FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Diversity Visa Lottery 2009
Getting a Job
Financial Aid and Tuition Rates for International Students
Student Housing
How to Apply for the F-1 Visa/Status
How to Apply for a J-1 Visa

Diversity Visa Lottery 2009

What is the Diversity Visa Lottery?
Every year, the US Department of State runs the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, which grants 50,000 visas to people all around the world, including people who currently reside in the United States. The recipients are chosen from a pool of eligible applicants. All 50,000 winners are issued a US Green Card (permanent residency) authorizing them and their families to live and work in the United States.

Does applying for the DV lottery negatively affect my current status?
No, in the event you are not granted a green card, participating in the Visa Lottery will not change your current status. However, undocumented students, who live in the US without legal authorization, should not apply.

Where can I obtain an application?
The application should be filled out and submitted electronically at http://www.dvlottery.state.gov/.

When does the registration period take place?
The DV-2009 Lottery begins at Noon on October 3, 2007 and ends at Noon on December 2, 2007. Late applications will not be considered.

What are the requirements for applying?
In order to qualify, your native country must be on the list of eligible countries, available on the above website. The Department of State requires that every applicant must have at least a high school education or its equivalent or, within the past five years, have two years of work experience in an occupation requiring at least two years training or experience.

Who is not eligible to apply?
For DV-2009, natives of the following countries are not eligible to apply because they sent a total of more than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. over the period of the previous five years: Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam.

What is the procedure of applying?
An application is considered complete once it is filled out and submitted electronically along with pictures of the applicant and his/her spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age.

Who can I include in my application?
An applicant may list his/her spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age. Likewise, a husband and wife may each submit one application if each meets the eligibility requirements. If either were selected, the other would be entitled to derivative status automatically.

Do applications I have submitted for DV lottery in previous years affect my current eligibility somehow?
No, previously submitted application will not interfere with your current application.

What is the cost of applying?
There is no fee for applying. We encourage you to avoid private companies which offer to fill out your application for additional fees.

Where can I obtain additional information about the DV lottery?
If the above website does not address your concerns, feel free to contact the Office of International Students at Hunter College or contact the CUNY Immigration Center at 646-344-7250.

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Getting a Job

Am I eligible to work in the U.S. with an F-1 or J-1 status?
Yes, once you matriculate as an F-1 or J-1 student in school, you may work up to 20 hours a week while school is in session and full-time during breaks.

What kind of job can I get?
All F-1 and J-1 students are eligible for an on-campus job (on all CUNY campuses); undergraduate students who spent more than two semesters in a U.S. school and declared a major, and all graduate students are eligible to obtain an off-campus job.

I decided I want to get an on-campus job, how do I do this?
In order to have an on-campus, or any other kind of job, you must have a social security number.  If you don’t already have a social security number, you should (1) Find a job; (2) Ask your employer to give you a letter which indicates his intents to hire you and specifies the type of position; (3) Bring the letter to the International Students Office and get a complimentary letter from an adviser; (4) Go to a Social Security Administrative Office with these two letters, an application form, valid passport, I-94 form, I-20 form, and your Hunter transcript. Once you were assigned a social security number, you may begin working.

Where can I find an on-campus job?
Consult an updated list of job openings available on www.cuny.edu under Jobs at CUNY. Feel free to stop by the Office of Career Development in room 805 HE for additional assistance.

I am qualified for an off-campus job, what’s the procedure?
Similarly to the on-campus job procedure, a student needs to find a job and apply for a social security number subsequently. The off-campus job has to be related to the student’s major field of study.

Are there any special restrictions for an off-campus job I should be aware of?
An F-1 student may hold an off-campus job for up to 11 months without any effect on his future employment permit after graduation, the Optional Practical Training (OPT). Any day in excess of these 11 months will be deducted from the OPT’s 12 month period; part-time job is permitted for up to 22 months without affecting the OPT eligibility.

Are there any special circumstances which would allow me to obtain an off-campus job that is not related to my major?
Under Severe Economic Hardship Employment Authorization, an F-1 or J-1 student is allowed to work off-campus in a position that is not related to his major. This authorization allows the student to hold that job for up to 12 months (part time while school is in session), without being deducted from the OPT’s 12 month period, even if the number of months the student has held a job exceeds 12 after adding the CPT accumulated hours.  Severe economic hardship can be granted only in the event of unprecedented financial difficulties (e.g. inordinate increase in school tuition, devaluation of the currency from the country of citizenship, sudden death of sponsor, natural disaster).

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Financial Aid and Tuition Rates for International Students

Am I eligible to apply for federal or state financial aid as an international student?
No, any type of federal financial aid, along with other sources of state financial assistance, is reserved for citizens and permanent residents. International students are not eligible to apply.

Are there any other sources of financial assistance an F-1 or J-1 student might be eligible for?
There is a very limited number of grants and scholarships available for F-1 and J-1 students, especially for undergraduate studies. However, we encourage you to log onto the International Students website at http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/international.htm, stop by the International Student Office and review the International Student Scholarship Guide, or speak with one of our advisers (Fall 2007 hours: Mon. 2:00-6:30pm; Tue. and Wed. 9:30-11:00am and 1:00-5:00pm; Thurs. 2:00-5:30pm; Fri. 1:00-5:00pm). Likewise, you should review the scholarships advertised in the weekly Hunter E-Bulletin.

