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Under United States immigration law, it is your personal responsibility to maintain lawful F-1 status. Begin by reading the “Instruction to Students” on page two of your I-20. By following those instructions as well as the guidelines listed below, you should be able to maintain lawful F-1 student status with little difficulty. You must maintain lawful student status if you wish to enjoy the benefits associated with it, such as on-campus employment, practical training, and the ability to re-enter the United States when you travel. A violation of status may result in termination of your SEVIS record, which could subject you to immediate detention and/or deportation.

Visit https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students for more information and guidance.

Follow the guidelines below to maintain your F-1 Status. Contact the Global Office with questions.

1. Keep an unexpired passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future. Contact your country’s nearest consulate or embassy in Washington D.C. https://www.embassy.org/embassies/ for instructions if you need to extend your passport while in the U.S.

2. Maintain full-time face-to-face enrollment

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations require that you register during the college’s published registration period. Failure to do this will result in violation of your F-1 status. You are expected to maintain full-time registration (minimum 12 credits during the Summer Global Program) with at least 9 credits being face-to-face courses. Check in with the Global Office as this guidance has changed because of the COVID pandemic, and more class credits are being allowed to be taken online.

3. Obtain PRIOR authorization before dropping below 12 credits

You must contact the Global Office before dropping below 12 credits, withdrawing from classes, or taking a leave of absence. There are very limited exceptions to the full-time requirement. Failure to get authorization will result in violation of your visa status and termination of your SEVIS record.

4. Notify the Global Office if your status changes

If you leave the United States without completing your program of study, complete your program early, or change to another non-immigrant status, notify the Global Office so your SEVIS record can be updated.

5. Do not work off-campus without permission

Off-campus employment requires written permission from the Global Office and possibly DHS authorization. Working without authorization is a serious violation. Refer to your I-94 for the warning: “Warning: a nonimmigrant who accepts unauthorized employment is subject to deportation.”

Students terminated for unauthorized employment are not eligible for F-1 reinstatement. You must consult the Global Office before accepting or beginning any employment. It is illegal to begin working while waiting for authorization.

F-1 students may work on-campus for the College:

• Up to 20 hours per week during the academic year

• Up to 40 hours during vacation periods

6. Obtain extensions before your I-20 expires

If you need more time to complete your program for academic or health reasons, you must request an extension through the Global Office. Do so at least 30 days before your I-20’s completion date. You may need:

• An email from your Academic Advisor (for academic reasons)

• Documentation from a medical professional (for medical reasons)

If starting a new program at �첥��Ƶ Cortland, apply for a new I-20 within 60 days of completing the first.

7. Make normal academic progress

You must maintain:

• A 2.0 cumulative GPA

• A 67% course completion rate

Details at Academic Standards

Failure to maintain normal academic progress may result in SEVIS record termination.

Internet Resources

• International Admissions – �첥��Ƶ Cortland Community College