Maintaining F-1 Status
As a student, you must be familiar with requirements related to your immigration status. Following the guidelines below will help you avoid unnecessary problems.
Basic Guidelines
- Keep your passport valid for at least six months.
- Keep your local address updated.
- Keep your mailing address, billing address, phone and email updated through CougarNet. You must use a U.S. address for mailing and billing.
- Maintain full-time enrollment. In most cases,
- Undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
- Graduate students must enroll in 9 credit hours per semester.
- Obtain your SIUE international advisor’s approval before withdrawing from classes. This approval is required.
- Keep your I-20 valid at all times.
- If you need more time to complete your program of study and the completion date on your I-20 (box #5 on the I-20) will expire within the next 30 days:
- Request a letter from your academic advisor stating you need more time to complete your program.
- Provide this letter with your I-20 extension request.
- Request a new I-20 if you change your major or your degree level, e.g. Master's.
- When traveling outside the U.S., request a signature on your I-20 (page 3) for re-entry to the U.S. from your SIUE international advisor before departing from the U.S. This signature is valid for six months.
- Request and obtain employment permission.
- On-campus employment
- Employment limited to 20 hours per week during the academic year.
- Employment may be full-time in the summer and vacation periods.
- No special work permit is required.
- Off-campus employment
- Special permission is required to work off-campus.
- Work permission for F-1 students must be granted by your SIUE international advisor and USCIS.
Request to Replace Lost, Stolen or Damaged I-20
If your I-20 is lost, stolen or damaged:
