Checklist for Maintaining F-1 Status

To maintain status and thus be eligible for Practical Training, On-Campus Work, Off-Campus Work Permission, Program Extensions on your Form I-20, Change of Status such as F-1 to H-1, and any other benefits for F-1 status students, you must:

  1. Attend the school authorized to attend on your Form I-20.
  2. Follow Department of Homeland Security - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (not only the school's) transfer procedures to attend a new school.
  3. Follow extension procedures if you must remain in the U.S. past your Form I-20 completion date.
  4. Follow certain Department of Homeland Security - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services procedures to continue from one degree to another at the same school.
  5. Have a valid, unexpired passport, six months before the expiration date.
  6. Have a permanent address abroad.
  7. Limit authorized employment to 20 hours per week except during summer and winter vacations.
  8. Maintain a full-course of study.
    M.Div., MTS, MA
    9 credit hours per quarter (except for your final quarter at which time you may take only the amount of credit hours that are required for you to complete your degree.)
    Th.M., Ph.D.
    6 credit hours
    If you are taking a class off campus at another school (e.g. at R.B.C. or Calvin College) we need a transcript from that school for your file.
    Note: These credit hours are NOT the same as those required by the Financial Aid Office. For financial aid purposes you can spread your required hours over the three quarters and have a different number of hours each quarter. For our office the Department of Homeland Security requires that you must be registered for the minimum number of hours every quarter except the last quarter in your program.
  9. Notify Department of Homeland Security - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (or your foreign student advisor) by completing the Form AR-11 of any change in residence or mailing address within 10 days of the change.
  10. Refrain from off-campus work without authorization.
  11. Have the DSO (Designated School Official) endorse page 3 of your I-20 before you leave the United States and re-enter. (To be absolutely sure the endorsement is recent enough, make certain it will be no more than 5 months old when you re-enter the USA.)