Maintaining Immigration Status

To maintain your status, you are responsible for the following:
  • Maintain a valid passport.
  • Enroll as a full-time student during the academic year (fall and spring semesters) and make normal progress toward your degree. A full course load is 12 credit hours per semester for undergraduates and 9 credit hours per semester for graduate students.
  • Update your address, telephone number, and e-mail accounts with OISPS within 10 days after you move. Your permanent address should be your address outside of the U.S. Your local address is your address in the U.S. You must keep a valid permanent and local address on file. Permanent address=foreign address, local address=U.S. address
  • Notify Office International Student Programs & Services of changes in major or program (e.g. nursing to chemical engineering or bachelor’s to master’s degree).
  • Request an extension if your program takes longer than the date indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019.  You must apply for a program extension before the end date on your immigration document.
  • Maintain health insurance for yourself and any dependents. All international students are required to have health and accident insurance for themselves and all dependent family members in the United States. Insurance for the primary must be purchased at the University during the registration period.
  • Work only with proper authorization. Contact OISPS before starting employment.
  • Have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed by an international student advisor before traveling out of the U.S.
We are here to help you and want to work with you to maintain status. The staff members of OISPS are well-trained and informed on current immigration matters.