Maintaining Legal F-1 Status

To maintain a legal F-1 status, the student must follow the Immigration regulations as outlined below.

F-1 students must have:

· A valid Form I-20

· A valid passport

· A full-time course load

Undergraduates need to have 12 credits hour per semester

Graduates need to have 9 credits hour per semester

English Language Institute students need to have 18 credits hour per semester

For employment, F-1 students are:

· Allowed to work on campus up to 20 hours per week per semester

· Allowed to work on campus up to 40 hours per week during summer or winter vacation

· Not allowed to work off campus without proper authorization

· Eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) **ELI students not eligible

· Eligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT) **ELI students not eligible

· Eligible for Employment Authorization (based on severe economic hardship) **ELI students not eligible

Lastly, F-1 students must:

· Report a change of address to International Student Services within 10 days

· Follow USCIS procedures for moving from one program or educational level to another, such as changing from a Bachelor's degree to a Master's degree.

· Maintain a check up on the expiration date on the Form I-20

It is your responsibility to know and comply with all immigration regulations affecting your visa status.

Failure to comply with these regulations will mean the LOSS of your F-1 student status.