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MISSION AND SERVICES
It is the mission of International Programs Office (IPO) to provide
the educational, professional, and cultural needs of international
students from pre-arrival correspondence to postgraduate concerns.
IPO recognizes the responsibility of increasing international and
multicultural understanding and serves as the primary liaison, and
resource center for international students. We currently provide
services to more than 70 international students. Our services include:
- Advising and providing information to international students
and MU staff and faculty on F-1 and related immigration regulation
- Creating a positive environment to support student success
- Increasing diversity awareness of MU faculty and student bodies
- Assisting international students with problems and concerns
related to academic and social life
IPO services which do not require an appointment:
- I-20 signature for travel
- Program extension
- Transfer from MU
- Emergency medical matters and claims
- Work study contracts
- Updates of changes in SEVIS excluding CPT and OPT
IPO services which require an appointment:
- Curricular & Optional Practical Training authorization
(two business day)
- Reinstatement to student status (one business day)*
- Off-campus employment authorization
- Advice on personal and confidential matters
- Advice on taxes
- Invitation letters for visitor visas (one business day)*
- Recommendation letter for student workers (One business day)*
- Transportation for appointments (IPO will consider it case
by case only. Students should notify IPO staff at least one week
in advance)
*During busy times, it may take longer than one business day.
Please come prepared.
MENU
SEVIS
F-1 Students' Rights and Responsibilities
Immigration Documents
Travel
Maintain F-1 Status
Employment on Campus
Employment off Campus
Internship with an International Organization
Curriculum Practical Training (CPT)
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT Extension
Medical Insurance
Taxes
SEVIS
The Student Exchange and Visitor System is the database that allows
SEVP to track international students and visitors and ensure that
they are in the United States for the purpose they states in their
application.
F-1 STUDENTS'
RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Immigration Acronyms You Should Know:
- IPO
International Programs Office (at Methodist University)
- SEVIS
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System — a tracking
system for F-1 and J-1 students, exchange visitors, and their
F-2 and J-2 dependents
- DHS
Department of Homeland Security — an office of the U.S.
government that houses, among other entities, the three immigration-related
departments (USCIS, ICE, and CBP)
- USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — oversees SEVIS
and charged with enforcement of immigration-related infractions
- ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement — oversees SEVIS and
charged with enforcement of immigration-related infractions
- CBP
Customs and Border Protection — operates U.S. ports of entry
- DOS
Department of State — office of the U.S. government that
oversees U.S. embassies and consulates abroad
IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS
The following documents are very important and must be valid at
all times in order for you to maintain lawful F-1 status:
- PASSPORT (should be valid for
a minimum of 6 months into the future)
- Form I-20 (Certificate of
Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (F-1) Status)
- Form I-94 Arrival/Departure
Record (white card usually stapled in passport)
Please keep your original documents in a safe place. We recommend
that you make photocopies of these documents and store them in a
location separate from the actual documents. If any of these documents
are damaged, lost or stolen, you must have them replaced as quickly
as possible. Please keep in mind that the F-1 visa stamp in your
passport does not need to be valid at all times but it must be valid
when you reenter the United States after traveling outside the country.
You should contact the IPO if you have any questions about the documents
or if you need to have them replaced. Please bring all of these
documents with you each time you visit the IPO.
TRAVEL
IPO encourages you to contact the IPO anytime you plan to travel
outside of the U.S. This is particularly important as regulations
and practices concerning reentry into the United States continue
to change. Many students now experience significant difficulties
and delays in applying for visas at U.S. embassies or consulates.
When you return to the U.S. after travel abroad, you should bring
your passport, Form I-20, and Form I-94 to the IPO so that we may
update your file. Immigration regulations require that we maintain
current copies of your passport and immigration documents.
—
You may travel within the U.S. provided you maintain your lawful
F-1 status and have a valid passport, Form I-20, and Form I-94 in
your possession.
Travel Outside the U.S. before Completion
of Studies — You may leave the U.S. at any time. You
are permitted to return in F-1 status if you have a valid passport,
valid F-1 visa stamp and a current Form I-20 that has been signed
for travel on page 3 by an authorized staff member at the IPO.
Only a Designated School Official
(DSO) at the IPO is authorized to sign a Form I-20. A
travel signature is valid for one year except for travel to Canada,
Mexico and adjacent islands, in which case the signature is valid
for six months.
