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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
Student Health and 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.

Note: Current students must come by the IPO every semester to update their SEVIS registration. Check IPO calendar for SEVIS registration dates.

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.

Travel Within the U.S. — 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.:

  1. Your valid OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card (USCIS Form I-766)
  2. Your Form I-20 which has been endorsed for travel within the last six months by the IPO
  3. Your passport
  4. Your valid F-1 visa stamp
  5. 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

  1. F-1 students may not work more than 20 hours per week during the semester
  2. F-1 students must be in lawful F-1 status, in good academic standing, and enrolled full-time at Methodist University.
  3. F-1 students must stop working if the employment interferes with their studies.
  4. 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 ($380) 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

  1. Complete the CPT Authorization form.
  2. Print a current Grade Report from MyMU for the International Programs Office.
  3. 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.
  4. 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:

  1. After completion of a course of study
  2. During the summer or over winter break
  3. 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

  1. Complete Form I-765 (See Instructions)
  2. Complete the Request for OPT Application Form
  3. 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:

  1. USCIS Form I-765
  2. Application Fee—$380 personal check or money orders must be in the exact amount and payable to United States Department of Homeland Security
  3. OPT I-20, endorsed with an original signature by IPO advisor and signed by student in item #11
  4. A photocopy of all previously issued I-20s
  5. A copy of your most recent form I-94, front and back
  6. A copy of the F-1 visa stamp page
  7. A copy of your EAD card, if you have had one before
  8. A copy of both your passport photo, information page showing expiration date and your most recent U.S. visa
  9. Two identical color photographs. Photos must be taken within 30 days of the filing of the application.

**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. 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 https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/caseStatusSearchDisplay.do 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

  1. Complete Form I-765 (See Instructions)
  2. Complete Request for OPT Extension Form
  3. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. USCIS Form I-765 (Instructions)
  3. 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.
  4. New OPT I-20, endorsed with an original signature by IPO advisor and signed by student in item #11
  5. A photocopy of all previously issued I-20s
  6. A photocopy of your transcript—it must indicate the degree level and title of major/degree program.
  7. A copy of your most recent form I-94, front and back
  8. A copy of the F-1 visa stamp page
  9. A copy of your EAD card
  10. A copy of both your passport photo and information page showing expiration date and your most recent U.S. visa
  11. Two identical color photographs. They must be taken within 30 days of the filing of the application.

**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 "Check my 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.

STUDENT HEALTH AND MEDICAL INSURANCE

Should an international student become ill, the following steps should be followed:

STEP 1: Go see the nurse at the MU Health Center located in West Hall.
STEP 2: Should your illness require additional or further medical attention, a referral will be made for you at the MU Health Center.
STEP 3: International students needing transportation to an off campus medical appointment should notify the IPO at least 48 hours in advance.

Emergency Services
Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, a few miles from our campus. There are two convenient care centers, Urgent Care and Express Care, near our campus for treatment of less urgent medical care when the health center is closed. The student is responsible for charges incurred at off-campus medical facilities.

Note: If a student receives emergency or after hours care, the student must report to Ms. Lori French, Insurance/Immunizations Coordinator, located in West Hall, the first business day after the medical procedure for insurance claim instructions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure all referral forms and insurance claims forms are filed.

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, 2012 through August 1, 2013.

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:

***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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