Instructions & Forms
You've probably already discovered that attending school as an international student or scholar requires a lot of forms. Some of these forms are used to satisfy the needs of the US government, and others are required by the University. Throughout the ISSS web site, we've provided links to the necessary forms and felt it would be helpful to organize them on one page for easy retrieval.
Proper planning is crucial for the timely processing of applications. For more information, please visit Application Deadlines & Processing Times.
Most of the forms below are in PDF format. If you do not have a PDF viewer, you may download Acrobat Reader for free from Adobe.
Forms for Students
- F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) Request Form | more info...
- F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) STEM Extension | more info...
- F-1/J-1 Student Program Extension Request
- F-1/J-1 Request for Reduced Course Load (fillable PDF)
- F-1/J-1 Student Status Verification Letter
- F-1/J-1 Student Transfer In Request Form (fillable PDF) | more info...
- F-1/J-1 Student Transfer Out Request Form | more info...
- F-1/J-1 Student Notification of Departure or Withdrawal from Penn
- F-1 Student Social Security Application
- J-1 Student Social Security Application
- Request to Replace I-20 or DS-2019
- Request for Dependent I-20 or DS-2019
- ELP Transfer Out Request Form | more info...
Forms for Scholars
- Transfer In Request for J-1 Scholars (fillable PDF) | more info...
- Transfer Out Request for J-1 Scholars | more info...
- Social Security Application - J-1, H-1 & O-1
- Request to Replace I-20 or DS-2019
- Request for Dependent I-20 or DS-2019
Informational Handouts
- Changing Immigration Status to F-1 or J-1 Student | more info...
- F-1/J-1 Maintaining Legal Student Status in the US | more info...
- F-1/J-1 Return from Absence or Departure
- F-1/J-1 Travel Checklist | more info...
- F-1/J-1 What to do Without a Social Security Number
- F-1 Reinstatement | more info...
- F-1 Student Economic Hardship Employment | more info...
- F-1 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) | more info...
- F-1 Student Employment Options | more info...
- J-1 Student Employment Options | more info...
- J-1 Student Employment: Academic Training | more info...
- J-1 Scholar Incidental Employment | more info...
- J-2 Work Permission | more info...
- Notifying USCIS of a Change of Address | more info...
- Obtaining a Pennsylvania Driver's License or ID Card
- Social Security (FICA) Tax Prevention and Recovery
- Replacing Lost or Stolen Documents
USCIS Forms
Forms from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are available from their web site at: http://www.uscis.gov/forms.
In addition to the USCIS search engine, there is a list of shortcuts based on keywords in URLs at: http://www.uscis.gov/keywords.
Forms and Informational Handouts for Penn Departments
- H-1B Initial Application Instructions and Checklist (fillable PDF) | more info...
- H-1B Extension Application Instructions and Checklist (fillable PDF) | more info...
- H-1B Processing Fee Form (fillable PDF) | more info...
- J-1 Initial Department Request Form and Instructions (fillable PDF) | more info...
- J-1 Extension Department Request Form (fillable PDF) | more info...