Procedures for returning to Methodist University are different
from those for returning to attend a different school. If you wish
to attend a different school upon your return to the U.S., you should
notify IPO of your intention before your departure. You must obtain
a new Form I-20 from your new school and present it to an immigration
officer upon reentry the U.S.
Travel Outside the U.S. after Completion
of Studies — The date you officially complete your
studies (see "Completion of Studies" section) is very
important to your ability to travel and re-enter the U.S. If you
attempt to return to the U.S. in F-1 status after your completion
date, you may be denied the right to re-enter the U.S. unless you
have been authorized to engage in Optional Practical Training and
have received your Employment Authorization Document and obtained
a written offer of employment in your field of study.
If you depart the U.S. and wish to return after the date of your
completion of studies, you must present the following documents
to the CBP inspector upon arrival back in the U.S.:
- Your valid OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
(USCIS Form I-766)
- Your Form I-20 which has been endorsed for travel within the
last six months by the IPO
- Your passport
- Your valid F-1 visa stamp
- Proof of employment in the field of study
Application for New F-1 Visa during
Travel — F-1 students are allowed to remain in the
U.S. with an expired F-1 visa stamp, provided that they are maintaining
their status and their passport and Form I-20 are valid. Although
you may remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa, it will be
necessary to apply for a new visa during your next trip abroad.
You will need a valid F-1 visa in order to reenter the U.S.
Students needing to apply for a new visa during a trip abroad
should inform the IPO before travel. Security checks and supplemental
visa application forms developed since September 11, 2001 have significantly
delayed the visa application process in many countries. Students
planning to apply for a visa in Canada or in a country other than
their home country should first consult an IPO advisor.
Holidays and Vacations —
You may remain in the United States and still maintain F-1 status
during holidays and vacation periods observed by Methodist University,
including summer vacation, provided you are eligible and intend
to register for the next academic semester and all of your immigration
documents remain valid.
MAINTAIN
F-1 STATUS
It is extremely important for a nonimmigrant to maintain his or
her status while in the U.S. Failure to maintain the terms and conditions
of F-1 status is a ground for removal from the U.S. (deportation).
To maintain status, a student must:
- Report to the DSO upon arrival to have his or her SEVIS record
registered; and each semester thereafter
- Attend the school that is stated on the I-20
- Pursue a "full course of study" at the school listed
on the current valid I-20 during the academic year except during
official school breaks or unless approved by your DSO
- Make normal progress towards completing the course of study,
by completing studies before the expiration of the program completion
date on the I-20
- Abide by the F-1 grace period rules
- Report changes of address to the DSO within 10 days of the
change. F-1 student must notify the IPO and DHS of their address
by filing Form AR-11
- NOT work, either on or off-campus, unless specifically authorized
EMPLOYMENT
ON CAMPUS
F-1 students in lawful status who have been issued a form I-20 by
IPO and are enrolled full-time (12 semester hours) at Methodist
University may work up to 20 hours per week on campus while school
is in session. Full-time enrollment is required during the Fall
and Spring semesters. On-campus employment may be full-time during
holidays and annual summer vacations if you are not registered for
courses during the summer but are pre-enrolled or intend to enroll
for the Fall.
International students on F-1 status who will be employed are
required to have social security number (SSN) and open a bank account
so Methodist University can deposit the wage directly to students'
accounts. Students must apply for SSN in person at the local Social
Security Office at least 10 days after the IPO staff updates their
SEVIS record. SSN is required for payroll and tax withholding purposes.
What do you need to apply for Social Security
Number?
- Passport
- Visa stamp
- I-94b card
- Form I-20
- A letter of eligibility from the IPO
- A letter from your employer(s) stating the nature of the job
and hours
It is necessary for students to complete tax withholding forms
at International Programs Office. Please see taxes
for more information.
Important Restrictions
- F-1 students may not work more than 20 hours per week during
the semester
- F-1 students must be in lawful F-1 status, in good academic
standing, and enrolled full-time at Methodist University.
- F-1 students must stop working if the employment interferes
with their studies.
- All off-campus employment must be authorized in writing by
IPO prior to working
EMPLOYMENT
OFF CAMPUS
F-1 students are allowed to enter the United States for academic
studies. They are required to show that they will be able to afford
the costs of school and living expenses prior to entry and should
not plan on being allowed to work off-campus. Off-campus employment
is authorized only in cases of severe economic hardship occurring
subsequent to a student's enrollment in an academic program. Off-campus
employment is a case-by-case exception made for students who can
show that new, unexpected circumstances beyond the student's control
have created severe economic hardship. These may include:
- Loss of financial aid or on-campus employment — if it
is not the student's fault
- Large increases in tuition or living costs
- Substantial decrease in the relative value of currency the
student depends upon to pay expenses
- Unexpected changes in the financial conditions for his or her
sources of financial support
- Unexpectedly large medical bills not covered by insurance;
or
- Other substantial, unexpected expenses
F-1 students must have been enrolled for at least one academic
year and be in good academic standing before they can be authorized
to work off-campus.
