It is vital that you become personally acquainted with your professors, teaching assistants and fellow classmates. Seek their help in your learning. Get connected early and stay connected. These relationships will prove to be of great assistance to you in your studies and also in your personal and professional endeavors.
{tab=Full Course of Study}
During your initial semester or term and each semester or term of enrollment thereafter, except for vacations and approved exceptions, you are required to complete a full course of study.
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| Withdrawal (W) grades do not count toward your total minimum hours. Once registered, make certain that you do not withdraw from any classes without first clearing it with International Services. Grade Information |
If you are unable to enroll for and complete a full course of study during a required semester, you must receive approval from International Services before reducing your credit hours in order to maintain your J-1 status. Typical qualifying exceptions include the following:
- Academic Training—requirement by your department to engage in full-time training such as an internship
- Register only for the attendant class.
- More about Academic Training
- Bona fide Academic Reason
- If, for compelling reasons, you are not able to pursue a full course of study for a semester
- Provide a written statement from your department on letterhead recommending that you reduce your academic load from a full course of study due to an academic reason.
- Medical Problem
- An illness or other medical condition that interrupts your ability to maintain a full course of study
- You should obtain a statement from a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist recommending the interruption or reduction in studies. (Medical statements must be written on institution letterhead and include the date and appropriate signature.)
- Program Completion—completed all course work and are preparing for comprehensive examinations or are engaged in research on your thesis or dissertation, you are only required to maintain matriculation (thesis credits)
- Obtain a signed, dated letter on letterhead from your department that you have completed your coursework but have remaining research or dissertation/thesis hours before completion of your degree.
- Submit the letter to International Services.
- If you are employed on campus, at the same time, complete a Last Semester Option form and submit it to Employment Services.
- Vacation
- You are not required to register for classes during your annual vacation—typically during the spring and summer terms—if you are eligible and intend to register for the next semester or term
- Check with International Services if you have any questions about your vacation eligibility. More about vacation
Please inform International Services when you permanently depart from BYU by completing and submitting a Departure Notice.
The University is required to notify SEVIS when you are no longer enrolled, including the reason (i.e., transfer of schools, departed the U.S., completed program, changed status, etc.) which remains a permanent part of your record and may have an affect on your future eligibility to enter the U.S. If you fail to inform us of your departure, we may have to terminate your record for "failure to enroll."
Available options upon leaving BYU after completion of your program of studies
- Change of status if you qualify —i.e., to H-1B, PR, F-2
- Training
- As an J-1, you must apply for Academic Training BEFORE completion of your program.
- After your training, you have a 30-day grace period as to return to school, change status or return home.
- Return home
- As an J-1, you are allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to 30 days in preparation for your return home.
- Transfer Educational Level or Transfer Schools within 30 days
- Transfer to another educational level at BYU such as from master's to doctorate.
- Transfer to another school—you must request your SEVIS record be transferred to your new school in order to maintain your J-1 status.
- Eligibility
- Admittance to another school
- Current maintenance of your lawful status, including
- Enrollment in a full course of study OR
- Participation in optional practical training
- NOTE: In order to attend your new school if you are ineligible for transfer of schools because you are out of status, you must
- Apply to USCIS for reinstatement OR
- Leave the country and renter with an initial Form DS-2019 from your new school. more
- Procedure
- After being accepted as a student at the school where you plan to transfer, your new school will either send or have you bring to BYU International Services a form to verify your transfer eligibility from BYU.
- International Services then completes and returns the transfer eligibility form to your new school.
- Complete and submit a Transfer Out Form to BYU International Services.
- International Services will transfer your SEVIS record effective the date you designate on your Transfer Out Form.
NOTE:Your employment benefits at BYU terminate on the effective transfer date. - Enroll in a full course of study during your initial semester or term specified on your new DS-2019.
NOTE: You are not subject to the $100 SEVIS fee. - Check in with your new school upon your arrival to that campus
- Eligibility
Available options upon leaving BYU before completion of your program of studies
- Authorized withdrawal—Upon receiving authorization for early withdrawal by International Services, you may remain in the U.S. for up to 15 days following the withdrawal date noted in SEVIS to prepare to depart the U.S.
- Unapproved withdrawal or termination—If you fail to maintain status, or withdraw from school or otherwise terminate or interrupt your course of studies without first obtaining International Services' approval in SEVIS, you are not eligible for any grace period, and are considered under the regulations to be out of status.
{tab=Vacation}
Government regulations allow you to take an annual vacation.
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Eligibility is based upon when you began your studies at BYU; if you began
- Fall or winter semester—your vacation will be during the next spring and summer terms,
- Spring term—you will be eligible during summer term or
- Summer term—your vacation will be during the next spring and summer terms.
- If you are a transfer student and have questions, please consult with International Services regarding your vacation eligibility.
- It is possible to change your annual vacation from spring and summer to fall or winter.
- To qualify, you must
- have been a student for the previous eight months and
- be granted either an admissions deferment or authorization for a reduced course load.
- You can not change your vacation from spring and summer if you are not planning to continue your classes during the following enrollment period.
- Consult with International Services for answers to your questions.
- To qualify, you must