IS

Only the following situations, properly documented and approved by International Services before reducing your credit hours, will qualify you to maintain your F-1 status without being registered as detailed above:

• Academic—initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods or improper course level placement
  • Obtain a letter(s) from your teacher(s) and/or advisor explaining your situation and recommending the reduction in studies.
  • You must register for a minimum of six credit hours.
    
  • Supporting statements must be written on institution letterhead and include the date and appropriate signature.
  • Bring your letter(s) to International Services and request approval of an exception to your full course of study. If approved, your reduction may extend for one semester or term only.
  • If you are employed on campus, at the same time, complete a Last Semester Option form and submit it to Employment Services.
• Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantship—participation in a graduate assistantship which would limit your ability to appropriately attend to a full course of study
  • You must register for at least six credit hours.
  • Bring your TA or RA contract to International Services when you seek approval of an exception to your full course of study.
  • If you are employed on campus, at the same time, complete a Last Semester Option form and submit it to Employment Services.
• Medical—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.)
  • If necessary, you may use a total of 12 months approved medical reduction during your course of study. Beyond that, if further medical assistance is necessary, USCIS requires that you to return to your home country. If you drop to 0 hours, you must receive a deferment from Admissions to continue your enrollment—more.
    
• Practical Training
  • Curricular Practical Training—requirement by your department to engage in full-time training such as an internship
    • Register only for the attendant class.
    • More about CPT
  • Optional Practical Training—participation in pre-completion OPT
  • Register only for the training class.
  • More about OPT
• Program Completion
  • Undergraduate—less than a full course of study is needed to complete your program during your last semester or term
    • Obtain a signed, dated letter on letterhead from your department stating the current semester is your last semester or term.
    • 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.
  • Graduate—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 period—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.
• School Approval Withdrawn