Passport Validity
United States Immigration requires that you keep your passport valid at all times. To extend or renew your passport, contact your country's consulate or embassy for instructions. For the addresses and phone numbers of consulates, visit The Electronic Embassy on the web.

Maintaining Immigration Status
You have been granted permission to study in the U.S. at the port of entry by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). In order to remain in the U.S., BCIS requires that you maintain your immigration status. This means that you must be a full-time student, abide by BCIS regulations, and that your immigration documents are submitted correctly according to those regulations.

If you abide by BCIS regulations, it is said that you are "in status". Significant penalties for being "out of status" can prevent you from taking advantage of a number of opportunities while you are in the U.S. Students who are "out of status" are reported to BCIS and are deported from the U.S. Being out of status can prevent you from re-entering the U.S. once you have left. Each student must sign page 1 of the I-20 certifying that they have read and agreed to the requirements of their status.

It is your responsibility to know BCIS regulations that apply to you and to adhere to them during your stay in the U.S. The staff of the International Office does not work for BCIS. However, they know immigration regulations and are able to assist you in knowing how to stay "in status." Please consult with the International Office if you have questions about immigration regulations or before you carry out plans to change schools, degree programs, travel out of the U.S., drop courses, accept employment, etc.

 

Full-time Enrollment
F-1 students must successfully complete a full-time course of study during fall and spring semesters.
. 12 semester hours for undergraduate students
. 9 semester hours for graduate students
. 6 semester hours for graduate students with a half-time assistantship
. Grades of "W" or "I" do not qualify as "successful completion"