Maintaining Your F-1 Status

Full-Time Enrollment

As an F-1 student, you are required to maintain a full course of study each academic term unless you have received prior authorization from your Designated School Official (DSO) for a Reduced Course Load (RCL). Do not withdraw from or stop attending any course before your DSO has authorized a reduced course load and updated your I-20. Doing so may jeopardize your F-1 status.
United States University defines full-time enrollment for graduate students as at least six (6) credit hours per semester. To meet both University and F-1 enrollment requirements, you must enroll in two (2) on-ground courses; and one (1) online course each semester, unless otherwise authorized by your DSO.

If you are in your final semester and need fewer than nine credit hours to complete your degree, you may be eligible for a Reduced Course Load. However, if only one course remains to complete your program, that course must be an on-ground course and may not be taken online.

You are also expected to comply with all University attendance policies for both on-ground and online courses. Failure to maintain enrollment or attend classes may result in administrative withdrawal, which could affect your F-1 status, including possible termination of your SEVIS record.

Reduced Course Load (RCL)

Federal regulations permit a DSO to authorize a temporary reduction below a full course of study in limited circumstances. This authorization is known as a Reduced Course Load (RCL) and must be approved before you reduce or withdraw from your classes. An RCL is authorized for one semester at a time and must be reauthorized each subsequent semester if you remain eligible.

A Reduced Course Load may be approved for the following reasons:

Academic Difficulties

You may be eligible for an RCL during your first academic term only if you are experiencing:

Initial difficulty with the English language;
Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods; or
Improper course placement.

You must remain enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours during the semester and resume a full course of study in the following required term. An RCL based on academic difficulties may be approved only once during your program.

Medical Conditions

If you are unable to maintain a full course of study because of a temporary illness or medical condition, you may request an RCL based on medical need.
For a medical RCL, you must provide official documentation from one of the following licensed healthcare professionals:

Medical doctor (M.D.)
Doctor of osteopathy (D.O.)
Licensed psychologist
Clinical psychologist
Psychiatrist

A medical RCL must be approved by your DSO each semester and may not exceed an aggregate of 12 months at the same program level.

Students approved for a medical RCL should consult their DSO before participating in Curricular Practical Training (CPT), as employment eligibility may be affected.

Completion of Course of Study

If you are in your final semester and need less than a full course load to complete your degree requirements, your DSO may authorize an RCL for your last term of study. You must remain enrolled in all remaining courses required to complete your program.

Attendance and Participation Policy

Attendance and participation in all classes, whether online or in person is mandatory. Failure to attend one day may result in immediate withdrawal from the University and the SEVIS record will be terminated. No exceptions can be made to this policy. If a student misses class due to mitigating circumstances, they must notify the faculty and DSO. The DSO may request evidence of mitigating circumstances to determine options. Example: i.e., medical illness, natural disaster/severe weather conditions preventing travel leading to a national emergency. The University is Located in a Sandy Springs, Georgia, and students are expected to be in class during all scheduled sessions.

The university understands that at times you may be late to class or need to leave early. Being late to any class or leaving early is a disruption to fellow classmates and is strongly discouraged. The university will consider you to be tardy when you arrive more than 10 minutes late after class starts. An early departure is any time a student leaves before the end of class. The university will consider it an absence if you exceed more than two (2) tardies or early departures during a single course; and at which point you will be withdrawn from the course and/or the university. Your SEVIS record may also be impacted and terminated due to "Unauthorized Drop Below Full Course of Study."

Refer to the University's Attendance and Participation Policy for more detailed information.

Reporting Changes to your DSO

To maintain your F-1 status, you are responsible for telling your Designated School Official (DSO) about certain changes that may affect your SEVIS record. Changes must be reported within 10 days, so it is important to contact your DSO as soon as possible.

Examples of changes you should report include:

A change to your U.S. residential address, phone number, or email address.
A legal name change or change in citizenship.
A change to your academic program, major, or degree level.
Your intent to transfer to another SEVP-certified school.
Your decision to withdraw from your program, take a leave of absence, or permanently depart the United States before completing your degree.
Any other change that may affect your F-1 status or SEVIS record.

