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The University of Tennessee

Center for International Education

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Student Services » Immigration Information » Maintaining F-1 Status


Maintaining F-1 Status

In order to maintain your F-1 status, you must complete a full-time class load each Fall and Spring semester. Summer is considered a vacation period unless it is the first or last term of enrollment. You can take a summer vacation only if you intend to re-enroll for the following Fall semester. Enrolling for the summer semester cannot be substituted for the Fall or Spring semester. Completion in this situation means you receive a grade at the end of the semester.

What Is Full Time?

Undergraduates

All undergraduates must complete 12 credit hours per semester.

Graduates

  • All graduates must complete 9 credit hours per semester.
  • Graduate students who have a 20 hour per week or 50% time assistantship, completion of 6 credit hours is sufficient for immigration purposes.
  • Note: There may be differences between the DHS and academic definitions of full time.
  • Only classes taken for a regular grade (A-F), Pass/Fail (P/F) or Satisfactory (S) count toward the immigration requirement.
  • Classes taken as Audit (AU) do not count toward this requirement.
  • Withdrawing with a W/WP/WF do not count as credit.
  • You must complete the course. Merely registering and paying for these courses is not sufficient.

Exceptions to Full Time Requirement

You must consult with a CIE advisor before taking less than the full time load. In some cases you must get permission first.

Exceptions where you must obtain PRIOR PERMISSION from CIE:

  • When a graduate student has completed all course work requirements and is only working on thesis or dissertation hours, registering for 3 credit hours is sufficient for immigration purposes. You must get written permission from CIE before being enrolled part-time. (Note: Academic definition may differ)
  • In the final term of a degree program, a student can register for only the number of hours required to graduate. You must get written permission from CIE before being enrolled part-time.
  • A student who has a medical condition can be enrolled less than full-time or not at all. A letter from a doctor explaining the reasons must be turned in. You must get written permission from CIE before being enrolled part-time. This is limited to a total of 12 months.
  • A student who has a valid academic reason can be enrolled less than full-time. Reasons can include initial difficulty with English Language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods or improper course level placement. This is limited to one semester only. Each case is unique. You must get written permission from CIE before being enrolled part-time.

Exceptions where you do not need permission from CIE:

  • During summer semester, you do not have to be enrolled full time. (Note: Departmental rules may differ for assistantships).
  • A student who holds a 20-hour per week assistantship can enroll for only 6 credit hours. (Note: Departmental rules may differ).
  • A student who is on a period of authorized full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).