BYU NewsNet - Immigration Facts in Article Series Clarified

In a recent series of articles in The Daily Universe, some quotations were misprinted which gave a false image of immigration facts at BYU.

Enoc Flores of the International Students Office informed The Daily Universe of those errors. In this fourth article in our series on U.S. Immigration, Flores corrects some of those misconceptions.

The earlier article said international students "study in Provo on a B-2 visitor visa." Flores said BYU rarely admits students who are in the U.S. on a B-2 visa and if they do, the student would have to leave the country, obtain a student visa, and re-enter the country as an F-1 student.

"It is prohibited by law to study on a B-2 visa," Flores said via e-mail. "The B visa is one of two visas which do not allow prospective students to attend school."

Flores also clarified that B-2 permits usually last for six months.

BYU does not allow students to change from B-2 to F-1 visa status. However, other schools would allow them to change their "visa status" from B-2 to F-1. The change effected is not a "transfer," as previously cited.

Once the international student marries a U.S. citizen, then the couple may send a petition for permanent residency to Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS).

"The U.S. citizen petitions CIS to classify the alien spouse as one who qualifies for permanent residency," Flores said. "The alien spouse applies for Adjustment of Status. [He/she] can also apply for permission to work in the United States."

The earlier series' primary focus was on immigration policies and procedures, and not U.S. naturalization.

For more information, contact Enoc Flores at enoc_flores@byu.edu, or go to the International Students Office, 1351 WSC.