Maintenance of Status

An F-1 student admitted to the United States must maintain his or her status while in the United States. To maintain F-1 status, a student must:

1. Maintain a valid passport for a minimum period of 6 months.
2. Attend the school they are authorized to attend.
3. Pursue a full course of study. A full course of study is to complete 12 credits per quarter for fall, winter and spring. Summer session is optional.
4. Apply for extensions of programs before the expiration date on the current I-20 if necessary.
5. Follow INS procedures for transferring from one school to another.
6. Limit on campus employment to 20 hours a week while school is in session.
7. Refrain from off-campus employment without authorization.
8. Report a change of address to INS within 10 days of the change.