STUDENT VISAS

Make-Up Designory (MUD) is proud to welcome international students. MUD is authorized to issue I-20 documentation for M-1 visas for students who are enrolled at the school. The school’s I-20 document is only valid for an M-1 visa, and can only be provided for the period of time during which the student is registered at MUD. The M-1 visa is for students only, and does not authorize external work experience. After a student receives the MUD enrollment package and I-20 document, he or she must pay a Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) visa processing fee (I-901) of $200.00 U.S. dollars through the U.S. State Department website: https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml. After paying the fee, students should print and retain a receipt as proof of payment. This fee must be paid before the student appears at the U.S. Embassy.

ENROLLMENT PROCESS

In order to obtain I-20 documentation for an M-1 visa, international students must complete the MUD School Student Registration Form, along with the school’s I-20 application. These forms may be downloaded from our school website (www.mud.edu) or obtained through the Administrative Office. In order to register, international students will be required to present valid proof of high school completion or a GED. Students who provide documentation in any language other than English will be required to have that documentation translated by an agency approved by MUD. An Admissions Advisor can provide a list of approved translation services and service centers. In addition, students will be required to provide MUD with financial records, to establish that they will have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tuition, materials, and living expenses during their stay in the United States. For more information pertaining to guidelines for specific countries, please contact the Registrar. After a student has completed all of the necessary requirements, he or she will receive the I-20 documentation via mail.

After students receive their I-20 documentation, they must next visit a U.S. Embassy for visa processing. MUD recommends that students schedule their embassy appointments as far in advance as possible, as availability and time delays may vary by country. Students should bring all necessary documents with them, including I-20 documentation, school contracts, financial and loan documents, and proof of payment of the I-901 SEVIS visa processing fee. At the embassy, students should have their I-20 documents and passports stamped and returned with the appropriate visa.* After students have received their visas, they should notify the Registrar by phone or e-mail, to let them know that they are ready to attend school. We urge all students who have questions about their embassy appointments or about preparing for their trips to contact our Registrar.

*Please note: in certain cases, an embassy clerk or Customs official may write “F-1” on the I-20 document instead of “M-1”. This error will not change a student’s actual status, and can be corrected.

Once a student has arrived in the U.S. at an American Port of Entry (airport, seaport or border gate), he or she will need to furnish both a passport and I-20 documentation to U.S. Customs. The Customs official will staple a small card into the passport. This is an I-94 document, and must be kept in the passport at all times. MUD will be notified through the SEVIS database that the student has entered the U.S. Students are required to report to school no later than 10 days after arrival. We realize that it may take students some time to get situated and adjust to new surroundings; however, a student must appear at the school and MUD must verify a student’s arrival in the SEVIS database within 10 days in order to avoid incurring problems with the student’s visa status.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The U.S. Government imposes many rules on international students. By accepting the school’s contract and the I-20 in order to study in this country, students are also accepting responsibility for residing and studying in accordance with the guidelines outlined below:

• Students are required to carry their passports, visas, and I-20 documents with them at all times.
• Students may only possess an approved I-20 form from one school at a time.
• International students are required to contact MUD if they have accepted a MUD I-20, but decide to attend another school. MUD is required by law to cancel the I-20 it has issued.
• Students are also required to notify MUD and the U.S. government if they move or change addresses during their stay. Please contact the Registrar for help completing a Change of Address (AR-11) form.
• After a student has arrived and checked in with his or her Registrar, MUD will update that student’s SEVIS records.

MUD is responsible for providing the following services to international students:

• Publishing the initial I-20 form
• Reporting courses or program changes
• Reporting a leave of absence (LOA)
• Reporting poor attendance and grades
• Reporting program completion

M-1 VISA SPECIFICS

TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS OR EXTENDING VISAS


With an M-1 visa, the deadlines for transferring or extending the visa are quite limited. Students who wish to do so may contact the Registrar for assistance. Please note that the processing and approval of an M-1 visa will take a minimum of 45 days.

Students who wish to extend their training or shorten their training periods should contact the Registrar. For any extension, a Change of Status application fee will apply. This involves filling out an I-539 form, including a check for $300.00, and receiving a new I-20 document. MUD’s Registrar can help students complete their paperwork and mail it to BCIS in St. Albans, Vermont. For your convenience, the package will be addressed for return to the school.

Our Registrar can also help students request a school transfer (I-539). Please note that the rules for transferring between schools mandate that an M-1 student can only transfer to another school with SEVIS-approved M-1 programs, and a related course of study. We encourage students to contact the Registrar for more information.

SCHOOL BREAKS AND HOLIDAYS


Many MUD students return home during school breaks and holidays. Prior to traveling home for short periods of time, international students should notify the Registrar and inform him or her of their plans. The Registrar will need to sign and date the student’s I-20 in order for him or her to regain entry into the U.S.

GRADUATES


After a student has completed his or her course of study at MUD, the school is required to update the SEVIS database and inform the U.S. government that the student is returning home. Students who wish to transfer or extend their stays after graduation should contact the Registrar prior to completion of their classes, and need to complete the steps listed above. All M-1 students have a maximum of 30 days after graduation during which to make travel plans and return home.

MUD INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES


At MUD, the Administrative Office Staff is resource to our international students, and can help address any concern related to international study, including visa and passport questions, transferring to and from other schools, utilizing public transportation, and housing.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER SERVICES


We are also pleased to offer our international students assistance with career planning through our Career Services Department. Before students return to their home countries, MUD can help them plan, organize, and prepare for the challenges of their new careers.

We encourage our international students to make appointments with our Career Services Director. While M-1 students are prohibited from working for pay while studying in the U.S., we can help students with a number of strategies through which they can gain practical experience and build their portfolios. While we do not offer Optional Practical Training (OPT) at our campus, we can help students look for unpaid assignments on university student films, as well as charity and special event projects.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS


In addition to perusing this catalog, we encourage all students to review the bulletin boards posted in every classroom and in the student Learning Resource Center. These postings include important and helpful information about our Saturday workshop dates, Wednesday night career lectures, and other special events.

Students should visit the Administrative Office for bus and train schedules and general information about the surrounding community.

HELPFUL LINKS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS


Make-Up Designory (MUD) website: http://www.mud.edu

For information about embassies and consulates in most countries, please visit the U.S. Department of State website: http://www.usembassy.gov/

For information about American culture and customs, please visit this division of the Department of State website: http://educationusa.state.gov/life/culture/customs.html

For information about visas, transfers and travel, please visit the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration website: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

Prior to an embassy appointment, students can pay their SEVIS fees and print a receipt at the SEVIS I-901 Processing Fee website: http://www.fmjfee.com/i901/fee/