Failure to report required changes in a timely manner may result in an inaccurate SEVIS record and could affect your ability to maintain F-1 status.

International Travel and Vacation

Annual Vacation

After you have successfully completed one full academic year and remain in good academic standing, you may be eligible to take an authorized annual vacation. An authorized annual vacation does not affect your F-1 status and is optional. You may also choose to continue your studies year-round.

At United States University, eligible students may take up to two (2) eight-week annual vacation periods during a 12-month period, subject to University policy and academic scheduling.

If you plan to take an annual vacation, you must:

Notify your Designated School Official (DSO) before registering for the affected term.
Receive confirmation that you are eligible for an annual vacation.
Begin your annual vacation at the start of an academic term.

During an approved annual vacation, you may travel within or outside the United States or participate in other activities permitted under your F-1 status. If you have questions about your eligibility or how an annual vacation may affect your immigration status, contact your DSO before making plans.

International Travel

If you plan to travel outside the United States while in F-1 status, you must notify your DSO at least two weeks before your departure. Your DSO will review your records and, if appropriate, provide a valid travel endorsement on your Form I-20.

Before traveling, make sure you have:

A valid passport that will remain valid for at least six months beyond your anticipated return date.
A valid F-1 visa, unless you qualify for an exception.
A valid Form I-20 with a current travel endorsement from your DSO.
Evidence of continued enrollment and financial support, if requested.
Documentation of your employment authorization, if you are participating in Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Travel endorsements are generally valid for 12 months for continuing students and 6 months for students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT).

When you arrive in the US, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will review your documents and determine whether you are eligible to enter the United States in F-1 status. You should be prepared to answer questions about your academic program, the purpose of your travel, and your plans to continue your studies.

After your travels, retrieve your most recent electronic Form I-94 and review it carefully to ensure it reflects F-1 as your class of admission and that your period of authorized stay has been recorded correctly. If you notice any errors, contact your DSO immediately. You should also provide a copy of your updated Form I-94 to your DSO so your student record can be verified.

Important: If you were originally admitted to the United States under the previous Duration of Status (D/S) admission system, departing and reentering the United States will result in admission under the current F-1 admission rules. This may affect certain immigration benefits, including reducing your post-completion grace period from 60 days to 30 days. If you were previously admitted under D/S, consult your DSO before making international travel plans.

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss any international travel plans with their DSO well in advance of departure. Careful planning helps ensure you have the required documentation and can maintain compliance with F-1 immigration regulations.

Withdrawing from your Program or Requesting Medical Leave

If you are considering withdrawing from the University, taking a leave of absence, or stopping your studies for any reason, contact your Designated School Official (DSO) before taking any action. Changes to your enrollment may affect your F-1 status and SEVIS record.

If you decide to withdraw from the University, you must also submit the required withdrawal request through the student portal in accordance with University policy.

Medical Leave

If you are unable to continue your studies because of a temporary illness or medical condition, you may be eligible for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) based on medical necessity. To request a medical leave, you must provide current documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or clinical psychologist stating that you are temporarily unable to maintain a full course of study.

Medical leave requests are reviewed by the DSO and, if approved, will be authorized as a medical Reduced Course Load in accordance with federal regulations. Authorization is granted one semester at a time and requires updated medical documentation for each additional semester requested.

A medical Reduced Course Load may not exceed an aggregate of 12 months at the same program level. Students with an approved medical RCL may generally remain in the United States while maintaining their F-1 status, provided they continue to meet all applicable immigration requirements.

If you have questions about withdrawing from the University or requesting a medical leave, contact your DSO before making any changes to your enrollment.

SEVIS Termination and Status Violations

When a status violation occurs, the University may be required to terminate your SEVIS record. Termination of a SEVIS record (i.e., an I-20) is serious and can have negative consequences for a student and their ability to stay in the US.

