Current Students
International & Immigration Services is here to help while you are completing your degree. Explore the resources below to find essential information about your visa status and more.
Maintaining Status
On this page, you will find more information about how to maintain your F-1 Visa status while studying in the United States. For additional information, contact International & Immigration Services (OIIS) and/or review resources on our website.
Reporting address or phone number changes
- All students in current F-1 and J-1 status must maintain the following in their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record:
- Current U.S. address
- Foreign address
- U.S. phone number
- OIIS reports this information to SEVIS, but you must first update the information Student Planning and Advising (SPA).
- Any change in your addresses or phone number must be reported in SPA within 10 days of the change.
- Adhere to Employment Regulations
- Maintain Full-time Course Load
Course Registration
Students must register each semester on time during pre-registration.
Failure to register or remain full time violates F-1 visa regulations and will cause students to be out of status. Students must be full-time according to their program.
Class attendance is required to maintain your F-1 visa status. Repeated violations of non-attendance might result in visa termination.
Course Modalities
As referenced in the University’s course catalogues, as an international F-1 visa student, you will be allowed to enroll in in-person, hybrid, hybrid limited and online courses. Be aware that F-1 visa regulations allow F-1 visa international students to enroll in only one online course per semester to count towards their full-time course load. As indicated below, hybrid limited courses, which require less than 50% of physical presence on campus, count as online courses towards the full-time course load of study.
| Modality | Definition | Implications for F1 Students |
|---|---|---|
| In-Person | All required class meetings are in-person and require students’ physical attendance*. The course may also include online content and activities outside of in-person meetings. | Counts as in-person towards full-time course of study. |
| Hybrid | The course is offered through a combination of remote and in-person meetings. 50% or more of class meetings are in-person and require students’ physical attendance*. | Counts as in-person towards full time course of study. |
| Hybrid Limited | The course is offered through a combination of remote and in-person meetings. Less than 50% of class meetings are in-person and require students’ physical attendance. At least one class meeting is in-person and requires students’ physical attendance*. | Counts as online towards full time course of study. |
| Online | The course is offered remotely with no required in-person meetings or physical attendance. The course may be synchronous, asynchronous or both. | Counts as online towards full time course of study. |
*Physical attendance requires student attendance for classes, examinations, or other purposes integral to completion of the class. Physical attendance limited to testing, orientation, tutoring or academic support services without the monitoring by school staff or faculty is insufficient to establish physical attendance. If the course does not have a physical attendance requirement it is considered distance learning (online).
Registration Requirements for Degree Levels
Must attend full time (18-23 hours per week) and follow ESL vacation policy.
12 credits each semester
- Semester and Trimester
- 9 credits each
- 8 Week Modules
- 6 credits each module—students must register for two modules each term which will total 12 credits (ex. Mod1/Mod2; Mod3/Mod4; Mod5/Mod6. Module programs are one-year programs with no breaks)
- Only one online, hybrid limited, or distance learning class can count toward a full course of study for an F-1 student during each term or semester.
Employment
- On-campus Employment
- Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- 12-Month Optional Practical Training (OPT)
- STEM OPT
Reduced Course Load and Leave of Absence
Students must obtain permission from the OIIS prior to reducing their course load. Reduced course loads (RCLs) are granted for the following reasons:
- Academic
- Limited to one term or session per degree level for academic difficulties.
- Final Semester
- One term per degree level for completion of program.
- Illness/ Medical Condition
- Requires documentation from a licensed U.S. doctor and must be submitted to the OIIS. Limited to one year per degree level (documented in SEVIS as RCL).
Students are not permitted to remain in the U.S. when taking a term off.
A leave of absence form must be submitted in the ISS portal before the term starts. It requires academic department and OIIS approval.
Re-entry date to the United States cannot exceed 30 days before the next term start date. The student’s I-20 will be terminated during the leave of absence and requested for reactivation 60 days before the next term starts.
If the leave of absence exceeds five months:
- A new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID number will be issued.
- Students must pay SEVIS I-901 fee.
- If an F-1 visa is not valid or has expired, the student must reapply for a new one.
- Enter the US no earlier than 30 days before the start date on the new I-20
- The one full academic year requirement to be eligible to apply for OPT restarts.
- Students interested in applying for OPT in the future must consider this possibility before planning to take time off from their program.
Program Extension
If you need to remain in your educational program beyond the originally estimated completion date (see Program Start/End date under Program of Study on your I-20 form) you must request an extension of your I-20 form before your I-20 form expires.
An extension may be done at any time before the I-20 form expires- however, we recommend that you submit your request in the ISS Portal at least one month before your I-20 form expires.
Failure to extend your I-20 form before it expires is a violation of your F-1 student status and will require reinstatement to F-1 status.
Taxes
Sacred Heart OIIS staff are not trained or allowed to provide individual tax advice to students. Our recommended service to assist international students with tax filing is Sprintax.
- Sprintax is designed for non-resident alien students who had no U.S. source of income or earned taxable U.S. income in the previous year. You can file your Form 8843 and/or U.S. federal return and state return (if necessary) for a standard fee.
- If you have any tax-related questions, visit the Sprintax contact page.
Travel
We do not provide travel letters for students traveling during breaks or University-wide days off. If a student is traveling outside of the term, it is their responsibility and understanding that they must return on time for their classes.
The F-1 visa requires on-ground presence in the U.S. and full-time enrollment with in-person coursework while school is in session. Travel during an academic term must ONLY be used for emergency reasons.
For a student to travel during the term, they must gain approval from their academic advisor and OIIS in the ISS Portal for travel request to be granted. All requests are subject to review and may be denied if too long or if extended travel conflicts with progress in the program.
Students traveling during the academic year are responsible for all missed assignments. Missing class and/or homework may result in poor grades. Students cannot attend classes remotely from their home country.
Maximum Travel Duration
The maximum time SHU may allow for emergency travel is from 1 to 14 days, subject to approval from the program director. The length of approved travel time may vary from program to program dependent on the structure, schedule, assignment deadlines and/or other reasons as determined by the program director. Any amount over 14 days will be automatically denied and a leave of absence for the term should be considered.
While you may have been granted permission by your program director and OIIS to travel internationally mid-semester, your admissibility into the U.S. is not guaranteed. It is ultimately decided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent at the port of entry. The agent may have concerns about you violating the on-ground, in-classroom regulations of the F-1 visa due to your extended absence in the middle of the term. Your reentry to the U.S. is not guaranteed and with an absence of two weeks or more you are putting your ability to reenter and continue your studies at Sacred Heart University in jeopardy.
Missing classes could also negatively impact your grades as many courses have attendance policies and participation requirements. Considering these circumstances, we urge you to carefully consider your upcoming travel, as we strongly advise against absences during the semester.
To request permission to travel during the term for emergency situations, students must fill out the Request for Travel during Term in the ISS portal. After it has been filled out accurately, students will hear back from OIIS once their academic advisor reviews the request.
- A valid “Continued Attendance” I-20, with a signature on the second page dated within the last 6 months. Also referred to as a travel I-20.
- Travel Support Letter
- This letter is only for travel during the academic year.
- To obtain a travel letter from OIIS, students must first request for travel during term to receive approval from their academic advisor. After an advisor has approved, OIIS will electronically issue the letter.