The F-1 student must file a Form I-765 and pay a fee ($340) to
USCIS. This should be done within 30 days of the day you endorse
the Form I-20. If the application is approved, the student will
receive an EAD card and can begin working.
Approval for off-campus employment is good for one year. If the
F-1 student needs to continue working off-campus, you must reapply.
INTERNSHIP
WITH AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
If you are offered employment in the form of an internship by a
recognized international organization, you may accept such employment
upon receipt of authorization from the Immigration Service. Examples
of recognized organizations include the United Nations, the World
Bank, International Monetary Fund, etc.
CURRICULAR
PRACTICAL TRANING (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an employment option available
to F-1 students where the practical training employment is considered
to be an integral part of the curriculum or academic program. According
to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship,
cooperative education job, a practicum, or any other work experience
that is either required for your degree (as defined in the course
catalog) or for which academic credit is awarded.
To be eligible for CPT, you must have been lawfully enrolled on
a full-time basis for one full academic year, your employment must
be an integral part of your degree program or requirement for a
course (as defined above), and your job offer related to your major
or field of study.
The student may be eligible for CPT only if the training is a
requirement for graduation or it is a course of study for which
academic credit is given. The student's Designated School Official
must provide written authorization that the CPT has been approved.
Application Process
- Complete the CPT
Authorization form.
- Obtain an official offer letter on company letterhead that
is signed by the prospective employer. The letter should include
the employer's name, physical address, a brief description of
the employment and the specific dates of employment.
- Schedule an appointment with your International Student Advisor
and bring the following to the International Office:
- A completed CPT Authorization form
- The offer letter from your employer
- A valid, unexpired passport
- I-94 card
If all of the required documents are submitted, you will receive
your CPT approval at your appointment.
If I do CPT, can I still do OPT later?
Yes, as long as you do not engage in full-time CPT (that is, more
than 20 hours/week) for a cumulative total of 12 months. Part-time
CPT (20 hours or less per week) has no impact on subsequent eligibility
for OPT, even if you work for more than a year.
OPTIONAL
PRACTICAL TRAINING (OPT)
Optional practical training provides an opportunity to apply theoretical
knowledge obtained in an academic program to a practical work experience.
This employment opportunity must be directly related to your major
field of study. It may, in certain circumstances, be full- or part-time
and may take place anywhere in the U.S. You may apply to use OPT
during your vacation periods, during the academic year, or when
you complete your studies.
Who is eligible?
Students who are in F-1 status and have been enrolled full-time
for at least one full academic year are eligible for Optional Practical
Training:
- After completion of a course of study
- During the summer or over winter break
- The regular academic year ( on part time basis, deducted from
the 12 month maximum at a proportional rate)
When can you apply?
You may apply for OPT no sooner than 90 days before graduation/
completion of your program, and as late as 60 days following graduation/
program completion; however, make sure that Homeland Security receives
your OPT application in the mail before the 60 days period is over.
Please keep in mind that it might take USCIS up to 3 months to process
your application. It is highly recommended you that you apply 90
days before your graduation.
What is the difference between OPT and
CPT?
CPT permits employment before completion of required semester hours
only. CPT also requires the offer of specific job. Please note that
you are eligible to apply for OPT as long as you do not have full-time
CPT for a total of 12 months.
Application Process
- Complete Form
I-765 (See Instructions)
- Complete the Request
for OPT Application Form
- Schedule an appointment with IPO and bring the following items:
- The completed Request for OPT Application Form
- The completed I-765 form
When you meet with your international students adviser, he/she
will issue you your new I-20 with the OPT authorization on P. 3.
OPT processing time is two business days.
It is your responsibility to make sure that your information is
up to date and correct.
Mailing your Application to USCIS
Make sure you do not mail your OPT application along with other
documents more than 90 days before the completion of your program(s).
