie will advise you when the form is ready to be signed.

  1. To request that ISSS process your request for STEM OPT, review the STEM OPT Process Guide and submit all required documents, including the complete the STEM OPT Request Form.
  2. For instructions on how to complete Form I-765, review the Form I-765 Instructions.
  3. For information on the Form I-983, see these links:
  4. To comply with federal reporting regulations, complete the STEM OPT Employer Reporting Form and submit this to ISSS via email every 6 months from the Start Date on your STEM OPT EAD.

August 19, 2020 Form I-765 Update: USCIS will not accept Applications for Employment Authorization postmarked on or after Aug. 25, 2020, if you do not file them with the updated edition of Form I-765 and the correct fees. You can find the edition date on the bottom left corner of each page of the form.

  • The postmark date of your OPT application is what impacts which form you should use.
    • If your Form I-765 is postmarked before August 25, 2020, you must use the 12/26/19 edition. You cannot use the 08/25/20 edition.
    • If your Form I-765 is postmarked on or after August 25, 2020, you must use the 08/25/20 edition. You cannot use the 12/26/19 edition.
Transfer Out Request Form

Use the ISSS Transfer Out Request Form to request that ISSS transfers your SEVIS record from Rensselaer to a new U.S. school.

  • The SEVIS Code on Page 2 is the school code from your new institution, and this is what tells ISSS where to send your SEVIS record. Please make sure you obtain this code from your new school. 
    • This will be a 15 character code, with 4 letters and 11 numbers.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/transferoutform

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J Exchange Visitor Requests

This section of forms are for exchange visitors who are in J-1 or J-2 status.

Address Change Form

If you are a current student or scholar who has recently moved, please update your address on SIS.

  • Your U.S. address must be listed under the Local address type
  • Your foreign address outside the U.S. must be listed under the Permanent address type.
Dependent Request Form

If you wish to bring a J-2 dependent who is your spouse or child to the U.S., you must first obtain a new I-20 for yourself and your dependent(s), which they will then use to apply for the J-2 visa. To request the additional of the J-2 dependent(s), use the Dependent Request Form.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/dependentrequest

DS-2019 Request Form

Fill out the DS-2019 Request Form to request an updated I-20 (e.g. program changes, funding changes, travel signatures)

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/I20-DS2019requestform

* If you are requesting a travel signature and intend to have someone else pick up your immigration document, please send an email to ISSS with authorization for the person you name to pick up your immigration document. They must bring valid ID to pick up your document.

Extension Request Form

Use the Scholar Extension Request Form to apply for an extension of stay based on your program of study. This form must be submitted ISSS along with all required documents at least 30 days before the Program End Date on the DS-2019.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/J1scholarextension

** If you are not a scholar and want to request an extension of stay, contact ISSS.

New Scholar Arrival Form

New scholars need to complete the New Scholar Arrival Form and submit it to ISSS via email along with these documents to check-in:

  • Proof of health insurance coverage
  • Copy of DS-2019
  • Copy of passport biographical page
  • Copy of J-1 visa sticker
  • Copy of Most Recent I-94 Record

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/newscholararrivalform

Social Security Number

See the link below for instructions on how to apply for a Social Security Number.

Form URL: https://rpi.box.com/v/SSNinstructionsJ1