Activities That May Affect F-1 and J-1 Status Negatively

As an international student you are required to abide by the laws of the United States. Some of those laws may be inconsistent with or contrary to the laws in your home country. It is your responsibility to know and abide by the laws of the U.S., the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as well as local municipalities. Please review the examples of unlawful activities and additional resources below:

Examples of Unlawful Activities

In Case of an Arrest: Know Your Rights in the U.S.

Resources

Violation of Penn State's Code of Conduct and Your Immigration Status
 

Examples of Unlawful Activities

Please avoid the following activities! These unlawful activities, as well as others not listed, may affect your status and stay in the U.S. You may also want to review Penn State Legal Information for International Students.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list.

  • Drinking alcoholic beverages under the age of 21
  • Purchasing alcohol for anyone under the age of 21
  • Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (including certain medications)
  • Using illegal drugs
  • Selling illegal drugs
  • Providing false statements on government forms
  • Stalking or harassing others. 
    Note: Acceptable behavior may differ in your culture, but it is important to understand how it is viewed in the United States.
  • Threatening others, which may be viewed as a terrorist threat
  • Harming others

In Case of an Arrest: Know Your Rights in the U.S.

  • You have the right to remain silent and not answer questions.
  • You have the right to see a lawyer.
  • You should seek the advice of a criminal defense attorney and an immigration attorney.
    Sometimes a defense attorney will resolve a criminal case in a way that would be the right course of action for a U.S. citizen but not the best solution for an international student. In these cases, an immigration lawyer can advise your criminal defense attorney. ISSA can provide you or your criminal attorney with a list of immigration attorneys.

Resources

The resources below provide information you should know about your rights.

Note: There is the possibility that students may be visited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents or FBI agents seeking information. If you are contacted, please alert an international student adviser, so ISSA can follow up if necessary.

Violation of Penn State's Code of Conduct and Your Immigration Status

In addition, activities that violate Penn State's code of conduct standards may affect your immigration status in the U.S. If a violation of Penn State's code of conduct results in your inability to enroll, ISSA will be required to terminate your SEVIS record. If your SEVIS record is terminated for this reason, you will not have a grace period and will be required to leave the U.S. immediately.