IS

Exceptions

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 in a full course of study:

• 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 take a minimum of six hours.
  • Supporting statements must be written on institution letterhead and include the date and appropriate signature.
  • Bring your letter(s) to International Services and consult with your advisor. If authorized, the interruption or reduction in studies 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 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

Change of Major

Whenever you change your major at BYU, you must report the change to the DHS.

Procedure

1. When, after consulting with your departmental advisor, you desire to change your major, complete the necessary application with your new major department office which will result in your new major showing in your Route Y academic record.


2. Complete and submit a Request for New Form I-20 to International Services listing the reason as a change of major.


3. You may usually pick up your new Form I-20 within three to five working days.

Change of Program Level

In order to maintain your status as an F-1 student at BYU after completing your current program level and while planning to enroll full time in an academic program on a different educational level (e.g., bachelor’s to master's program or English Language Center to a bachelor's program, etc.), you must apply for a change of academic program.

• Eligibility

To be eligible for approval to change your program of studies, you must have been enrolled full time in your previous program of studies and must have completed that program while maintaining your status. See Maintenance of Status.

• Procedure
  1. In enough time to meet application deadlines while completing your current level, apply for acceptance to your next educational level at either BYU Admissions (undergraduate programs) or Graduate Studies.
  2. Obtain a Form I-20 for the new educational program from the admitting office.
  3. Enroll full time in the new educational program as specified on your new Form I-20.
  4. Check in to International Services by reporting no later than 15 days from the beginning date of your new program.
  5. Bring your valid passport, Form I-20, and Form I-94 when you report to International Services.

Leaving BYU

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.

• Please inform International Services when you do not plan to be enrolled during your next scheduled enrollment period by completing and submitting a Departure Notice.


• If you fail to inform us of your departure, depending upon your situation, we may be required to terminate your SEVIS record giving only "failure to enroll" as the reason.
  

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
  • You must apply for Optional Practical Training, OPT,
    GENERAL INFORMATION
    

    What is Optional Practical Training? Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study.

    How do I receive authorization for OPT? You must submit an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). See the detailed steps below.

    When may I start? Post-completion OPT may only begin after the completion of your course of study.

    • For undergraduates, the completion date is the last day of the last semester attended.
    • For graduates, it is the completion date of all program requirements, not necessarily the last day of the last semester attended or the graduation date.

    Who may I work for while on OPT? Possible types of OPT employment situations may include:

    • Short-term multiple employers: musicians and other performing artists may work for multiple short term employers (gigs).
    • Work for hire: Do contract work for another company; this is commonly known as 1099 contract work.
    • Self-employed business owner: Start a licensed business and be self employed working full-time.
    • Employment through an agency: Work for a staffing/employment agency at other companies where they send you.
    • Regular employment: Work for an established business or organization.

    How long may I work?
    

    • Availability extends for one 12-month period directly after each higher educational level and may not be carried over if not used.
    • Any authorized Pre-Completion OPT months are deducted from the available 12 months.
    • If you have a pending H-1B application or if your major field of study and subsequent employment is in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, you may be able to extend your training. Q&As
      
    • If you are a Canadian or Mexican citizen, you may also qualify for TN status. more

    When does my F-1 status expire?

    • 60 days after completion of your studies if you do not apply for OPT or
    • 60 days following completion of your OPT.
      

    However, your OPT is automatically terminated when you transfer your SEVIS record to another school or begin study at another educational level with a new I-20.

    May I travel outside the U.S. during my OPT?

    • We advise you not to leave the U.S. between your program end date and when you receive your employment card. Such travel is considered an abandonment of your application, and you may be ineligible to reapply.
    • If your OPT has been approved:
    • If you travel before you get a job, you may not be able to reenter unless you have a written job offer.
    • If you have a job, you may travel and reenter to resume employment. However, this travel time is added to your total of allotted unemployment days unless authorized by your employer. See the explanation of unemployment days under Requirements.
    • more

    For Additional Questions and Answers from U.S. Government click here

    
    

    ELIGIBILITY

    In order to qualify for post-completion OPT, you must:

    • Register for required course credit during the semester or term you complete your program,
    • Accrue less than a total of one year of any full-time curricular practical training,
    • Be in lawful status for at least one academic year,
    • Submit your OPT application so that it is received by USCIS between 90 days before and 60 days after the completion of your program–USCIS must
      This is critical because when you apply for OPT, your Form I-20 program end date is changed to the completion date specified by your advisor. Speak with an International Services’ advisor immediately if your completion