So should I fill out a FASFA (Free Application for Federal Financial Aid)?
Since international students cannot receive federal or state financial aid, it is not necessary to fill out a FASFA form. Yet, you may wish to fill out a paper FASFA (available in any NY public library) in order to determine your estimated family financial contribution; some private funding resources would like to know your estimated family contribution in order to determine your financial need and aid eligibility. In this case fill out a FASFA leaving your social security number blank and marking “c. No, I am not a citizen or eligible non-citizen.” The application will be rejected and returned to you, but will include your estimated family contribution, which could be used by private scholarship funds to determine your financial aid eligibility.

On what grounds can I get financial assistance?
Generally, scholarships and grants for international students are not based on financial need solely. Ethnic background, academic merit, and other significant achievements are all common factors contributing to financial aid eligibility. Please consult the requirements for the specific scholarship you are interested in to see if you are qualified.

Am I eligible for in-state tuition rates?
Non-resident tuition for state colleges is higher than in-state tuition. In New York, students who are not citizens or permanent residents are eligible for in-state tuition if they meet the following requirements;

• Have lived in New York Sate more than one year prior to the first day of school and are “lawfully present in the US.” To fulfill this requirement you need to have one of the authorized visas: A-1, A-2, A-3, E-1, E-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, H-1, H-4, I, K, L, N, R, S, T, U, or V (please note that, F-1 and J-1 are not included). Alternatively, individuals who have been granted the status of refugees, asylee, or parolee are also considered lawfully present in the US.
• Have attended for at least two years and graduated from an approved New York State high school and applied for CUNY within five years of receiving a high school diploma.

I meet these requirements and would like to be considered for in-state tuition rate. How do I do it?
You need to fill out an application and provide supplementary documentation which proves that you have lived in New York State more than a year prior to the first day of school (e.g. a valid NY driver’s license, lease agreement, etc.). Incoming freshmen should approach the Admissions Office and current students who changed their status to one of the above since they first matriculated should approach the Office of the Registrar to obtain the application form and the complete list of required documents.

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Student Housing

Am I guaranteed a room in Hunter Residence Hall upon getting accepted to Hunter?
No, Hunter College does not guarantee housing for incoming freshmen or any other students.  There are much less rooms than applicants, thus we encourage you to consider also other housing options.

Where is Hunter Residence Hall located, how many rooms are there, and of what type?
Hunter College Residence Hall is located on the college's Brookdale Campus at 425 East 25th Street (at 1st Avenue), NY, NY. The residence hall consists of 646 rooms, including 295 single rooms, 278 single courtyard rooms, 6 two bedroom share, 5 studio rooms, and 2 room suits. Undergraduate students can apply only for the single rooms.

What is the cost of a room over there?
The current fee range is $1,100 – $1,900 for single rooms per semester, depending on their location and length of the semester. Bigger rooms range $1,300 – $3,100 per semester. Additional fees include security and key deposits.

Based on what do you decide whether or not to offer a place to an applicant?
The process of reviewing the applications is based upon a number of factors. Applications are prioritized according to NY State residency, distance from the college, remaining financial need and date received. However, priority is also granted to returning residents and to participants of certain special academic programs at the college.

When should I apply for a room for the Spring 2008 or Fall 2008 Semesters?
The deadline for the Spring 2008 Semester applications is November 17th, 2007 at midnight. The Fall 2008 application will be posted on March 28th, 2008 at: http://studentservices.hunter.cuny.edu/reslife/reslife_application.htm, and the deadline will be May 2nd, 2008. If you wish to apply for the Fall 2008 Semester, do not fill out a Spring 2008 application. Your application will not be carried over to the Fall 2008 term. To fill out a Fall 2008 application, you must wait until March 28th, 2008, when the Fall 2008 application will be posted.

How long can I stay in the residence hall once I received a room?
The majority of students accepted to the Residence Hall are allowed to stay for two years unless they are participating in certain special programs. Other exceptions are seniors and second year graduate students who are given one year in the Residence Hall.

Are there any alternatives for Hunter Residence Hall?
Yes, Hunter students are eligible to apply for a room in City College Residence Hall. Likewise, many private residence halls throughout the city offer rooms in a wide range of prices. Other alternatives include renting an apartment with other Hunter students. You may consult Hunter Residence Hall’s web site, the Metro International website at www.metrointl.org, or Mr. Michael Schraunder at (212) 481-4318 from Hunter Residence Hall for additional information.

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How to Apply for the F-1 Visa/Status

What is the F-1 visa?
The F-1 visa is a student visa. It is issued by the US government to individuals who wish to come to the US for the purpose of enrolling in American universities, language schools, high schools and other institutions of higher education.

