General
ISS does not encourage late arrivals, but students may choose to arrive late at their discretion. If they do, they should be prepared to answer questions from border officials about the delay. If a student has requested a “late arrival letter,” it is better for the academic department to provide it rather than ISS, as the department is more familiar with the student’s program and can speak to whether the late arrival will impact academic progress.
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Yes. F and J international students must maintain full-time status each academic quarter. However, if a student is approved for a course drop after a quarter ends, ISS does not consider this a violation of their immigration status.
After the unrestricted drop period, F and J international students must submit a Adviser-assisted Drop request to drop coursework.
CPT does not reduce a student’s enrollment requirements. Even if a student is approved for CPT during a normal academic quarter, they must also maintain full-time enrollment.
Advising Undergraduate Students
Currently our policy is to extend I-20s only for required coursework to complete a degree. We are not able to extend an I-20 for minor coursework.
Advising Graduate Students
A Leave of Absence is an immigration process for international students taking a break from their studies. It results in the termination of their immigration status. Graduate On-leave Status allows students to maintain their graduate status while taking a break from studies.
F or J students planning research or fieldwork abroad should consult ISS to understand how extended time outside the U.S. may affect their immigration status.
F and J international students can only take a limited number of online courses. Students considering an online track/program should consult ISS to understand its impact on their immigration record.