Maintaining F-1 Status
Review the following options for maintaining your F-1 Status
Enrollment Requirements
- Pursue a full course of study (i.e., 12 units for UGRD and 9 units for GRAD).
- Unless authorized by ISSS for
- Be mindful of allowable online credits. Only one course or 3 units per a student's
full-time enrollment can be online. The other remaining courses must be in-person
or hybrid.
- If you only have one course to complete in your final semester, this course cannot be online.
- Make progress towards degree completion.
- Maintain a valid I-20.
- Know your expiration date.
- Extend in a timely manner.
- Shorten - if finishing degree program earlier than expected.
- Update if major changes.
- Know your expiration date.
- Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 12 months, when pursuing degree.
- Validity of 6 months when on OPT/STEM OPT.
- Report a change of address within 10 days of moving via MySJSU.
- Do not engage in off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) without the proper employment authorization (i.e., CPT).
OPT
- Work within the dates of the authorized (EAD) Employment Authorization Document.
- All employment (paid or unpaid) must be related to your major field of study.
- Employment must be at least 20 hours per week, in order not to accrue unemployment days.
- Do not exceed an aggregate of 90 days of unemployment.
- Report employment via the SEVP portal or directly to ISSS within 10 days.
- Report a change of address within 10 days of moving via the SEVP portal.
- Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 6 months, when on OPT.
STEM OPT
- All employment must be for an e-verified employer, related to your major field of study, paid, and at least 20 hours per week.
- Report employment and changes in employment within 10 days of the change, via the STEM OPT Employment Update e-form.
- Reporting requirements at the following times: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months.
- Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 6 months, when on STEM OPT.
- Do not exceed 150 days of unemployment, applied to the entire period of standard Post-completion and STEM OPT.
Exceptions to Full-Time Enrollment
Other Resources
Contact Us
San José State University
One Washington Square
Student Union - CPGE
San Jose, CA 95192-0135
Office Hours
Monday-Friday 9am – 4:30pm