Full-Time Requirement
F-1 students must maintain their legal status at all times. The Office of International Service (OIS) does not enforce immigration law. We provide you with information and advice about immigration regulations. Students are responsible to know and follow all immigration regulations.
Maintaining Status
- Be enrolled full-time at your assigned institution.
- Have a valid current Form I-20.
- Maintain a passport that is valid for at least six month.
- Have appropriate authorization for any work and not be employed for more than 20 hours while school is in session.
- Maintain appropriate health insurance for yourself and your family while in the U.S.
- A student may not take "0" courses during the final term. If a student has completed all requirements for the degree, he/she must apply for OPT or apply for a change of status to some other classification.
Failure to maintain status may jeoparadize your ability to remain in the U.S. as a student. It is required by law that you come to OIS upon your arrival in the U.S. or if you are transferring from another U.S. institution.
Online courses:
International students are allowed to take no more than 3 credit hours of online courses per semester towards the full course of study.
All international students must report to OIS within 5 days of the occurrence of the following:
- Change of address
- Change in financial situation
- Change in enrollment status (full- time vs. part-time if you add/drop courses, especially if you drop below full-time
- Change of major
- Termination of studies/withdrawal date and reason
- Number of credit hours completed at the end of each semester
- Completion of studies
- On-campus employment
- Off-campus employment CPT/OPT/Economic Hardship
- Transfer out of the university
Before making a decision to change your course of study, transfer to another institution, travel outside the U.S., or accept employment, you should seek advice from OIS.
Travel and Reentry
Report to OIS before leaving the U.S. to travel. A signature on page 3 of your Form I-20 is needed to guarantee reentry to the U.S. OIS must have your current residential address at all times. On-campus work requires that you report to OIS with an employee clearance.
To work off campus, F-1 students must obtain approval from the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). Immigration permission is required and is granted through issuance of an employment authorization document.
It is your responsibility to abide by the rules and regulations of INS.
