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F-1 FULL-TIME REQUIREMENT
What is the F-1 full-time requirement?
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations require that F-1 students maintain "a full course of study." "Full course of study" is 12 credits for undergraduates and 8 credits for graduates. USCIS allows F-1 students to be less than full-time under certain conditions.
Under what circumstances can I be less than full-time?
If you have recently begun your studies in the U.S. and you are having difficulties with the English language, reading requirements, or American teaching methods, or
If you are having difficulties because of improper course level placement, or
If all course requirements (including major, minor, and residency) have been completed for the degree program, or
If you are expected to graduate during the current semester, or
If you have a medical problem and your doctor recommends, in writing, a reduced course load or interruption of your coursework, or
If you are a graduate student with a teaching assistantship and the department considers six credits to be full-time, or
If you are registered for three credits in dissertator status.
How do I get approval to be less than full-time if one of the above situations applies to me?
Your academic adviser should complete and sign the Reduced Course Load Permission Form.
Bring the form to ISS and wait for approval before you drop a course or register for the semester. You may download a copy off of this site.
What if I have a medical problem?
If you have a medical problem, you may reduce your course load or interrupt your program. Please bring our office a letter from your doctor specifically recommending that you reduce your course load or withdraw from school. Your doctor should indicate that he/she anticipates that you will be able to resume a full course of study the following semester. In addition, your doctor should complete and sign the Credit Form.
Do I need to register for classes during the summer?
If you were full-time in the spring and plan to be full-time in the fall, USCIS does not require you to be registered at all during the summer. If you do take summer classes, you can be less than full-time, and you do not need to bring an academic advisor's letter to our office.
If you are a new student, with a summer school reporting date on your I-20 for initial attendance, you need to register for a full course of study.
If you expect an August degree, you will have to be registered.
What about practical training? Do I have to be a full-time student?
Yes, you must have been a full-time student for nine consecutive months (one academic year) to be eligible. Please consult the handouts on F-1 Status and Optional Practical Training, or see an ISS adviser.
What if I want to reduce my course load for another reason?
USCIS will consider you to be "out of status" if you become less than full-time for a reason other than those allowed.
Why can't I just take a semester off?
F-1 visa classification is for full-time students. The "D/S" ("duration of status") notation on your I-94 card indicates that you can remain in the U.S. as long as you maintain your status as a full-time student. If you take a semester off, you will need to:
Change to another visa classification if you stay in the United States, or
Apply for reinstatement and be readmitted to a program of study, or
Leave the U.S. and re-enter with a new I-20.
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NOTE:
USCIS allows you to be less than full-time under the circumstances described above. However, the university may require you to be full-time in order to maintain your research assistantship or to be eligible for university housing. Please contact your academic adviser, the University Housing office, or the Graduate School for more information.
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