帝王会所

Maintaining F-1 Student Status

Federal Immigration regulations in the United States are taken very seriously, and it is critical that international students in F-1 visa classification maintain their legal status in the country. To maintain your legal status, make sure you're aware of and comply fully with the requirements set forth by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

You can learn more about these regulations on this page. However, you can also refer to the Department of Homeland Security's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Arrival or Relocation

As an international student in F-1 status, you may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before your program of study begins.

Important Note

You are required to have a current U.S. local address (SEVIS U.S. address) as well as a permanent foreign address (SEVIS Foreign address) on file with 帝王会所 at all times. Failure to update either of these addresses within 10 days of moving is a violation of your immigration status. Similarly you are required to designate a "preferred" phone number, which will also be reported to SEVIS.

Reporting Your Arrival to the U.S.

The Immigration Check-in should only be completed by students who are physically inside of the U.S. 

How To Report Your Arrival

Once you have entered the country, please log into  

  1. Under the gray 鈥淩equests鈥 banner, click on the entry that starts with 鈥淎dmitted Spring鈥︹.鈥 
  2. Complete and submit the 鈥Confirm Arrival鈥 e-form. In order to complete this check-in you will need to have the following items available:
    • The date you entered the U.S.
    • An email and phone number for your emergency contact person
    • A copy of your passport ID page
    • A copy of your visa stamp (unless you are a citizen of Canada)

This step must be completed before we can report your arrival to the U.S. Government

Updating Your Address and/or Phone Number

You can update your address in . Updating your address with the the University will automatically update your record in SEVIS.

Instruction Screen Share Videos

Laptop or Desktop Instructions

This video contains step-by-step instructions for how to update your address or phone number on a laptop or desktop computer.

You can also download and print step-by-step instructions with screenshots:

Smartphone Instructions

This video contains step-by-step instructions for how to update your address or phone number on a smartphone.

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will electronically send your new address to SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), the US federal web-based database used by immigration officials to record and track international student data.

Transferring Your SEVIS Record

At some point during or after your academic program, you may wish to move to another U.S. institution to continue your studies. In this scenario, you would need to request a transfer of your SEVIS record, so that it is available to your new school. ISSS will work with the international student office at the new school to transfer your record to them.

A transfer can be requested any time prior to the end date on your current I-20, and up to 60 days after. In order to request a transfer, you must complete the SEVIS Transfer Out Request in iCats. You will be required to upload a copy of the admission letter from the new school.

Once your request has been processed, ISSS will send an email to your OHIO email account confirming that your SEVIS record has been transferred or to confirm that it is scheduled to be transferred (if your requested release date is in the future). If you decide that you do not want to transfer to the school noted on the eform, ISSS can cancel the transfer if you notify us about your decision鈥产别蹿辞谤别鈥the SEVIS release date you selected. If you change your mind after the SEVIS release date, you will need to work with the new educational institution to correct your SEVIS record.

Employment

Important Note: Your OHIO authorized employment must end the day before the release. This includes on-campus employment, CPT and OPT. You are eligible to begin employment at the new school on the day of transfer. However, each university's policies vary so check with the new institution for more information.

Resolve Other Campus Matters

In addition to requesting that ISSS release your SEVIS record, you should also work with your academic department, Residential Housing, Registrar, Bursar, Campus Care and the Library to make sure all academic, housing and financial pieces of your record are resolved.

Enrollment

F-1 students must enroll in a full course of study during normal enrollment periods, which are fall and spring semesters at 帝王会所. Summer enrollment is generally optional. However, there is one exception; any F-1 student who begins their program of study or ends their program of study in the summer semester must be enrolled full-time for that summer.

What is Full Time?

  • A full course of study for an undergraduate or OPIE student is 12 credits
  • A full course of study for a graduate student is 9 credits.

Online Courses

When choosing courses in which you would like to enroll, it is important to consider if the course will be taught online or in-person. No more than one online course (up to 3 credits) may count towards full-time enrollment. 

For example, if an F-1 undergraduate student enrolls in a 3 credit online course, the student must also enroll in 9 more credit hours that are all in-person. Once that total 12 credit requirement is fulfilled, additional online credits may be added.

Reduced Enrollment

Federal Regulations limit the circumstances in which students may register less than full-time. Click on the plus signs below to learn more about each circumstance. 

Academic Difficulties

One time during the degree program, students may request to enroll less than full-time due to academic difficulties. Those difficulties must fall within one of the following areas:

  • Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods (Limited to first semester only)
  • Initial difficulties with the English language (Limited to first semester only)
  • Initial difficulties with reading requirements (Limited to first semester only)
  • Improper course level placement

The student must submit a Reduced Course Load Request eform in and be supported by the academic department. ISSS written approval must be obtained before dropping the courses, and the student must remain enrolled in half of the full-time credits. 

Once this option is used, it cannot be used again. Before completing the eform, please find the Reduced Course Load Recommendation Form on our Forms page

Final Semester

During a student's final semester of an academic program, the student is only required to register for the credits necessary to finish the degree. The student must submit the Reduced Course Load Request eform in and the academic department must provide confirmation. 

Important Notes

  • The request should be submitted before the start of the semester. 
  • Before completing the eform, please find the Reduced Course Load Recommendation Form on our Forms page

Medical Recommendation

If a student develops a medical condition that requires reduced enrollment (or no enrollment), the regulations allow it under the following conditions:

  • The student must have a written recommendation on the Medical Recommendation form. The form must be signed by one of the following:
    • A licensed medical doctor
    • A psychiatrist
    • A doctor of osteopathy
    • A licensed psychologist
    • A clinical psychologist
  • The recommendation can only cover one semester at a time.
  • The cumulative limit on authorization is 12 months per degree program.
  • The documentation must be submitted to ISSS before the courses are dropped.

Students who believe they may need this option should talk with an ISSS advisor as early as possible. The request may be submitted in .

Program Extensions

Your I-20 form was issued for a standard and set time frame. You will find the program start and end dates in the 鈥淧rogram of Study鈥 section of your I-20. 

You may find that you are unable to finish your program by the end date. In that case, you will need to request an extension of your F-1 program.

Program Extension Eligibility Requirements and Process

You may apply for an extension of your study program if:

  • Your current I-20 has not already expired
  • You have continuously maintained lawful F-1 status
  • The delay in completing program requirements has been caused by compelling academic reasons (such as changes of major field or research topics, or unexpected research problems), or compelling and documented medical reasons.

Delays in completing program requirements which are caused by academic probation or suspension (such as retaking courses) are not acceptable reasons for extension of a program of study. If your I-20 has expired or if you do not meet the eligibility requirements to apply for program extension, you may need to apply for reinstatement of status. In this case, immediate consultation with an International Student Advisor is necessary.

How to Request a Program Extension

  1. Log into .
  2. Submit the Extension of F-1 Program eform. It is located under F-1 Student Services. 

Financial Requirements

To be in compliance with F-1 regulations, all students need to report funding changes to ISSS within 10 days of the change. You can report any funding changes and submit financial documentation using your account.

Financial documentation examples include, but are not limited to, a funding offer letter from the University, a scholarship award letter, or a bank statement, etc.

Financial documents must meet the following criteria:
鈥    The document must be in English
鈥    The document must be dated within the last 6 months
鈥    The funds must be considered liquid assets*
鈥    The funds must be in your name OR include a sponsorship letter
*Liquid assets refer to cash or cash equivalents, such as a savings or checking account. Stocks, bonds, and other investments are not liquid assets.