Send the following information to USCIS, arranged in the order listed
below:
- USCIS Form
I-765
- Application Fee—$340 personal check or money orders must
be in the exact amount and payable to United States Department
of Homeland Security
- OPT I-20, endorsed with an original signature by IPO advisor
and signed by student in item #11
- A photocopy of all previously issued I-20s
- A copy of your most recent form I-94, front and back
- A copy of the F-1 visa stamp page
- A copy of your EAD card, if you have had one before
- A copy of both your passport photo, information page showing
expiration date and your most recent U.S. visa
- Two identical color photographs. Photos must be taken within
30 days of the filing of the application. For more details on
the photograph specification, please go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/composition/composition_874.html
**Please be sure to make a photocopy of all documents before
you submit to USCIS. IPO highly recommends that you send it by certified
mail, return receipt. This is to provide you with evidence that
your application was received by USCIS.
Where to file?
Mail your Form I-765 package to:
USCIS Texas Service Center
P.O. Box 851041
Mesquite, TX 75185-1041
For private courier (non-USPS) deliveries:
USCIS Texas Service Center
4141 North St. Augustine Road
Dallas, TX 75227
Note: Once you have received
your receipt notice, you may check on the status of your application
online. Go to www.uscis.gov
and click on "case status." You will use the receipt number
(3 letter and 11-14 digits) as your reference number. DO NOT THROW
YOUR RECEIPT AWAY!!!
What happens after I mail my application?
Usually USCIS will mail a receipt to you at the address listed on
the Form I-765 within a month. The full processing of the OPT application
may take up to 90 days; however, it can be a lot sooner. IPO has
seen a lot of students received their EAD cards within 4-5 weeks.
**You may not begin your employment before you receive your
EAD card and the start date on the card has been reached.
What if my address changes after I mail
my application?
If you change your address before your receipt and/or EAD card are
issued, you must notify USICS. You are also required to inform IPO.
Can I travel outside the U.S. if I have
OPT or have applied for OPT?
In order to re-enter the U.S. after you have applied for OPT, you
must have your I-20 signed by an International Programs adviser
within the last six months, a valid F-1 visa, a valid passport and
your EAD card. As of January 2005, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
has also indicated the following:
- Condition 1: If your OPT is
approved and you are employed or have been offered employment,
you should be able to re-enter the U.S. with the documents mentioned
above, PLUS a letter from your employer confirming that you are
or will be employed there under OPT.
- Condition 2: If your OPT application
is still pending when you wish to re-enter the U.S., you will
be allowed to re-enter to look for employment. In case your OPT
is approved while you are outside the U.S., IPO strongly recommends
that on the day you are to leave the U.S. you go to the website
http://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp
where you can enter LIN number from your Notice of Action and
print a statement showing the OPT application is still pending
as of that date. Be sure to have this with you when you come through
the Port of Entry.
- Condition 3: If your OPT application
has been approved and you leave the U.S. before finding a job,
your OPT will be considered canceled and you may NOT be allowed
to re-enter the U.S.
What if I cannot find a job?
As of April 2008, this will be a problem. Under new OPT rules, students
on OPT cannot accrue more than 90 cumulative days of unemployment
during the 12-month period of OPT. If you accumulate 90 days of
unemployment, your legal F-1 status ends and you need to make arrangements
to leave the U.S., start a new degree program, or change to a different
status. Please note that Homeland Security does count self-employment
and volunteering in your area of study as "employment"
for this purpose.
If your OPT was approved before April 8, 2008 (regardless of whatever
start date you received), then the unemployment provision will not
apply to you.
If I apply for OPT and then decide not
to use it, can I get my OPT time back?
If the USCIS has not yet issued your EAD, you may request to withdraw
your application. If the EAD card has been issued, it is NOT possible
to cancel.
Reporting information to IPO
The new USCIS regulations that took effect January 1, 2003 require
you to remain in contact with IPO. Changes to any of the following
must be reported within 10 days
of the event:
- Changes in name or residential/ mailing address. In order to
do this, you must complete AR-11
Change of Address Form
- Report your employer's name, address, and supervisor's e-mail
within 10 days of any changes or new employment
- Report changes to another immigration status
- If you will leave your OPT employment before your OPT end date
- Notify IPO if you change your email address throughout the
term of OPT
How long can I stay in the U.S. after
the end date of IPT?
You have a 60-day grace period after the end of OPT. You are not
authorized to work nor can you leave and re-enter the U.S. on F-1
status during the grace period.
What if I have applied for an H-1B on
April 1 but my OPT will end before October 1?
