Maintaining International Student Status
Maintaining Valid F-1 Status in the U.S.
After being admitted to the US, F-1 international students must follow USCIS regulations in order to maintain status and remain in the US legally.
The International Student Program is required to terminate students who fail to maintain or violate their F-1 status. Terminated students no longer have legal standing in the US, lose the benefits given to F-1 students such as employment authorization, and in some cases must leave the country immediately.
Be sure to speak with the Designated School Official (DSO) at the International Student Program before taking any action that could affect your status, such as dropping classes, changing majors, or applying for work or internships.
While the International Student Program does our best to help F-1 students maintain status, ultimately it is your responsibility to be aware of and abide by the regulations governing your status.
*Important note: F-1 status (legal permission to be in the United States) is not the same as an F-1 visa, which is the sticker in your passport that helps Customs and Border Protection determine whether or not to allow you to enter the US.
Basic Guidelines
F-1 international students are required to be enrolled full-time, be in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher), and make progress towards their educational goals.
Full-time enrollment for international students means:
- At least 12 units completed each fall and spring semester (no requirements for summer semester)
- No more than 1 class or 3 units that are fully online (all others must be in-person or hybrid classes)
- Classes that are withdrawn with a W or EW partway through the semester do not qualify as enrollment
- The majority of units (at least 7) should be taken at ARC and the rest can only be taken at one other college
*Note: classes taken beyond the 12-unit minimum are considered "incidental to status" and are not subject to restrictions
Reduced course load may be authorized in certain circumstances - be sure to consult the DSO at the International Student Program before dropping courses or enrolling for less than a full course load.
With strict enrollment requirements and the cost of non-resident tuition, it is especially important for international students to plan their studies in advance. You should meet with a counselor once a semester to create or update a comprehensive education plan that maps out your classes until the end of your program of study.
- Form I-20 is a document issued by the DSO that shows an international student is legally enrolled in a program of study in the US.
- It is issued after admission, after enrolling for the first semester, and in cases of special authorization such as travel authorization, reduced course load, and employment authorization.
- It must be signed by both the DSO and the student to be valid. You are responsible for keeping copies of all I-20s you have been issued.
- Form I-20 shows the program end date, or the date by which you are expected to complete your program of study. If you are not able to complete your program by this date, you must request an extension 60 days before the current program end date.
- After completing your program of study (graduating), you have a 60-day grace period to prepare to leave the US, start a new program of study, or apply for a change of status.
F-1 international students are allowed to work on campus, for up to 20 hours a week when classes are in session and up to 40 hours a week otherwise.
- During Thanksgiving and spring recess: maximum 20 hours per week
- During winter recess: maximum 40 hours a week
- During summer semester: maximum 20 hours per week if you are enrolled in classes and 40 hours per week if you are not enrolled
Authorization from the DSO is required before starting to work, and employment authorization ends once you are no longer an ARC student (after graduating, transferring to another school, etc.). Please see the DSO for more information about the employment process.
F-1 international students are not eligible for federal work-study positions.
F-1 international students are only allowed to work off-campus in very limited circumstances:
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT): when work experience is required for your degree
- Optional Practical Training (OPT): work that is directly related to your major/program of study
- Severe Economic Hardship: circumstances beyond your control that make it difficult to pay your living/tuition expenses
Prior authorization and a new I-20 is required before starting any type of off-campus employment, including unpaid internships. Please contact the International Student Program if you are considering working off-campus for any reason. This includes taking any work experience (WEXP, 298, 498) classes.
Concurrent enrollment (taking classes at another college) is allowed, but international students should take the majority (at least 7) of their units at the school that issued their I-20. The remaining units to meet the 12-unit minimum must come from the same college - for example, you could take 7 units at ARC and 5 units at SCC, but you could not take 7 units at ARC, 3 units at SCC, and 2 units at FLC.
ARC students may enroll in classes at any Los Rios college, but a concurrent enrollment form must be submitted to the International Student Program to enroll at a college outside of the Los Rios Community College District.
In order to transfer to a different school, you must provide the International Student Program with the following:
- Acceptance letter to the new school
- Contact information of the DSO or international student advisor at the new school
- School SEVIS code
- Transfer form (if your new school has one)
You will need to work with the DSOs at both schools to choose a transfer date for your record, which is usually the last day of the semester. After your record has been transferred to the new school, they can issue you a new I-20.
Keep your passport valid at all times. If your passport will expire within the next 6 months, you should contact your country's embassy or consulate in the United States about passport renewal.
You can continue studying in the US with an expired F-1 visa (check the dates on the visa sticker in your passport), but if you leave the US then you will need to apply to renew your visa in your home country before you can re-enter. Information about US visas is available on the State Department website.
All international students are required to have accurate contact information on file.
New F-1 students arriving in the US must report their US address to the DSO before they can be registered as active students.
Current students must inform the International Student Program within 10 days of any change to your mailing address, email, or phone number, in addition to updating the information in eServices.
International students must inform the DSO before traveling internationally in order to receive travel authorization (a signature on the I-20) and a travel letter.
Please note that entry into the US is always at the discretion of US Customs & Border officials and is not guaranteed. You cannot be outside of the US for more than 5 months even if your visa is still valid.
Documents to bring with you:
- Passport (valid for 6 months after entry) with valid (unexpired) F-1 visa
- Signed I-20 with travel authorization
- Travel letter signed by DSO
- Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses
- Proof of enrollment/transcript and proof of tuition payment (recommended)
*If you receive a Form I-515A upon entry, notify the International Student Program immediately.
All F-1 international students and their dependents must submit IRS Form 8843 by April 15, regardless of whether or not they worked during the previous year.
If you worked (earned income) in the previous year, you must also file state and federal income tax returns by the deadline.
Please note that the International Student Program is not qualified to provide tax filing advice.