International students

International students under 21 years of age must bring the Immunization Certificate from their country of origin, which includes all the information related to the vaccines received. If you do not have this Immunization Certificate, you will be referred to the Department of Public Health closest to the area where you reside in Puerto Rico, so that you can undergo a physical examination and obtain the required vaccines, if any. These exams carry a cost that must be borne by the student.

It is important that the student has a bank account, money or credit cards so that they can cover the tuition costs and the expenses that come with being located outside their country. To process driver's licenses, bank accounts and accommodations, international students are required to carry a Certification of Studies from the Conservatory that proves that they are a regular student of the institution. This certification can be requested at the Registrar's Office.

The Conservatory does not have a student residence. International students must make the necessary arrangements to identify accommodation before arriving in Puerto Rico. For more information, you can contact the International Studies Coordinator.

International students who wish to study in American territory must apply for a Student Visa. The Conservatory accepts international students who have applied for and obtained the F-1 visa type. This visa is for students who have been officially accepted to a full-time academic program in the United States. International students are required to study full-time, which means maintaining twelve or more credits each semester in their study program.

To apply, you must be admitted to our institution and wait for the admission letter that the Admissions Office will send you. Once the sponsor documentation and financial certification are submitted, the student will receive the I-20 form. The I-20 form is not a visa, it only serves as verification that the student is expected to attend the Conservatory and enroll full-time. You must have the I-20 form in order to apply for your visa at the United States embassy in your home country and apply for the Student Visa.

If this is the first time applying for a visa, the student will be responsible for paying the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fees. This charge is intended to cover the costs of the tracking system for all students and visitors. This money must be paid to the Department of Homeland Security (I 901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee), either by mail or online.

For additional information on how to pay this fee and the amount to pay for this service or to find out if you are exempt, visit the SEVIS website: https://fmjfee.com/.

To obtain your visa you must visit the nearest US Embassy or Consulate in your country with the following documents:

1. Passport
2. Form I-20
3. Your SEVIS charge payment receipt
4. Proof of financial aid (e.g. account statement, affidavit, etc.)

If everything is in order, the immigration officer will issue you your visa and stamp your passport. Once you have received your visa, you are legally authorized to enter the United States as a student.

Once the student arrives at the Conservatory, they must present the documents to the Registrar who is the Designated Principal Official of the institution before the United States Department of Immigration.

Visa Denial

Most students do not have any difficulty obtaining their visa. However, there are times when, even if the student has all the documentation, the visa is denied. If experiencing any difficulty, the student must request in writing the reasons for the denial and then contact the Designated Principal Official immediately.

Entry to the United States of America

The moment you prepare to move to the US, you will need to go through the immigration area where your passport, visa and other documents will be officially reviewed. You will need to have the following documents on hand:

1. Passport
2. Visa
3. Form I-20
4. Evidence of financial resources

As a result of the “USA Patriot Act” of October 2001, all international students must provide current and accurate information to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS).

The student must report to the Principal Designated Official at the institution (PDSO) at the beginning of each and every semester a copy of the following documents:

1. Valid Form F-1
2. Passport page with your address
3. I-94 Entry/Departure Form
4. Local address (USA)
5. Address of your country (foreign)

Additionally, you are responsible for updating the PDSO when there is a change to any of the above documents or when you make a change to your academic program. Failure to notify these changes may have serious consequences for your eligibility to remain in the US.

The student must also have the following documents up to date:

1. Passport: The passport, issued by the government of your country, allows you to leave and return to your country. Your passport must be valid for at least the next six months. If it is necessary to renew it, you will need to go to your country's consulate to do so six months before it expires. You will be able to complete this process in the US by mailing your passport to your country's embassy.
2. F-1 stamp to validate your visa (student): This validation stamp allows the student to travel to the US. The date stamped on your visa indicates the last day you can enter the US. If the visa expires while you are studying in the US, you do not have to get the validation stamp again until you are leaving the US, however, you must have it renewed before re-entering American territory. You can only obtain a visa outside the US at a US Embassy or Consulate office. To qualify for the F-1 visa you must have your I-20 form updated by the Conservatory.
3. Form I-94 stamped “D/S” (duration of status): You may remain in the US for as long as your student status, regardless of the expiration date of your visa stamp in your passport. To maintain legal F-1 status, an international student must:
to. Have a passport and a valid Form I-20.
b. Be a full-time student during both semesters.
c. Engage in employment outside the university, only with permission from the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Requirements to Maintain F1 Status

1. Passport: The passport, issued by the government of your country, allows you to leave and return to your country. Your passport must be valid for at least the next six months. If it is necessary to renew it, you will need to go to your country's consulate to do so six months before it expires. You will be able to complete this process in the US by mailing your passport to your country's embassy.
2. F-1 stamp to validate your visa (student): This validation stamp allows the student to travel to the US. The date stamped on your visa indicates the last day you can enter the US. If your visa expires while you are studying in the US, you do not have to get the validation stamp again until you leave the US, however, you must have it renewed before re-entering the US. American territory. You can only obtain a visa outside the US at a US Embassy or Consulate office. To qualify for the F-1 visa you must have your I-20 form updated by the Conservatory.
3. Form I-94 stamped “D/S” (duration of status): You may remain in the US for as long as your student status, regardless of the expiration date of your visa stamp in your passport. To maintain legal F-1 status, an international student must:
to. Have a passport and a valid Form I-20.
b. Be a full-time student during both semesters.
c. Engage in employment outside of the university, only with permission from the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Violations of F1 Status

