Now that you have arrived in the United States and have been admitted to the U.S. as a nonimmigrant, it is your responsibility to maintain it.

International Students must comply with all USCIS regulations during their stay in the United States. Failure to do so will result in going “out of status,” which may require immediate departure from the U.S. To maintain your status, please review the Office of Homeland Security: maintaining status and complete the following requirements: 

  • Report to the Designated School Official (DSO) at the beginning of each semester (before the end of the first week of classes). Bring your passport, I-20, and I-94 information. 
  • Inform the DSO of any changes to your address, contact information, or financial sponsorship within ten days of the change. 
  • Maintain a full-time in-person course load each semester as defined by your degree program. Consult with the DSO before dropping any classes and ensure you make satisfactory progress toward completing your degree within the time frame specified on your Form I-20. Full-time status for undergraduate students is 12 or more credits per semester, nine or more credits per semester for graduate students, six or more credits per semester for Ph.D. students, and ten or more credits per semester for Pharmacy students. Please review the University Credit-Hour Policy for more information. 
  • Attend all your classes and maintain normal academic progress. If you encounter academic difficulties, speak with your advisor and DSO immediately. 
  • Consult your advisor and DSO before dropping a class, changing programs, traveling outside the United States, moving to a new address, transferring schools, or requesting a program extension.