Maintaining Legal Status

It is the sole responsibility of each international student to maintain their legal status in the United States.

• Register and maintain full-time course load each semester (12 credits for undergraduates, 9 credits for graduate students) by the end of add/drop week, with the exception of your last semester or if you have a documented medical reason.
• Per immigration regulations, students in F1 status are limited in the number of online/online hybrid courses that can be counted towards full-time enrollment requirement. Every semester, international students may enroll in one online/online hybrid courses towards their enrollment requirement. In addition, international students may also fully enroll in all in person/in-person hybrid courses to meet their full-time enrolment requirement, and one or more online/online hybrid courses.
• Do not work off campus without proper authorization from the ISSS Office.
• Report any changes to your name, address, major, or academic level.
• Check the expiration date on your Form I-20 (Program End Date). Start the I-20 Extension in a timely manner.

The International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office must report to SEVIS all events that affect your legal status in the United States:

• Full-time enrollment each semester
• Change of address
• Change of major or academic level
• Off-campus employment
• Program extension
• Suspension or withdrawal from school
• Transfer to another institution
• Reduced course load

These updates must be reported in a timely manner. If you fail to maintain legal status, you will be considered “Out of Status” and lose all F-1 benefits. You may apply for reinstatement