If you plan to travel outside the U.S., you need a travel signature on your I-20 form. Travel signatures are valid for 1 year to the date signed and can be used multiple times before they expire. To get a valid travel signature on your Form I-20, you must submit your request at least two weeks before you plan to travel.

We usually send out an email reminder to all student about a month before the semester ends to inform them that a travel signature is required if they plan to travel abroad and come back to the U.S. next semester.

If you need a travel signature, please email the ISS team at iss@cumberland.edu or stop by our office in Memorial Hall, 2nd Floor, Palla Center for International Programs. 
 

If you need to get or renew a driver's license, please visit the Driver Services page on the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security website.

Students applying for a driver’s license should be prepared to present the below listed documents to the DMV: 

• Passport

• Visa

• I-94 (can be downloaded from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/search/recent-search)

• Continued Attendance I-20

• Support letter from Cumberland University

• Two (2) proof of residency (current utility bills, bank statement, rental contract, automobile/life/health insurance, etc.)

• SSN card, SSA-L676 Form "Refusal to Process SSN Application or Social Security Number Affidavit

If you need a letter, stop by our office in Memorial Hall or Click Here to Request One – Please fill out the request form by writing all the information exactly as seen on your I-20.
 

Do I need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)? Many students think that they need to have a SSN to open a bank account, or rent an apartment. You do not need an SSN to do any of these things. An SSN is a nine-digit number assigned by the SSA to track workers’ earnings and for tax purposes. The SSA generally only assigns SSNs to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and individuals legally authorized to work in the United States.

As an F-1 student, you may be eligible for an SSN in certain circumstances:

• You have authorization for curricular practical training (CPT)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has approved your application for employment authorization (OPT or economic hardship etc.)
• You have have secured on-campus employment. If you have on-campus work authorization, it is especially important to talk to your DSO about requirements because the SSA will need specific information from the on-campus employer and from the DSO about the on-campus job.

Once you receive a job offer, you may request an SSN Support Letter from the ISS team. You will need to take your SSN Support Letter along with the items below to your nearest social security office: 

• Passport

• Visa

• I-94 (can be downloaded from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/search/recent-search) 

• Continued Attendance I-20 form

• Employment Letter

• SS-5 Form - Please fill out the request form by writing all the information exactly as seen on your I-20.

• CU SSN Support Letter is for currently enrolled students
• SSN applications often take 2-4 weeks to process, but can take longer depending on how busy your local SSN office is
• F-2 dependents are not eligible for a SSN

Once you've obtained an SSN card, you are required to send a copy to us at iss@cumberland.edu. 

F-1 students have limited employment opportunities available. If you're seeking employment, consider checking if there are any openings at Dining Hall, the CU Bookstore or Maintenance. Tutoring opportunities are also available, but only for Sophomores and higher. The maximum number of work hours is 20 hours per week during the semester. During the breaks, you can work more than 20 hours (full-time).

All employment opportunities must be reviewed and approved by a DSO at the International Students Services Office.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an internship or work experience directly related to your field of study. It can be on or off-campus. CPT must be authorized by your DSO before starting.

To qualify, you must:

• Be enrolled full-time (12 credits for undergraduate, 6 credits for graduate students).

• Must be required or integral to your curriculum (you need to be registered for an internship course).

• Be in good academic standing (UG: 2.5 GPA, G: 3.0 GPA)

• Complete required CPT paperwork with your academic advisor and employer, and return it back to ISS for review along with the job offer letter. 

Undergraduate students cannot apply for CPT during their first year.

CPT Eligible Courses (Fall 2025, Spring 2026)

• Applications are specific to term and employer
• If employment changes OR if a student starts a new program of study a new request is required (Submitting a request for one term does not automatically carry over to the next term even if some requests have already been applied, approved, or issued)
• Please make sure to submit the proper application and/or renewal for each term. It is a student’s responsibility to keep track of employment details and update their DSO.

• Secure a job/internship offer (in writing) in a position directly related to the student’s field of study
• You will need to complete 1) the CPT Cooperative Agreement Form and provide 2) an Employer’s Letter that includes all the details on the CPT Employer Form, and email the forms at iss@cumberland.edu or bring it to the ISS office for review. 

Offer Letter should be on a company letter head and signed by the employer or student's supervisor. The letter must include the following:

- Student Name
- Company Name and Address
- Worksite Address (if different from company address)
- Job Title
- Start Date and End Date
- Number of Hours Per Week
- Name and Contact Information for Work Supervisor
- Job description/job posting indicating the job duties

Changes to your Job

You must complete a new application at least 2 weeks before you:

• Change your employer
• Change your position at the same employer
• Switch to part-time or full-time employment

• If you lose your job, decide to quit, or otherwise stop working before the CPT end date written on your I20, you must request to cancel your CPT.
• If you stop working on the day written on your I20, you do not need to do anything.  Your authorization will automatically end.
• To request cancellation or removal of CPT from your I-20, please send an email to iss@cumberland.edu

The CU Care Team is committed to serving our community by aiding students who encounter barriers that may limit their success. The team promotes the academic, social, and mental well-being of students and provides supportive care and connections to campus and community resources.

Don’t let a question or concern create a barrier between you and your success!

If you or someone you care about is in need, submit a Care Connection 24/7!

As a student-athlete, you are covered by insurance provided through the Athletic Department. For more details, please reach out to the Athletic Department or your coach.

If you're not a student-athlete, you will need to obtain your own insurance. While students with an F-1 visa are not required by the U.S. government to have health insurance coverage, it is highly recommended. 
 

The most convenient method of making payment(s) is submitting an electronic payment online via the student's CAMS ePortal account.


CLICK HERE to Login to CAMS >>


Online payment can be made by e-check from a U.S. Checking account or by Credit or Debit cards – Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Students may also pay by checks drawn on U.S. banks and money orders in U.S. dollars by mail or pay in person by cash, check or debit/credit card.

Please mail payments to:

Cumberland University
Attn: Accounts Receivable
One Cumberland Square
Lebanon, TN 37087

All other questions related to billing or payments can be directed to studentbilling@cumberland.edu

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• You MUST have an Acceptance Letter from your new institution before initiating the transfer.

• Contact the International Student Services (ISS) office and complete a Transfer Out Form by the following link: https://admissions cumberland.edu/register/to-request. It will ask what date you would like the SEVIS record to be transferred along with your new school SEVIS code.

• Be sure to drop your future class schedule at Cumberland University.

Note: We cannot transfer a SEVIS record during the semester. For current students, the release day is usually the day after the current semester ends. 

Once the SEVIS Record is Transferred:

• The transfer cannot be reversed, so make sure everything is in order.

• You will no longer be able to make any updates to your SEVIS record.

• Your CPT and/or OPT will be canceled.