Maintaining Legal Status

It is the sole responsibility of all international students to maintain legal status in the United States.

• Registering for and attending classes full time (the undergraduate full-time course load is 12 credits; the graduate full-time course load is 9 credits) every semester with the exception of your last semester or in a situation where there is documented medical issue.
• International students F1 status must be enrolled as full-time students by the end of add/drop week each semester. 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. Exchange students on J1 visa are not allowed to enroll in either online or online hybrid courses.
• Do not work off campus without authorization.
• Report change of name, address, major and/or academic level.
• Check the expiration date on Form I-20 (see Form I-20, Program End Date in Program of Study box on page 1) and start the renewal process in a timely manner.

All events that affect maintaining legal status in the United States must be reported in SEVIS by the University. Some of these events include:

• Full-time course of study reported each semester
• Change of address
• Change of academic level/Major
• Off Campus employment
• Program extension
• Suspension or withdrawal from school
• Transfer to another institution
• Reduced course load

Student information must be reported in a timely manner. Failure to maintain legal status puts you “Out of Status” and automatically you lose all F-1 status benefits. If eligible, you may apply for reinstatement processed through USCIS.