Maintaining your Status

The United States government has mandated a series of regulations and guidelines that degree-seeking international students in F-1 and J-1 visa categories must adhere to during their stay in the U.S. students must understand and comply with the criteria outlined below. Failure to adhere to one or more of these requirements can result in a student’s loss of status. 

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is here to support you in navigating these visa maintenance and change of status requirements. We understand that this information can be dense and confusing at times, so we are here to help!

Please reach out to [email protected] for support with any questions you may have. 

Maintain Your Status

    APPROPRIATE FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT 

    U.S. federal regulations require international F-1 and J-1 students to maintain full-time enrollment throughout their program, uphold good academic standing, and make normal academic progress toward their degree objective. 

    Students must be registered for classes by the end of the first week of classes each semester. Registration must meet minimum enrollment requirements:  

    • Undergraduate students must be enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester, of which at least 9 must be in-person (face-to-face).  
    • Graduate students must generally be enrolled for at least 9 credit hours, of which at least 6 hours must be in-person (face-to-face).  
    EXCEPTIONS TO FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT 

    Enrollment in less than full-time may be authorized as an exception in the following situations: 

    • If the student is medically unable to maintain a full-time course load (with letter of recommendation from Counseling Center or physician). 
    • If a student is having difficulty during the first semester of enrollment due to (1) initial difficulties with the English language, (2) with the reading requirements. 
    • If the student has been placed in or advised by their academic advisor to take a course at an improper course level or if a student is unfamiliar with American teaching methods (with letter of explanation from advisor). 
    • If the student is engaged in an academically relevant assistantship in their department, they can be considered enrolled in a full course of study at only 6 credit hours plus the assistantship.  
    • The assistantship supervisor must also submit an exception form to the Graduate School for the University to also consider this as “full-time” if tuition waivers are included in the assistantship funding package. (form available at https://grs.uncg.edu/faculty/). 
    • If the student is in their final semester or has completed all required coursework except for thesis or dissertation hours may be registered for less than 12 (undergraduate) or 9 (graduate) credit hours. 

    If you believe that you qualify for any of the exceptions mentioned, contact an International Student Advisor immediately before dropping below a full course of study. 

    ONLINE/DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE POLICY 

    Based on federal regulations requiring physical presence, both F-1 and J-1 international students are subject to restrictions regarding online coursework. Remember that not complying with federal regulations regarding online/distance education courses can lead to losing F-1/J-1 status.  

    F-1 and J-1 visa holders have slightly different requirements regarding registration in online courses: 

    F-1 degree seeking students can count three credits in an online/distance learning course per semester toward the full-time enrollment requirement. Therefore, a minimum of 9 out of 12 credits for undergraduates must be on-campus, face-to-face. F-1 graduate students must register for a minimum of 6 out of 9 credits on-campus, face-to-face. 

    J-1 students cannot count online courses towards the full-time enrollment requirement. Therefore, J-1 students should enroll full-time in on-campus, face-to-face courses before adding any online courses each semester. If you hold a government scholarship, please contact your government sponsor for authorization for registration in online (WEB) hours. 

    International students are eligible to enroll in purely online programs at UNCG but online programs are not eligible for F/J visa applications; study must be undertaken remotely from a country other than the United States. Participation in an online degree program does not require a visa.  

     SUMMER ENROLLMENT 

    Returning students are not required by immigration regulations to enroll in the summer session if they were full-time in the spring semester and will continue their enrollment in the fall semester. Students may choose to study, return home, or work on campus (or off-campus if eligible and if authorized in advance) in the summer. Students authorized for full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) may also be exempted from enrolling in classes without jeopardizing their non-immigrant status but should check with their academic department to confirm if they are eligible. 

    However, full-time enrollment in the summer is required for international students beginning or finishing their program of study. Graduate students must be enrolled in a full course of study as determined by their graduate study plans. Undergraduate students may enroll in 12 credit hours, between Summer I and Summer II, or for Summer II only, for at least 6 credit hours. Students who will take only one course during the summer term are not permitted to take that course through online or distance education if it is their first or last term of enrollment. 

    MAINTAIN UPDATED RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS

    It is important to keep all documentation updated throughout your program of study. Failure to maintain current records can result in a violation of your visa status with the U.S. government, and, therefore, the loss of benefits associated with the F-1 or J-1 visa. Please review the following information for procedures on keeping documentation up-to-date. 

