Maintaining Student Status
As an international student you must maintain your F-1 student status while studying in the United States. To maintain your student status you must:
- Maintain a full course of study (at least 12 credit hours per semester)
- Follow the proper rules for transferring from one institution to another
- Not work off campus without prior approval of immigration and the international student advisor (Students are not eligible for such approval during the first academic year).
- Attend the school on whose I-20 you entered the United States
- Complete your degree within the time specified on your initial I-20
- Have the back of you I-20 signed by the International Student Advisor to allow you to reenter the U.S. after leaving the country
- Keep your passport valid at all times
- Failure to maintain status can result in a student being out of status and therefore ineligible to attend school and possibly subject to termination of the I-20 and immediate departure from the United States.