Maintenance of F-1 Status

To maintain F-1 status, students must do the following:

1. Maintain a valid passport
2. Attend the school they are authorized to attend (in essence they should be attending the school INS last authorized for attendance- -see the INS stamp in the upper right corner of the I-20ID or the school that has processed a transfer with the INS, whichever is later)
3. Pursue a full course of study and make normal progress towards the completion of the course of study. Full-course of study or full-time study is defined in the regulations as follows:

   Undergraduate student: at least 12 credit hours per term, or the equivalent (as determined by District Director in school approval process)

   Student in post-secondary language, liberal arts, fine arts or other nonvocational program which confers associate or other degrees: at least 12 clock hours of instruction a week or its equivalent as determined by the district director in the school approval process

   Student in all other post-secondary language, liberal arts, fine arts or other nonvocational programs: at least 18 clock hours of attendance a week if the dominant part of the course of study consists of classroom instruction or at least 22 clock hours a week if the dominant part of the course of study consists of lab work

   • Exceptions to full course of study are:
     
     
     • annual vacation
     • medical problem (documentation from appropriate medical official is recommended)
     • annual teaching or research assistantship - a student pursuing employment pursuant to the terms of a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship deemed to be part of the academic program may carry a reduced course load
     • graduate students who have completed formal course work
     • postdoctoral students or fellows (be pursuing a combination of coursework and research)
     • valid academic reasons for enrolling less than full time (such as initial difficulties with English language or unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods)
     • undergraduates completing programs during the current term
     • full-time curricular practical training or full-time optional practical training
       
       
4. Apply for extensions of program before the expiration date on the current I-20 if necessary
5. Follow INS procedures for changing from one program or educational level to another (e.g. from MS degree to Ph.D. degree)
6. Follow INS procedures for transferring from one school to another
7. Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours a week while school is in session (full-time on-campus employment is permitted during vacation periods such summer as long as student was enrolled full- time the term before and intends to be full-time the following term)
8. Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization. Limit off-campus employment (with authorization through economic hardship or part-time practical training) to 20 hours per week while school is in session

Did you know?

SCC's International Student Office helps students adjust to college life in the United States.