It is your responsibility to maintain your F-1 non-immigrant status while attending school at Augsburg University. Followed is a check-list of terms and conditions for each F-1 student to be aware of in order to maintain your legal status. Failure to do so can cause serious violation and removal from your program and the United States.
Maintaining Full-time Enrollment
- All F-1 international students must maintain full-time enrollment during every academic session or semester except during official school breaks (like summer and winter breaks), or unless approved under specific exception, in advance, by an international student advisor. In spring and fall semester, Augsburg F-1 undergraduate students have to maintain a minimum of 12 credits semester. Graduate students have to enroll a minimum of 6 credits EACH semester INCLUDING summer (unless your program doesn’t require summer attendance).
- If you cannot maintain full-time enrollment, you will must apply for an approval from an international student advisor by completing the Reduced Course Load RCL) form BEFORE you drop below 12 credits for undergraduates and 6 credits for graduates. (If you are enrolled in CPT you will NOT be able to continue with CPT if you have RCL authorized).
- If you plan to enroll some courses at another U.S. higher institution in addition to your enrollment at Augsburg University, such as taking summer courses at another university or college, you will have to seek an approval from an international student advisor at Augsburg University in advance by completing the Concurrent Enrollment Form.
Keeping a Valid passport
Your passport should be 6 months before it expires. Make sure you renew it in time. Your F-1 visa only needs to be valid if you plan to travel back into the United States.
Keeping an updated I-20 form
The following incidents will require an issuance of a new I-20 form. You should store safely and hold on to all of your previous I-20’s. This is your immigration story, and all of these documents can be important for future applications, such as Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Change educational levels or program of study
You will be issued a new I-20 to reflect the change in your educational major or level. Please contact an international student advisor with in 10 days of the change. Also, please make sure your major is also reflected in Records & Registration.
Extension of stay
To maintains status, an F-1 student is required to make normal progress towards completing the full course of study before the program end date listed in Item 5 of your I-20 form. If you cannot complete your program before the program end date, you must apply for an extension 30 days before your program end date by completing F-1 Program Extension Request Form. You will receive a new I-20 if your request is approved.
Transfer out of Augsburg
Simply transferring academically from one school to another does not transfer a student’s F-1 status. Thus, if you plan to transfer from Augsburg to another U.S. higher institution, please consult an Augsburg international student advisor for the proper procedures in order to transfer your SEVIS record. We require an official document from your new school with their SEVIS ID as well as a letter of acceptance into their program.
Work authorization
In the process of obtaining Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training, you will receive a new I-20 with the authorization or recommendation. You must complete this process before beginning employment.
Reporting Change of name, address and phone number
Within 10 days of the name, address or phone number change, F-1 students must notify an international student advisor at Augsburg University in order to update their SEVIS records. This can be done during the semester, using the Change of Address Form, or by the Semester Check In Form at the beginning of the semester. Meanwhile, students ALSO have to submit Name/Gender/Address Change Form to the Registrar’s Office in order to reflect the change on their Augsburg records.
Authorized Employment
F-1 students are generally permitted to work on campus. Do NOT work off campus unless specifically authorized. If you are interested in the off-campus employment regulations and application procedure, please talk to an Augsburg international student advisor. Please refer to Employment page for details.