International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

Maintaining F-1 and J-1 Status

As a student, you must be familiar with requirements related to your immigration status.  As a reminder, as a non-immigrant student you must comply fully with the Student Statement of Responsibility in order to remain in legal 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 immigration advisor’s approval before withdrawing from classes. This approval is required.
• Keep your I-20 or DS-2019 valid at all times and apply for an extension of stay (if needed) 30 days before your I-20 or DS-2019 end date.
• When traveling outside the U.S., request submit a Travel Signature Request on your I-20 or DS-2019 for re-entry to the U.S. from your SIUE immigration advisor before departing from the U.S. Review the required documents for traveling internationally on our Travel website.
• Request and obtain employment permission:
  • On-campus employment (only for F-1 students and degree-seeking J-1 students):
    • Limited to 20 hours per week during the academic year
    • May work up to 28 hours per week and during vacation periods
    • F-1 students: no special work permit is required
    • J-1 students: work permission must be granted by your SIUE immigration advisor
  • Off-campus employment:
    • Special permission is required to work off-campus
    • Work permission for F-1 and J-1 students must be granted by your SIUE immigration advisor and USCIS

Know Your Rights

Following federal executive actions on immigration, Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued information to help people on visas living in Illinois protect themselves and their loved ones from unconstitutional and discriminatory action. Every resident of Illinois has constitutional rights that protect them if they encounter law enforcement, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status.

Please read Know Your Rights from the Office of the Attorney General, State of Illinois, which is designed to help you understand your rights and responsibilities when interacting with law enforcement.