Designated School Official (DSO): The term used by the Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) to refer to the person(s) who are authorized to endorse your I-20.

B-2 Status: Means that a person is classified and admitted into the U.S. as a "tourist" and his/her principal activity is for pleasure not for educational purposes. The authorized stay is generally given for about 6 months.

F-1 Status: Means that a student is classified and authorized to be in the U.S. for the principal purpose of pursuing a full course of study at an academic or language institution in the U.S. There are sections of the law and regulations that define what F-1 students can and cannot do while in the U.S. and students must abide by them in order to maintain their legal status.

F-2 Status: The nonimmigrant visa classification of dependents (spouse and/or children only) of F-1 students. There are sections of the law and regulations that define what person(s) on F-2 status can and cannot do while in the U.S. and that person(s) must abide by them to maintain legal status in the U.S.

Visa Waiver: A person entering the U.S. under a visa waiver means he/she is admitted into the U.S. as a "tourist" but without any actual visa stamp issued on his/her passport. Persons in this category, who may be issued a green I-94 with "W-T" noted on it, are allowed to remain in the U.S. for no more than three months or 90 days. NOTE: Persons admitted under this classification cannot apply to change status in the U.S.

Duration of Status (D/S): A notation specified on the Form I-94 and refers to the period during which the bearer of the I-94 is authorized to remain in the U.S. until he/she completes his/her program of study in an educational institution, and any periods of authorized practical training, plus 60 days, if still applicable, to depart the U.S.

Change of Status (COS): A Department of Homeland Security/United State Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) procedure through which persons in an eligible non-immigrant visa classification may apply to change to an F-1 visa classification in order to pursue a full course of study in the U.S. and be eligible for F-1 benefits. (NOTE: Persons admitted in C, D, K, and M visa classifications and the Visa Waiver program are NOT eligible to request a change of status to F-1 in the U.S.)

Practical Training: Refers to employment which is related to student's major or field of study. There are 2 types: Curricular practical training and Optional practical training. Note that any practical training (whether paid or non-paid) must always be authorized in writing.

Program Extension (Extension of Stay): The immigration procedure which an F-1 student must complete when he/she must remain in the U.S. longer than the time originally estimated for completion of his/her program as stated on his/her I-20. An extension can only be processed within a 30-day period before the originally estimated completion date.

Reinstatement: The immigration procedure which an F-1 student must complete when he/she fails to remain in lawful status or overstays beyond his/her completion date as noted on his/her I-20 and fails to complete a program extension.

School Transfer: The immigration procedure which an F-1 student (or a J-1 student) is required to complete when changing from one U.S. institution to another or when changing from one educational level to another (i.e., from bachelor's to master's). Failure to complete this procedure puts a student out-of-status.