Maintaining F-1 Status

To maintain F-1 Status, you must:

  • Report to the IPC (Deputy Hall 111) Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) or Designated School Official (DSO) to have your SEVIS record registered in SEVIS at the beginning of each semester of enrollment.
  • Ensure that the school listed on the visa and on the I-20 are the same.
  • Pursue a full course of study at the school listed on the currently valid Form I-20 during every academic session or semester except during official school breaks or unless approved under a specific exception in advance by the PDSO or DSO.
  • Make normal progress towards completing the course of study, by completing studies before the expiration of the program completion date listed on your Form I-20.
  • Keep Form I-20 valid by following proper procedures for:
    — Extension of stay
    — Change in educational levels or programs of study
    — Transfer of schools
  • Abide by the F-1 grace period rules.
  • Report a change of address to the International Program Center’s PDSO or DSO within 10 days of the change, so that SEVIS can be updated.
  • Abide by rules requiring disclosure of information and prohibition on criminal activity.
  • Abide by any special requirements, such as Special Registration requirements.
  • Not Work, either on or off-campus, unless specifically authorized under the regulations at 8 C.F.R § 214.2(f)(9) or § 214.2(f)(10). The IPC has information regarding on-campus employment.
  • Undergraduate F-1 international students can generally count only ONE online class (3 credits max) per semester toward their 12 credits of full-time enrollment. If a student only needs one course to complete their program of study, the course cannot be online or distance learning. Come to the IPC and talk to the PDSO or DSO if you have questions about this.
  • Graduate Programs students: Full-Time enrollment is 9 credit hours per semester, or 6 credit hours with a graduate assistantship
  • Work only with authorization. Always get written employment authorization before accepting employment. If you have employment authorization, limit your work to 20 hours per week while classes are in session. You can work up to 40 hours per week during the summer vacation, during the break between fall and spring semesters, and during Spring Break. F-2 visa holders may not work.

 

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule to end duration of status (D/S) for F visa holders: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students.
There are major changes to F-1 status duration and maintenance of status requirements that will be effective September 15, 2026 which are outlined briefly in this guide.
Although these changes are significant, many current students will not need to take immediate action. We are currently reviewing how the new rules may affect students in different situations.

We have put together this Overview of Elimination of D-S Changes to help you understand the changes being implement.