Where should I apply for the student visa?
You should apply for the student visa at the US consulate in your home country. If you are already in the U.S. and you cannot go back to your home country, it may be possible to apply for the student visa in Canada or Mexico.  However, we strongly recommend that you to stop by the International Students Office beforehand. Furthermore, if you are in the US on a different immigration status (e.g. tourist, business), you can change your current unexpired status to F-1. But do note that unlike the F-1 visa, the F-1 status expires when you leave the US in other words, if you change your status in the U.S. and then you leave the country, you must apply for an F-1 visa abroad in order to be able to re-enter the US as a student.

What documents do I need in order to apply for the student visa?
In order to apply for the student visa (F-1), you must first be accepted to Hunter College and request the school’s I-20 form. After you receive the I-20 form, you will be required to pay a SEVIS fee at www.FMJfee.com. This SEVIS fee will be used to maintain your immigration file. The next step is to go to the U.S. consulate in your country with your I-20 form and fill out an F-1 Visa application.  Make sure that you also take with you the receipt for your online SEVIS payment, the Hunter College acceptance letter, your passport and financial documentation that shows sufficient income for your studies and living expenses in the U.S.

How long will it take the U.S. consulate to process my visa request?
The length of the visa issuance process at the US consulate in your country depends on the availability of visa interviews. We, therefore, encourage you to begin your part of the process as soon as you get your I-20 form from Hunter College. To schedule an interview log onto usembassy.state.gov.  

I plan to travel to the U.S. with my spouse and/ or children.  What status will they be given and how should they obtain it?
Your spouse and/or children will be given an F-2 visa and you, an F-1. In order to get the F-2, your family (dependents) must come with you to the US consulate when you apply for your F-1 visa. They will be required to fill out a visa application and be able to prove their relationship to you with proper documentation. Your responsibility will be to show that you have sufficient funds to support them while they live with you in the U.S. ($6,000 for spouse; $3,000 for every child).

How do I get a social security number and work permits once I have a student visa?
F-1 students are allowed to work on-campus as soon as they arrive in the US. However, no explicit work permit will accompany the visa itself. In order to apply for a social security number and begin getting paid, you must get a letter from an employer who is willing to hire you, as well as a letter from an international student adviser. Please note that while on-campus jobs are available for both undergraduate and graduate students right from the moment of arrival, off-campus jobs are available for graduate students from the moment of arrival as well. Undergraduate students, however, may only hold such jobs nine months after their arrival and after declaring a major. For more information consult the Getting a Job-FAQ information above.

Where can I obtain additional information about the process of applying for a student visa?
For additional information about visas, log onto http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types1268.html or contact the State Department’s Visa Office. Always feel free to contact the International Students Office at Hunter College. Yet another option is to consult an education-abroad adviser at U.S. consulate in your country.

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How to Apply for a J-1 Visa

What is the J-1 visa?
The J-1 visa is given to students who participate in a short-term (e.g. one or two semesters) student exchange program that is sponsored by the US government/ their home country governments/ educational institutions abroad, and maintain permanent residence abroad to which they intend to return upon completing their studies in the US.

Where should I apply for the J-1 visa?
Applying for your J-1 visa should be done at the US consulate in your home country.

What documentation should I have when applying for student visa?
In order to be able to apply for the J-1 visa, you need to have your D-2019 form (issued by Hunter College after you got accepted and filled out Hunter’s D-2019 application) and pay the SEVIS fee at www.FMJfee.com. Once you have your D-2019 form and a receipt for the online payment handy, you should take them along with the letter of acceptance from Hunter College, a health insurance policy for the time period you will stay in the US, your passport, and financial documentation that shows sufficient income to the US consulate at your home country and fill out an J-1 visa application.

When can I apply for a student visa?
You may apply for a J-1 visa once you were admitted to a student-exchange program, received a letter of acceptance from a SEVIS approved educational institution and its complementary D-2019 form, and paid the SEVIS fee online.

How long will it take me to have the J-1 visa issued from the moment I applied?
The length of the process depends on the availability of visa interviews at the US consulate in your home country. To schedule an interview log onto usembassy.state.gov. We encourage you to begin the process as soon as you get your D-2019 form from Hunter College.

How do I get a social security number and work permits upon receipt of a student
J-1 students receive a social security number upon arrival in the US. Likewise, they are allowed to work on-campus (see Getting a Job- FAQ page) as soon as they arrive in the US. However, no explicit work permit will accompany the visa itself. Off-campus work authorizations will be issued to J-1 students who intend to graduate from Hunter College, and they may hold such a job up to 18 months after graduation.

I intend to arrive in the US with my spouse and/ or children, what status will they be given and how should they obtain it?
Your spouse and children will be given an J-2 visa while you have your J-1 visa. In order to get that visa, they need to come with you to the consulate when you apply for your J-1 visa, fill out an application, and be able to prove their relationship to you with proper documentation.

Where can I obtain additional information about the process of applying for a student visa?
For additional information log onto http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types1268.html. Likewise, feel free to contact the International Students Office at Hunter or the State Departmentís Visa Office. Furthermore, you can consult an education-abroad adviser at your home country’s US consulate.

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