Maintaining Your F-1 Student Status

F-1 Students are responsible to know and follow all immigration regulations.  Failure to maintain your status, or comply with these regulations, may have very severe consequences for your ability to study, seek employment, or even remain in the United States.  Please carefully review the list below of requirements and contact the International Student Advisor if you have any questions about these regulations.  We suggest that you review this page each semester to refresh your memory, as these regulations are very important to follow.

  1. Make sure that your immigration documents are valid and unexpired.
    • Make sure the school name on your current I-20 is the same as the school you are currently attending.  Keep all information on your I-20 up to date including changes in financial information, name, address and program major.  Also, make sure your I-20 program end date does not expire.  You may apply for a Program Extension (83 KB) if you need more time to complete your degree.
    • Keep your passport valid 6 months into the future (passports can be extended while you are in the U.S. by contacting your home country’s embassy consulate).
    • Make sure you have your I-94 and it is stamped F-1 D/S (Duration of Status).
    • If you plan to travel outside the U.S. and re-enter, make sure that your Visa is not expired, otherwise you need to renew your visa before re-entering the U.S.  You do not need a valid visa in order to stay in the United States.
  2. Register for and complete a full course load of at least 12 credits every semester (fall and spring).
    • All students are required to make normal, full-time progress toward degree completion.  If you feel that you cannot handle taking 12 credits during the semester consult with your International Student Advisor to see if you qualify for a Reduced Course Load (83 KB). DO NOT drop or withdraw from any classes if you will fall below 12 credits until talking with your Advisor about the consequences.
    • Only 3 credits of these 12 may be taken as online courses.  If you have at least 9 credits on campus you may take more than 3 credits online.  Be careful!  Online classes may be harder.
  3. DO NOT accept any off-campus employment without authorization from the International Student Advisor and/or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
    • Full-time students in valid F-1 Status may accept ON-Campus employment of no more than 20 hours per week (part-time) while school is in session, or may accept full-time employment ON-Campus during vacations.
    • Students must request and have employment authorization approved BEFORE beginning to work off-campus!  If a student would like to participate in a paid internship they should contact the International Student Advisor to apply for Curricular Practical Training.  All other forms of Off-Campus employment require USCIS approval which may take up to 3 months to process.  Please review our Employment page to learn more about employment opportunities for F-1 Students.
  4. Contact the International Student Advisor if there are any changes to your personal or academic situation.  Notify your Advisor, for example, if you…
    • Change your address (58 KB) (within 10 days of moving)
    • Change your name (59 KB) (within 10 days of change)
    • Change your major (63 KB) (Within 10 days of change)
    • Wish to transfer to another college (Before 60 days after your program end date)
    • Change your immigration status or leave the United States (Within 10 days of change)

SEVIS: What it is and what it means to you!

SEVIS is the acronym for Student & Exchange Visitor Information System.  It is an online tracking system for International Students and their dependents.  Through SEVIS colleges and universities enter and update various data regarding the International Students who have been issued a Form I-20 by their institution.

This means, that the information about you and your F-1 visa status will be updated regularly in this SEVIS database.  Therefore you must tell the International Student Advisor any time you: have a change of address, change of name, change of major, wish to drop below full-time enrollment, or wish to engage in practical training or employment.  The International Student Advisor must also enter information about illegal employment or any other violation of your F-1 status.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has complete access to your information via SEVIS.  This department works with the college to assist you in properly maintaining your F-1 status.  While Genesee Community College and the USCIS do our parts, you must also make sure that you are maintaining your F-1 status properly.