    UPDATING VISA DOCUMENTS 

    It is critical that you maintain a valid passport, know its expiration date, renew it promptly, and provide the International Programs Center (IPC) with a copy of your new passport for record-keeping purposes. 

    You must be aware of your I-20/DS-2019 end date. If you will not graduate before your program end date, you will need to request a program extension via your ISSS Account. 

    Visa renewal is only required if your visa has expired, and you are leaving the U.S. and planning to return on the same status. Information on how to renew your visa can be found at this link. If you have recently updated your visa, make sure to provide IPC with a copy before or upon your return to UNCG. 

    REPORT A CHANGE OF ADDRESS 

    Students are required to report a change of U.S. or Overseas address to IPC within ten days. Update your address via UNCGenie under “Update Address(es) and Phone(s).” Note: the “local” address represents your U.S. address and “permanent” address represents the address in your home country. 

    REPORT A CHANGE OF NAME
    1. Contact the University Registrar’s Office for changes of name. 
    2. Contact GEO as soon as your updated name appears in UNCGenie, for procedures to change your name on the I-20 or DS-2019.
    3. Submit a request via your ISSS account to receive an updated I-20. For assistance, email an advisor at [email protected]. 

    OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR MAINTAINING STATUS 

    ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND STUDENT CONDUCT 

    The University has clear policies regarding academic integrity and student conduct. As the primary purpose of the F-1 visa category is to pursue a degree at an institution of higher education in the U.S., anything that jeopardizes your enrollment can lead to being considered out of status. 

    The UNCG Academic Integrity policy covers incidents of cheating, plagiarism, and the like, and can be found at this link. The UNCG Student Code of Conduct is another important policy to be aware of as violation of its terms can lead to dismissal from the University. Finally, students must also consider what it means to be in good academic standing at the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

    Change Your Status

    A change of immigration status involves switching classification within immigration statuses (e.g., changing from F-1 to F-2) or to an entirely new status altogether (e.g., changing from F-1 to an H1-B). 

    If you are in the United States in one status and elect to change to another status, you can do so in one of two ways: 

    • Leave the United States, apply for an entry visa for the new status at a U.S. consulate abroad, and enter the United States with the appropriate documentation for the new status. For further details, please visit Obtaining and Renewing Your Visa. 

    OR

    While our office cannot provide legal advice on how to change your immigration status, we recommend that you contact a local immigration attorney that is knowledgeable about student visas. The American Immigration Lawyers Association website is a very useful resource you can use to identify attorneys in the Triad area. 

    Loss of Status: Causes

    VIOLATION OF U.S. STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS 

    Restrictions on Marijauana Usage: The differentiation between federal and state laws can be confusing to those unfamiliar with our legal system and F/J visa holders may travel over breaks to states where marijuana is legal under state law. 

    It is a federal crime in the U.S. to manufacture, import, possess, use or distribute marijuana. Regardless of whether state law provides for the manufacture, use, or possession of marijuana, even for medical purposes, it remains a criminal offense under federal law. Furthermore, a noncitizen that admits to the possession or use of marijuana may be found inadmissible to the U.S. 

    Detailed information can be found at: 

    An F-1 or J-1 student who does not follow the guidelines for maintaining status can lose his/her legal ability to remain in the United States as a full-time student. Violations of status include, but are not limited to: 

    • Unauthorized drop below full-course load 
    • Failure to timely file for a program extension 
    • Accepting off-campus work without prior authorization 
    • Not requesting a SEVIS transfer 
    • Overstay: staying in the U.S. beyond your 60-day grace period 

    Failing to maintain status or falling out of status will result in the termination of your SEVIS record requiring your immediate departure from the U.S. Your record can be terminated manually by a DSO or ARO at IPC or automatically by SEVP. If you believe that you may be out of status or in danger of falling out of status please contact your international advisor immediately to confirm status information and request protocol for reinstatement if applicable. 

    Financial Implications of the F1 status

    As an F1 student, you will pay out-of-state tuition and fees, the international student fee, and medical insurance coverage every semester/term. For information, review the Tuition and Fee Rates found in the Cashiers and Student Accounts Office.  

    If you are currently paying in-state tuition fees, the F1 status approval impacts the residency classification from in-state tuition to out-of-state tuition. For further information, refer to Graduate Admissions at [email protected] or Undergraduate Admissions at [email protected]. You may also refer to the North Carolina Residency Determination Service. 

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