International Student Contact Information Updates
International students in F-1 and J-1 status must maintain accurate local and permanent addresses in their SEVIS records at all times. This includes international students currently enrolled at UIC and alumni on periods of authorized practical training.
The local address refers to where you physically reside in the U.S. and cannot be a departmental address or P.O. Box. The permanent address is your international address outside the U.S. If either your local or permanent international address changes, you must notify OIS within ten days of the change so that we may update your SEVIS record accordingly. Failure to update your address in a timely manner could result in a loss of status.
Steps to update your contact information Heading link
Select your current status below to view your steps.
Enrolled F-1 Students
F-1 students currently enrolled at UIC can notify OIS of a change in local or permanent international address by updating their address in Student Self-Service.
- Visit the Student Self-Service log-in page and select your university by clicking the UIC logo.
- Enter your UIC NetID and password.
- Click on the Personal Information tab.
- In the Type of Address to Insert drop down, select either Local Address (International) for a U.S. address update or Permanent Address for an international address update. Click Submit.
- Enter your complete address and click submit.
Once you have updated your address in Student Self-Service, OIS is automatically notified via the university system and will update your SEVIS record accordingly. You do not need to contact OIS separately. However, if there are any questions about the information you submitted via Self-Service, an OIS Advisor will contact you via email. Please respond promptly so that we may complete the SEVIS update as needed.
F-1 Alumni on OPT
F-1 alumni currently on a period of optional practical training (OPT) can notify OIS of a change in address by submitting the appropriate form.
F-1 alumni on 12-month OPT should submit the Optional Practical Training (OPT) Update E-Form in myOIS.
F-1 alumni on 24-month STEM OPT should submit the STEM Extension Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT) Update Form to stemopt@uic.edu.
J-1 Alumni on AT
J-1 EV Student alumni currently on a period of Academic Training (AT) can notify OIS of a change in address by emailing oisexchange@uic.edu (for exchange students only) or ois@uic.edu (for all other J-1 EV Student alumni).
FAQs Heading link
Here are some frequently asked questions about international student contact information updates.
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What should I do if I do not have a permanent address outside the U.S.?
The F-1 and J-1 visas are non-immigrant visas which means the intention of the visa-holder is to depart the U.S. after the period of study plus any post-completion training is complete. By maintaining a permanent address outside the U.S. in your SEVIS record, you demonstrate that you continue to have ties to your home country. For some students, the permanent address is a parent’s or other family member’s home. For others, it is the address where you stay while visiting your home country during school breaks.
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Can I list my UIC department or a P.O. box as my local U.S. address?
No, your local U.S. address must reflect the address where you physically reside. It cannot be your department or advisor’s address nor can it be a P.O. box.