F-1 Student Worried and Needs Help

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I suspected that I was unauthorized to work off-campus. But since I was in a desperate financial situation, I worked for one week off-campus. </p>

<p>Now, I have found out that I am out-of-status by doing that. I worked as a salesman and I gave the company my social security number.</p>

<p>My Questions:
1. Do USCIS, Immigrations, and my school's international student office automatically know I am out of status?
2. If they do not, do I need to raise it or can it go unnoticed if I do not?
3. If I have to leave the country and reenter to regain f-1 status, can I be denied because of this particular violation or only because of other visa requirements like proof of ties to home country etc?
4. What acceptable reason can I give for being in violation? Should I claim ignorance or should I admit I was desperate and hope that the admission official will be gracious, or are there strict rules/punishments for violation of visa status?</p>

<p>Please reply. I am really worried.</p>

2

<p>I think you should talk to your International Student Center at your college/university. Yes, working without authorization from your school can be risky when it comes to your F-1 status. I worked in Family Immigration and have done bits and pieces of F-1 research but not enough to comment on it or give you legal advice.</p>

<p>USCIS is not aware of the fact that you worked without authorization unless you bring that to their attention. Again talk to your advisor, you may have authorization and may not even know it or maybe, you were right you didnt. Either case, the office of international student affairs (or whatever they call it at your uni) has the run-down on what you can and cant do. They should be your medium of communication before you head to USCIS. </p>

<p>And again, always state the TRUTH as to your situation. You worked bc you were experiencing financial hardship as a student.</p>