Grounds for termination of a SEVIS record include but are not limited to:

Unauthorized employment
Unauthorized withdrawal form any classes
Unauthorized drop below full course of study
Expulsion and/or suspension
Failure to enroll in classes

If your SEVIS record is terminated, you immediately lose your F-1 status and any applicable grace period. In most cases, you must depart the United States unless you are eligible to regain your F-1 status through one of the options described below.

Regaining F-1 Status

After a SEVIS termination, you may be able to regain F-1 status in one of the following ways:

Travel and Reentry: Depart the United States and reenter using a new Initial Form I-20 issued by a SEVP-certified school, provided you are otherwise eligible for admission.

Reinstatement: Apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for reinstatement to F-1 status. Reinstatement is discretionary and is available only to students who meet the eligibility requirements established by federal regulations.

Reinstatement Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for reinstatement, you must:

Have been out of status for no more than five (5) months when the reinstatement application is filed, unless you can demonstrate exceptional circumstances that justify the delay.
Not have a history of repeated or willful violations of F-1 regulations.
Be pursuing, or intend to pursue, a full course of study at the school that issued your Form I-20.
Not have engaged in unauthorized employment.
Not be removable from the United States on any other grounds.
Demonstrate to the satisfaction of USCIS that either:
Your violation resulted from circumstances beyond your control; or
The violation resulted from a reduction in your course load that could have been authorized by a Designated School Official (DSO), and failure to approve reinstatement would result in extreme hardship.

University Assistance

Your DSO will review your situation and discuss the options available to you. United States University will assist with a reinstatement request only when:
You appear to meet the federal eligibility requirements for reinstatement; and
The status violation was not reasonably preventable.

Because reinstatement is a discretionary benefit granted by USCIS, approval cannot be guaranteed. Students who may not qualify for reinstatement or whose circumstances are complex are strongly encouraged to consult with a qualified U.S. immigration attorney before proceeding.

Program Extension and Extension of Stay

Beginning September 15, 2026, all F-1 students will be admitted to the United States with a fixed Admit Until Date (AUD). Your AUD is the date on your Form I-94 that indicates the last day you are authorized to remain in the United States in F-1 status. In most cases, your AUD will correspond to your Form I-20 program end date and may not exceed four (4) years plus your 30 day departure period.

If you are unable to complete your academic program before your current program end date and AUD, you must contact your Designated School Official (DSO) before your current Form I-20 expires.

A University program extension may be approved only if you:

Maintained your F-1 status;
Made normal academic progress toward completing your degree; and
Experienced a valid academic or medical delay beyond your control.
Program Extensions will not be approved for delays caused by academic probation, suspension, or failure to make satisfactory academic progress.

To request a Program Extension, you must submit:

A completed Program Extension Request;
Documentation supporting the reason for the extension;
Current evidence of financial support for the additional period of study; and
Medical documentation, if requesting an extension due to a medical condition.

If your Program Extension is approved, your DSO will update your SEVIS record and issue you a new Form I-20 reflecting your revised program end date.

Extension of Stay (EOS)

Because your AUD is tied to your program end date, an approved Program Extension does not automatically extend your authorized stay in the United States.

If your updated Form I-20 extends beyond your current AUD, you must also apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) by filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before your current AUD expires or within your subsequent grace period.

As part of the EOS application, you may be required to:

Submit updated I-20 with DSO's extension recommendation
Submit updated evidence of financial support sufficient to complete your program of study.
Submit academic records such as transcripts
Attend a USCIS interview, if requested.
Complete a new biometrics appointment, if required by USCIS.
Submit any additional documentation requested by USCIS.

An EOS application is reviewed independently by USCIS, and approval is not guaranteed, even if your Program Extension has been approved by the University. If your Extension of Stay is denied by USCIS, you must immediately depart the US.

Important: If you do not request a Program Extension before your current program end date or fail to timely file a required Extension of Stay application before your AUD expires, you may lose your F-1 status and associated immigration benefits.

If you have questions about your eligibility for a Program Extension or Extension of Stay, contact your DSO as soon as possible. Early planning is essential, as both the University and USCIS require time to process extension requests.