Duration of status and work authorization will be automatically
extended for a student on OPT who meets the following criteria:
- Your employer filed your H-1B application on April requesting
an employment start date of October 1 of the same year
- Your employer requests a "change of status" to H-1B
and NOT "consular processing"
- You have otherwise followed F-1 regulations
This automatic "H-1B gap coverage" applies to all students
on OPT. This means that even if your OPT ends before October 1,
you will be able to remain in the U.S. and continue working for
the same employer who filed the H-1B for you until your H-1B becomes
effective on October 1.
Taxes
Students who have been in the U.S. less than 5 years (and are therefore
nonresidents for tax purposes) and who is on practical training
off-campus are not subject to any FICA (Social Security) and Medicare
withholdings. The mechanism for the exemptions are found under Internal
Revenue Code 3121(b)(19) and is available to persons on F-1, J-1,
M-1 and Q immigration status. It is a blanket exemption with the
only qualification being that the person be a nonresident for tax
purposes and that the work is authorized (CPT, OPT). IRS Publication
519 is a good resource.
Though F-1 students working off campus are exempt from FICA, they
are subject to higher federal (and state) withholding for nonresident
aliens.
OPT EXTENSION
Requirements for 17-month OPT Extension
Effective on April 8, 2008, the extension is available only to F-1
students currently authorized for an actively participating in an
initial period of 12-month OPT who meet very specific criteria:
- Student must be currently participating in a 12-month period
of OPT, working for a U.S. employer in a job directly related
to the student's major area of study.
- Student must have successfully completed a bachelor's, master's
or doctoral degree in a field on the DHS STEM Designated Degree
Program List, from a SEVIS-certified college or university.
- Student must have a job offer from an employer registered with
the E-verify employment verification programs.
- Student will have to apply for the 17-month OPT extension on
Form I-765 with fee.
- The student must apply on time (i.e., before the current post-completion
OPT expires). Students who timely file an application for the
17-month OPT extension will be able to continue employment while
the extension application is pending, until a final decision on
the I-765 or for 180 days, whichever comes first.
- Student has never received a 17-month OPT extension.
- The employer must agree to report the termination or departure
of the student to the DSO or through "any other means or
process identified by DHS." An employer must consider a worker
to have departed when the employer knows the student has left
employment, or if the student has not reported for work for a
period of five consecutive business days without the employer's
consent.
- The DSO must recommend the 17-month OPT extension in SEVIS,
after verifying the student's eligibility, certifying that the
student's degree is on the STEM Designated Degree Program List,
and ensuring that the student is aware of his or her responsibilities
for maintaining status while on OPT.
What are the eligible STEM degrees?
To be eligible for the 17-month OPT extension, a student must have
received a degree included in the STEM Designated Degree Program
List. This list sets forth eligible courses of study according to
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes developed by
the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education
Statistics (NCES).
- Actuarial Science. CIP Code 52.1304
- Computer Science Applications:
- CIP Codes 11.xxxx (except Data Entry/Microcomputer Applications,
which are CIP Codes 11.06xx)
- Engineering. CIP Codes 14.xxxx
- Engineering Technologies. CIP Codes 15.xxxx
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences. CIP Codes 26.xxxx
- Mathematics and Statistics. CIP Codes 27.xxxx
- Military Technologies. CIP Codes 29.xxxx
- Physical Sciences. CIP Codes 40.xxxx
- Science Technologies. CIP Codes 41.xxxx
- Medical Scientist (MS, PhD). CIP Code 51.1401
A full list of CIP Codes is available online at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/stemlist.htm.
What is E-Verify?
E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social
Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is currently free to employers
and is available in all 50 states. E-Verify provides an automated
link to federal databases to help employers determine employment
eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security
numbers. More information is available at the USCIS
web page on E-Verify.
Do I need a job offer before I apply
for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. STEM extension requires that you have an offer from a U.S.
company that has registered in the E-Verify program.
Application Process
- Complete Form
I-765 (See Instructions)
- Complete Request for OPT Extension Form
- Schedule an appointment with IPO and bring the following items:
- The completed Request for OPT Extension Form
- The completed I-765 form
When you meet with your international students advisor, he/she
will issue you your new I-20 with the OPT authorization on P. 3.
OPT Processing time is two business days.
It is your responsibility to make sure that your information is
up to date and correct.
Mailing your Application to USCIS
Send the following documentations to USCIS to apply for OPT extension,
arranged in the order listed below:
- Application Fee—$340 Personal check or money orders must
be in the exact amount and payable to United
States Department of Homeland Security. Personal
checks are preferable to money orders because they can more easily
be traced in case there is problem.
