Maintaining F-1 Status
F-1 students are required to understand and comply with the rules and regulations pertaining to their immigration status. Failure to comply with these rules and regulations may result in the loss of important immigration benefits, including your eligibility to:
- accept on-campus or off-campus employment, including practical training
- remain in or return to the United States following a trip abroad
- transfer to another school
- change to another non-immigrant status or pursue other immigration benefits
Teachers College is required to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security when a student fails to maintain lawful F-1 student status. It is essential that every F-1 student complies with the following rules:
As an F-1 student, you are required to maintain valid, unexpired immigration documents while in the United States. These include:
- Passport: Must be valid at least six months into the future (except for Canadian citizens). If your passport is about to expire, contact your embassy or consulate for information on how to apply for a renewal. You may renew your passport in the U.S..
- Form I-20: Must be valid and accurate. Be sure to keep all your previously issued Form I-20s. You must contact the OISS within 10 days if any information on your I-20 changes. If your I-20 expires soon and you need additional time to complete your program, visit the Program Extension page for additional information.
I-94 record: Must be accurate. We recommend that you access and review your I-94 record following a trip abroad and return to the U.S. in F-1 status. Your record must indicate F-1 status and D/S. To obtain a copy of your I-94 record, visit the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website. If your I-94 record does not indicate “F-1 and D/S,” contact the OISS immediately.
You are required to pursue a full course load (9 credits or equivalent) every fall and spring semester. Only one online course (or 3 credits) may count toward full-time enrollment in any fall or spring term. A reduced course load (part-time study) may be authorized only by the OISS in very specific circumstances. Students needing to apply for reduced coursework must complete and submit the Reduced Coursework Request Form via TC-Compass. For additional information, see the section on Full Course of Study Requirement of our website.
You are expected to make normal progress toward degree completion before the program end date noted on your Form I-20. You must meet your department's standards and requirements for satisfactory academic performance. For more information about general degree requirements at TC, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.
F-1 students have limited employment benefits, as explained in the F-1 Employment section of this website. Failure to obtain employment authorization before starting employment is considered a severe violation of F-1 immigration regulations. If you are planning to engage in employment in the U.S., please attend employment workshops to learn more about your employment benefits.
For detailed information on the documentation needed to reenter the U.S. in F-1 status, visit the Travel section of our website.
You are required to notify Teachers College of any change of address or legal name. This notification must be made within 10 days of the change.
- Name change: Notify the OISS and the Office of the Registrar
- Address change: Notify TC by updating your “physical” (PH) address (and any other relevant address information) via myTC Portal
- Students on post-completion Optional Practical Training: Notify the OISS of any change by submitting the OPT reporting form via TC-Compass
If you intend to depart the United States for an extended period of time, please notify the OISS. Your F-1 status may be terminated if:
- You are not registered as a full-time student during any fall or spring semester
- You are outside of the United States for five months or more for non-academic reasons (personal/family leave, non-academic employment)
Students who will be outside of the United States for an extended period of time for data collection, fieldwork, and research-related reasons may retain F-1 student status but must maintain full-time registration during the fall and spring semesters. Registration during the summer is not required.
F-1 students have a 60-day grace period upon completion of their program at which point you must do one of the following:
- Depart the U.S.
- Change of Program/New Degree Level: You must file a request for a new I-20 if you are changing your academic major and/or will be pursuing a new degree program within 10 days of the change.
- School Transfer: Submit a SEVIS Transfer Out form via TC-Compass if you are planning to pursue a new program of study at another institution in the U.S. This request must be made no later than 30 days after completing your studies at Teachers College.
- Apply for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training
- Change immigration status