Maintaining F-1 Immigrant Status

In order to maintain your legal status in the U.S. as an F1 student you must abide by the following regulations.

• Report to the International Student Services Office (ISS) upon arriving at Andrews University.
   
• Enroll FULL-TIME during the academic year.  Full-time is 12 credits for undergraduate and ESL, 8 for Graduate and 9 for MDiv students per semester. There are some rare exceptions to this regulation. Please talk to the ISS office before you drop below full time or plan a leave of absence.
   
• Update your local address within 10 days of moving. You can do that by stopping at the ISS office or sending an email to iss@andrews.edu with your name, ID number and new address.
   
• Keep your passport valid. Your passport should be valid while you are a student in the U.S. Consult your country’s consulate or embassy in the U.S. at least 6 months prior to the expiration date.
   
• Keep your I-20 valid. Apply for an extension of your I-20 before it expires. Apply for changes of major, program or educational level ahead of time. Come to the ISS office for any of the above.
   
• If you plan to transfer to another school, come to the ISS office to discuss the possibilities.
   
• After graduation or after your OPT ends you have 60 days to leave the country or to get a new I-20 for a new program.
   
• Never work off-campus without prior authorization.

1. 1. On-campus Employment – F-1 students who are enrolled full time are allowed to work 20 hrs per week during the academic year and 40 hrs per week during school breaks.
   2. Off-campus Employment – F-1 students are not allowed to work off-campus unless with a work permit or to fulfill a degree requirement.Notify the ISS office when you finish your program and leave the U.S. permanently or you change to another visa status. You may stop by the ISS office or send us an email.

• If you travel outside the U.S.  be sure to have the proper re-entry documents. Click here for travel tips.
   
• Visa – The visa on your passport was issued abroad at an U.S. embassy or consulate and is used to enter the U.S. Once you are in the U.S. you do not need to worry about keeping it valid. It is only when you leave the U.S. and need to return that you must be sure that you have a valid U.S. visa stamp on your passport.
   
• Dependents – The spouse or child of an F-1 student must have an F-2 visa and enters the U.S. in F-2 status. People in F-2 status are not eligible for employment and may not enroll in a course of study.