- USCIS Form
I-765
- An offer letter from your employer who has registered in E-Verify
program. It can be brief but needs to include the details about
how your employment relates to the area in which you received
your degree.
- New OPT I-20, endorsed with an original signature by IPO advisor
and signed by student in item #11
- A photocopy of all previously issued I-20s
- A photocopy of your transcript—it must indicate the degree
level and title of major/degree program.
- A copy of your most recent form I-94, front and back
- A copy of the F-1 visa stamp page
- A copy of your EAD card
- A copy of both your passport photo and information page showing
expiration date and your most recent U.S. visa
- Two identical color photographs. They must be taken within
30 days of the filing of the application. For more details on
the photograph specification, please go to http://travel.state.gov/passport/guide/composition/composition_874.html.
**Please be sure to make a photocopy of all documents before
you submit it to USCIS. IPO highly recommends that you send your
documents by certified mail, return receipt. This is to provide
you with evidence that your application was received by USCIS.
Note: Once you have received
your receipt notice, you may check on the status of your application
online. Go to www.uscis.gov
and click on "case status." You will use the receipt number
(3 letter and 11-14 digits) as your reference number.
What happens if I become unemployed
while on OPT?
Students may not accrue an aggregate of more than 90 cumulative
days of employment during any post-completion OPT carried out under
the initial 12-month post-completion OPT authorization. Students
granted 17-month OPT extension may not accrue an aggregate of more
than 120 days of employment during the total 29-month OPT period.
If you are unemployed for more than the permitted lengths of time,
you must consider your OPT to be automatically cancelled and your
F-1 status ended.
MEDICAL INSURANCE
2007-2008 International Student Accident
& Sickness Plan
Methodist University offers its international students an insurance
plan to help defray medical fees during their stay at Methodist
University. The student insurance is mandatory for all full-time
day international students. No coverage is provided for visits or
treatments that occur in a student's homeland country. The insurance
plan also provides a low-cost coverage for prescription medications.
We also offer a fully-insured Primary International Student Plan
that provides a $50,000 aggregate limit per accident or sickness.
International students may also enroll their spouse and dependents.
The plan is offered on a Mandatory or Hard Waiver basis only. For
additional information about the International Student Accident
& Sickness Plan, contact the student insurance coordinator,
International Student Accident &
Sickness Plan
Eligibility: Every full-time
and part-time international student is automatically enrolled and
required to purchase this coverage.
Coverage: The policy term will
cover enrolled students from August 1, 2007 through August 1, 2008.
Maximum Benefit: $50,000 per
Accident or Sickness
How does the plan work?
- There is a $0 deductible under this plan.
- This plan will pay 100% of the first $5,000 and 80% thereafter
of the usual, reasonable and customary expenses up to a maximum
of $50,000 for covered accidents and in-patient hospitalization
for sicknesses.
- Outpatient Sickness Benefit — For most outpatient sickness
services, the plan will pay 100% of the first $5,000 and 80% thereafter
of the usual, reasonable & customary expenses up to a maximum
limit of $50,000.
What is covered under this plan?
- Inpatient and outpatient medical care for accidental injuries.
- Hospitalization when confined for 18 consecutive hours or more.
- Physical Therapy — 35 visits per year.
- Outpatient sickness services including but not limited to emergency
room visits, X-rays, lab work, day surgery, office visits, therapeutic
services & supplies and prescriptions for an accident or a
sickness.
- Prescriptions are covered at 100% up to a $500 maximum. $0
co-pay for generic and $15 co-pay for brand name drugs.
- Mental Nervous & Substance Abuse are covered to $500 for
out-stay lifetime maximum.
- Provides Repatriation and Medical Evacuation benefits.
How to file a claim:
Report your accident or sickness to the Student Health Services.
A REFERRAL must be secured from the Student Health Services for
outpatient treatment, except: (a) in case of an emergency; (b) when
the Student Health Services is closed or between semester breaks
or during the summer.
Identify all subsequent information relating to your claim with
your name, the institution name, the policy number, and the initial
date of injury or sickness.
Summit America Insurance Services, LC
7400 College Blvd., Suite 120
Overland Park, KS 66210
Phone: 800-926-3441
Fax: (913) 327-7520
Email Address:
Website: http://www.summitamerica-ins.com
***NOTE: Medical bills will not be paid without a claim form
and a referral for outpatient sickness treatment from the Student
Health Center. ***
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