Legal Information
General Legal Information
By law, all international students on F-1 must keep the following contact information on file with the government and report changes within 10 days.
You are required to update your local address within ten days of arriving in Fort Wayne, or after changing addresses. If your first address is temporary (hotel, homestay, etc.), you must update your address again after you move into longer-term housing. You can always update your local address, phone number, and alternate email address with International Services at any time.
U.S. Addresses
The format follows the same template as below. You might also see the apartment/room number under the main street address.
House Number, Street Name, Apartment/Room Number
City, State, Zip Code
Ex:
1234 Main Street #5B
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Ex:
1600 E. Washington Blvd.
Andorfer Commons, Room 223
Fort Wayne, IN 46803
New Phone Number
If you have a U.S. phone number, you will need to update this information with the school as well.
International Student Orientation
Attendance is mandatory! Orientation is designed to inform all new international students of important immigration rules and regulations! There is a lot of important information you must know such as do’s and don’ts as F-1 students. It is also to acquaint undergraduate and graduate students with Indiana Tech campus resources, necessary information and resources to settle in the U.S. and more!
SEVIS Registration
You will receive emails twice a year about SEVIS registration. The email is sent at the beginning of each semester: end of August / early September for Fall & end of January / early February for Spring. These are mandatory and generally quick. You should complete the SEVIS Registration form online. You will get the confirmation message when it is done successfully.
Laws
International Services and other departments from Indiana Tech cannot advise students regarding legal information. It is strongly recommended for you to do your own research on local and state laws while you are living in the United States of America.
Local (Fort Wayne) Laws:
Indiana State Laws:
Note: If you are planning on traveling to other states, it is important to make sure you are familiar with the state laws, especially regarding driving.
Arrests
The website below gives information regarding “What Happens When a Foreign Student Gets Arrested in the U.S.: What to expect from the U.S. criminal justice system and how your student status will be affected”
Immigration Attorney
If you are in need of an immigration attorney, you can find one on the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) website.
Signing Legal Documents
If you are signing a contract or agreement, you should make sure that you understand everything in the document. If you do not understand anything in it, please ask for additional information. DO NOT SIGN ANY DOCUMENT WITHOUT FIRST READING IT. Some of these contracts and/or agreements include buying a car, adopting animals, leasing an apartment or house, renting a vehicle, etc. Legal action can be taken against you if you violate any part of the agreement or contract. If issues arise regarding legal action, seek advice from a lawyer.
Reminder: You are responsible for all legal information. Please use the provided information as a starting point for your own research including understanding the laws, consequences, how to search for a lawyer if needed. For any arrest or ticket, make sure you follow the legal instructions to pay a fine and/or appear in court. If you do not appear in court, additional issues could result., for example, a warrant for your arrest could be issued if you do not appear in court when you are required.
It is the student’s responsibility to know and understand all laws and regulations surrounding his/her international status, state laws, federal laws, and other additional legal information. Indiana Tech is not responsible for any law that is broken by the student.
Additionally, any criminal activity that is on your record could result in issues with entering the country or applying for a new visa stamp. Your F-1 visa may be revoked. SEVIS and/or student’s sponsoring agency will be notified in some legal cases, especially of a criminal nature.