Advising International 宅男福利导航s
This page is intended for 宅男福利导航 faculty and staff who work with international students.
International students are required to maintain their immigration status by following U.S. Department of Homeland Security and/or U.S. Department of State regulations. The Office of International 宅男福利导航 and Scholar Services (OISS) is here to help students, advisors, faculty, and departments understand these regulations. On this page you will find helpful terms and immigration regulations. Please know you can always contact OISS for additional guidance.
OISS plays a vital role in providing immigration advisory services to 宅男福利导航 University's F-1 and J-1 international students. Furthermore, we are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Department of Homeland Security's reporting requirements for all F-1 and J-1 students sponsored by the university. F-1 students with approved work authorization for OPT or STEM OPT and J-1 students with approved work authorization for post-completion AT continue to be under 宅男福利导航 University's sponsorship. OISS provides immigration guidance to this group of F-1 and J-1 international alumni and maintains the SEVIS record of each student throughout their work authorization period under 宅男福利导航’s sponsorship.
Given the complexity of immigration law and the potential serious consequences of violations, we highly recommend that all university departments refer F-1 and J-1 international students to OISS for any immigration-related concerns or inquiries. Your partnership with us is invaluable in ensuring that our international students have a successful compliant experience at 宅男福利导航 University.
Key regulations to know if you work with international students
Full-Time Enrollment
Federal immigration regulations require nonimmigrant students in F-1 or J-1 status to be enrolled in a full-time course load each term to maintain nonimmigrant visa status. 宅男福利导航s who are not enrolled full time by the end of each add/drop period or who drop below full-time without approval by the OISS violate their student immigration status.
- Undergraduate and graduate students are considered to be full time when they enroll in 3.00 units of credit or more per quarter
- Pritzker School of Law:
LLM and MSL programs define full-time enrollment as 8 or more credits per semester.
JD programs (including JDMBA) define full-time enrollment as 9 or more credits per semester - Full-time enrollment is required in the summer term only if it is a student's first or last term of enrollment.
宅男福利导航s must be physically present on 宅男福利导航's campus during every quarter of enrollment unless otherwise approved for study or research abroad.
Online Coursework
- For both graduate and undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students, only one unit or 1 credit of online/remote course may count toward the full-time enrollment requirement. The one unit/credit limit is for every academic term when students are expected to be enrolled full-time.
- If F-1 or J-1 students enroll in more than their minimum unit requirement, they MAY enroll in more than one unit of online/remote courses.
- Hybrid courses with required on-campus components do not count towards this limitation.
Reduced Course Load (RCL)
宅男福利导航s can only be allowed to drop below full-time for specific academic or medical reasons. They must be authorized by OISS for a reduced course load (RCL) BEFORE dropping below full-time.
Academic Reduced Course Load
A RCL for specific academic reasons requires recommendation of student’s academic or major advisor. There are two types of academic reduced course loads available to international students:
- A final-term student completing their course of study who does not require a full course load to complete.
- Academic difficulties due to initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods, or improper course level placement. This is only applicable during the first quarter; students must resume a full course load at the next
academic term. - 宅男福利导航s cannot be enrolled in only online coursework , even if approved for a RCL by OISS.
- 宅男福利导航s on approved academic RCLs are not eligible for CPT employment authorization.
Medical Reduced Course Load
宅男福利导航s may apply for a RCL due to a medical condition diagnosed and documented by a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, licensed psychologist, or licensed psychiatrist. Please note:
- A RCL for medical reasons may be recommended for more than one term but cannot exceed 12-months. 宅男福利导航s must reapply for a medical RCL each term.
- For students not working with 宅男福利导航 Assistance and Support Services (SASS), additional documentation is required. A letter will be needed which must specify and include recommendations from the physician or psychologist on whether the student should have
part-time or no enrollment, as well as indicating the term for which the reduced course load is applicable. - 宅男福利导航s can be approved for part-time enrollment or no enrollment at all if recommend by the medical professional. Even students not enrolled will remain active in the SEVIS government system if they are approved for a medical RCL.
Program Extensions
- If a student doesn’t complete their program of study by the date listed on their immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019), they must have an academic or medical reason for failing to complete. Examples include: change of major, addition of major, or addition of minor; change in research topic; unexpected research problems; documented medical illness.
- Delays to a program of study caused by academic probation or an internship, is not a compelling reason.
On-Campus Employment
- F-1 and J-1 students can work on-campus up to 20 hours a week at an on-campus job while school is in session.
- F-1 and J-1 students can work on-campus full time during break and vacation periods.
- J-1 students must have authorized prior to any on-campus work.
Off-Campus Employment
- F-1 and J-1 students must have authorization prior to any off-campus work, including internships.
- Any off-campus work must be directly related to the student’s field of study.
- Generally, F-1 students are not eligible for off-campus work until they have completed two full-time semesters.
- See CPT, OPT, OPT STEM Extension, and Academic Training (Glossary of Terms tab) for more details.
SEVIS |
. This is a web-based Department of Homeland Security (DHS) database system used to reconfirmation on all F-1 and J-1 visa holders. To gain access to the system, the University must go through SEVP certification. DSOs (DesignatedSchool Officials) and AROs (Alternate Responsible Officers) must go through training before being granted access to the SEVIS system and must meet specific reporting requirements in accordance with immigration regulations. |
Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility |
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DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility |
is permitted to stay in the U.S. |
CPT |
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work authorization for F-1 students. As the name implies, this is training which provides the student with the opportunity for practical application of the knowledge gained in their program of study and is considered part of the student’s curriculum. Usually, CPT is used for internships or other job opportunities prior to graduation for which the student will earn course credit. In most instances, an F-1 student is not eligible for CPT until they have completed one full academic year (3 quarters or two semesters). |
OPT |
Optional Practical Training is a type of off-campus work authorization for F-1 students who have been full-time students for at least one academic
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STEM OPT Extension |
STEM OPT Extension is a type of off-campus work authorization for F-1 students who have earned a degree in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering or math) that appears on the . The specific CIP code that appears on the student's I-20 document must appear on this list and the student must meet specific STEM Extension eligibility requirements to apply for this two-year extension of their OPT work authorization. |
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Academic Training (AT) is a type of off-campus work authorization for J-1 students to gain practical experience that is directly related to their
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Additional Resources:Understanding Immigration Documents Visa Compliance and Requirements OISS Community Listserv - Receive OISS news and updates including the OISS 宅男福利导航 Newsletter via email. See how to subscribe to the OISS Listserv.
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