Any student who does not comply with the following provisions will be in violation of their status as an international student:
1. Not applying to the selected university
2. Do not enroll in the beginning semester (first weeks of classes)
3. Not attending the enrolled courses
4. Failure to start or complete the transfer processes during the indicated time
5. Not requesting required status changes within the time limit
6. Do not request program extensions before deadlines
7. Failure to report address changes (10 day limit)
8. Not leaving US territory within the indicated time
9. Working without authorization
10. Become inactive as a student for five months or more
11. Remain in US territory after finishing or interrupting your studies

Exceptions to the Study Commitment

Every student must maintain 12 credits per semester in their regular study enrollment. However, there are exceptions that may affect the student's ability to maintain their academic load:
1. Language difficulties
2. Difficulties with reading requirements
3. Little familiarity with teaching strategies
4. Improper location in levels of enrolled courses
5. Medical situations
6. Illness evidenced by medical certifications or hospitalization
7. May be authorized for no more than 12 months
8. Enrolled in thesis
9. When the student is in his last year and only needs to have a load of less than 12 credits

Reinstallation of F1 Status

All international students are expected to complete their program by the expiration date listed on their I-20 form. This period is described in the catalog as the maximum time to complete studies.

Students who lose their status because they have not enrolled full-time or have not completed their I-20 before it expires must apply for reinstatement of status. Likewise, it will be required to request status reinstatement for those students who lose status due to being on academic probation or suspension. Students who do not maintain their status could risk being denied entry to the US.

Students are eligible for status reinstatement if:

1. You are a full-time student
2. You are a student who has not been denied authorization to work
3. The student has not been deported
4. If the circumstances preventing you from completing your program are beyond your reach
5. If the determination not to receive reinstatement is very complicated

F1 Status Reinstatement Requirements

In the event that the student loses his F-1 status due to having violated any of the requirements established by the National Security Service, he may request the restoration of his F1 status by following these steps:

1. Submit to the Immigration Service a letter from the student, academic advisor and the PDSO (optional), explaining the situation convincingly.
2. Deliver updated bank guarantee document and sworn statement.
3. Request a Transcript of Credits.
4. Pay for the services of the National Security Service. For cost information, please visit the portal of the United States Department of Immigration at the address: https://fmjfee.com/.

In the conservatory

International students are allowed to work in certain positions within the university for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the semester and 40 hours per week during non-teaching time during academic breaks. No special authorization is required to work at the Conservatory, however, they will have to pay state and federal taxes on any money they earn. The Conservatory will publish internally the job offers available to students.

The conditions of employment at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music are as follows:

1. The contracted services must be related to your education
2. Full-time students are eligible
3. They can only work 20 hours a week
4. They may work 40 hours during vacations or breaks

After analyzing the request for work on campus, the PDSO is the one who authorizes the work, if available and in full compliance with the laws of the Immigration Department. The PDSO will authorize the application for a temporary Social Security number based on the dates submitted on the Form I-20 or duration of the employment contract.

Outside the Conservatory

To qualify to work outside of the Conservatory, the student must maintain academic achievement and maintain their F-1 status for a minimum of one academic year. Part-time work outside of the Conservatory will be limited to no more than 20 hours per week during class periods. A student who has been authorized to work outside the Conservatory may do so full-time only during academic breaks and school vacations. Authorization to work is automatically terminated when the student does not maintain academic achievement.

Kinds of work

1. Optional Practical Training (EPO): EPO allows international students to work in the US so that they can gain experience in their field of study at the Conservatory. This training must be specifically related to the student's area of study, and such a job must not be available in his or her home country. The Chief Designated Officer determines these two prerequisites. Students can apply for Practical Training part-time during the semester once they have been in status for at least nine months. Students are eligible for full-time Practical Training:
to. During annual vacation periods if the student is currently enrolled and eligible and intends to register for the next semester
b. After you have completed all the requirements to obtain your degree (excluding the recital or thesis)
c. After graduation. The Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Services authorizes Practical Training for a maximum period of 12 months for each degree completed.
2. Curriculum Practice Training (EPC): EPC allows international students to work outside the institution if their curriculum requires it.
3. Any work authorization that is not approved through the Practical Training program will be granted only as a result of financial problems. The student must demonstrate that his or her financial situation has changed drastically since enrolling at the Conservatory. For information on how to apply to obtain work authorization outside the institution, please contact the Designated Principal Official.
4. Work should not interfere with studies.

The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music will not be responsible for offering legal representation to any student who violates any of the provisions established by the Office of Immigration and Citizenship Services (Department of Homeland Security).