| International Student and Scholar Services Maintaining Valid F-1 Status
Students entering the United States using an I-20 Form should be admitted in F-1 status. As such, they must follow specific Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations that pertain to the F-1 category. *If you are unsure how to maintain your status, consult with your International Student (IS) Advisor. *Students are legally responsible for maintaining their own status by understanding and complying with these regulations.
Upon arrival in the United States, F-1 students should verify that their documents were properly processed by the DHS inspector at the border. At the port of entry the immigration inspector should stamp the I-20 Form in red and write "F-1/DS" and return it to the student. The inspector should also stamp the I-94 card, write "F-1/DS", and return it to the student. These forms indicate the type of status, the length of authorized stay in the country and the authorized school of attendance. Keep these documents in a safe place with your passport throughout your stay in the United States.
To maintain legal status, F-1 students must: | 1. | Report to the Office of International Programs (OIP) in order to have their SEVIS record activated. Georgetown requires attendance at a mandatory Immigration Reporting Session to meet this requirement. | | | | | 2. | Register as full-time students every semester (except summer). Full-time for undergraduates is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours each term. For graduate students, full-time is at least 9 credit hours per term, unless coursework has been completed and the student is registered for Thesis Research. On a case by case basis, using guidelines set forth by the DHS, an International Student Advisor may authorize an F-1 or J-1 student to enroll in less than a full-course of study. International students must obtain prior written approval from the IS Advisor for a reduced course load before dropping below the minimum credit hour requirement. F-1 students should not depend on their professors or academic advisors for information about immigration regulations and course load/requirements. Immigration regulations take precedence over academic policies. Failure to maintain full-time status, as defined by DHS regulations, will make students ineligible for any work privileges and may result in loss of permission to remain in the United States. | | | | | 3. | Not exceed a maximum of 20 hours/week of on-campus employment during the academic year. Students may engage in full-time on-campus work during official school breaks and vacations. | | | | | 4. | Engage in off-campus employment only with prior authorization. | | | | | 5. | Monitor the end date on the I-20 Form. Extension of stay must be approved prior to the end date of the I-20 Form. | | | | | 6. | Notify the IS Advisor with any change in the academic program, including changes in program level, major or leave of absence. Students who transfer from one academic institution to another must complete the transfer process of their immigration status as well. | | | | | 7. | Inform the IS Advisor of any change of U.S. address within ten days of moving. | The U.S. Government considers students who violate F-1 regulations “out of status.” Penalties for violating status can be serious and may affect a student's entire academic career.
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