While studying in the U.S. with an F1 or J1 visa your primary purpose is to be enrolled as a fulltime student and maintain your student status at all times.
Please scroll down for more information on how to maintain your student status while studying at SMU.
International Students are required to enroll full-time every fall and spring semester. Full-time enrollment at SMU is:
Enrolling for summer is optional unless otherwise deemed by your academic department or if the summer term is your first semester at SMU.
Although the U.S. government requires full-time enrollment for every long semester, the government also acknowledges that full-time enrollment is not always possible. Reasons for which the government allows less than full-time enrollment are:
Important: All exceptions will need to be authorized by the ISSS office prior to dropping a course. Dropping a course without the authorization from a Designated School Official (DSO) at the ISSS office is considered a violation of an international student’s immigration status.
International students are permitted to enroll in one online course or a 3-credit hour course that counts towards the student’s full-time enrollment requirement. In other words, undergraduate students will need to be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours of in-person (on-campus?) courses and graduate students will need to be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of in-person courses.
International students are permitted to enroll concurrently (same time) at SMU and another institution. However, any courses taken at another institution must be approved by the ISSS office and the credits taken at the other institution must be transferrable to SMU. Therefore, concurrent enrollment must also be approved by the student’s academic advisor at SMU.
Students approved for a full-time CPT (working more than 20 hours per week) are only allowed to register for the CPT-related course. Students approved for a part-time CPT (working less than 20 hours per week) are required to register as a full-time student.
Forms:
Reduced Course Load for Academic Reasons (Electronic Submission through DocuSign)
Reduced Course Load for Medical Reasons
Reduced Course Load for Last Semester
Concurrent Enrollment
Making normal academic progress means that you are enrolling full-time every semester and are making progress towards completing your program. It also means being in good academic standing with the university. However, sometimes students who are making normal academic progress still need more time on their I-20 to complete their program. If that is the case, then you will need to apply for a “Program Extension” I-20/DS-2019.
Note: Program Extensions require recommendation from academic advisor, new financial documentation, and student needs to be making normal academic progress. Program Extensions can only be granted for up to 1 year at a time.
Before you begin completing the form:
1. Talk to your Immigration Advisor about your eligibility
2. Have the full name and email address of your Academic Advisor or Faculty Advisor
3. Proof of Financial Evidence for the time requesting the extension.
Forms:
F-1/J-1 Student Program Extension
International students are required by law to report an address change within 10 days of moving. Each time a student moves, the residence change must be reported to the ISSS office so the change can be reported to the government.
To update your address, please follow the instructions below:
If students need to update their address in their home country, they must also report this change within 10 days by e-mailing the new address to isss@smu.edu
Phone numbers will also need to be updated within 10 days.
To update your phone number, please follow the instructions below:
All students must have an I-20 that accurately reflects their current program of study. If you are changing majors, you will need to speak to academic advisor to change your major administratively. Once that has been completed, the ISSS office will receive notification and will then proceed in issuing a new I-20.
If you are seeking to change programs to a lower level, you will need to submit the Change of Major or Program. For example, a student was admitted to a PhD program and after one year of study, the student has decided to change level of education to a Masters program. In this case, a new I-20 will need to be issued with a new program end date. *Note: Academic advisor will need to complete the Change of Major or Program form indicating new program details. ISSS will issue new I-20 upon receipt of this form.
If students need more time to complete program, due to the change of major or program, students need to be aware that they ,may also need to complete the Program Extension process.
Forms:
Change of Major or Program
F-1/J-1 students are eligible to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during winter and summer vacation. On-campus employment may include teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or student positions at the campus library, bookstore, food/dining services, etc. Students are not eligible to work on-campus after the completion of their degree, unless they have work authorization in the form of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card).
To receive written work authorization for on-campus employment, the student and their supervisor will need to complete the On-Campus Work Eligibility form via DocuSign. The supervisor is the only person that can submit the On-Campus Work Eligibility form.
On-Campus Work Authorization Process (for SMU faculty/staff ONLY)
Work Authorization Information Presentation
F-1/J-1 students may not engage in off-campus employment (including paid and unpaid internships) before receiving proper employment authorization from the ISSS office.
Types of Off-Campus Work Authorization available to F-1 Students:
Types of Off-Campus Work Authorization available to J-1 Students:
Forms:
Economic Hardship Work Authorization
J-1 Student Academic Training Information
J-1 Student Academic Training Application
Volunteering has a very specific connotation when it comes to international students. It refers to donating time with an organization whose primary purpose is charitable or humanitarian in nature, without remuneration or any other type of compensation. There should be:
SMU does not generally follow the practice of permitting students to volunteer on-campus unless it has been formally approved by Human Resources (and Legal Affairs, if applicable). You should request your supervisor to contact SMU Human Resources to inquire about the process involved in hiring a student worker on as a volunteer on a project.
If you engage in employment that is not paid while on OPT, it is important to ensure that your voluntary employment does not violate any labor laws. It is also recommended that you keep the following records as it may be requested by USCIS if you are applying for immigration benefits in the future:
Forms:
Volunteering vs Employment
When Traveling You Must Have:
1. Current I-20/DS-2019 form
Before leaving the U.S. the most current I-20/DS-2019 will need to be endorsed for travel and re-entry by a Designated School Official. Travel Endorsement is located on page two of I-20 (first page on DS-2019) and is valid for one calendar year, or until the completion of your degree, whichever comes first. Travel Endorsement for students on OPT is valid for six months, or until the end date of their OPT, whichever comes first. ISSS will have the endorsement ready within 3 business days, if there are no complications. However, we suggest you submit the request 2 weeks prior to travel in case a new I-20 is needed.
2. Valid Passport
For at least six months into the future at the time of re-entry.
3. Valid U.S. Visa stamp
There are some exceptions for students who are traveling to Canada or Mexico, for less than 30 days. Please see the Automatic Extension of Visa Validity form for more information.
4. EAD card, if on Post/STEM Extension OPT and Employment Letter
If applying for a visa, it is RECOMMENDED to have:
Please be sure to check consulate website for any additional requirements and for procedures http://usembassy.state.gov
Note: Students on academic probation, who’ve been suspended while outside of the U.S. will not be eligible to return to SMU and any I-20 will be not be valid.
Forms:
Travel Endorsement Request Form
Automatic Extension of Visa Validity
F-1/J-1 Students can bring their spouse or children (under the age of 21) as an F-2/J-2 dependent status for the duration of the student’s study, which includes time spent on Optional Practical Training or Academic Training. The F-2/J-2 dependent will need a dependent I-20/DS-2019 to apply for an F-2/J-2 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the U.S or to apply for a change of status.
To add a dependent, please submit clearly scanned copies of the following documents and email to isss@smu.edu:
*Processing times for such requests are 5-7 business days. This process is only for continuing students at SMU, new students will submit all documentation to their admitting department.
If you plan on enrolling full-time at another institution, you can transfer your SEVIS record to your new school, if you are able to enroll for the next available term or within 5 months, whichever is sooner.
If you would like to transfer TO SMU, you and a DSO at your current school will need to complete the “Transfer-to-SMU” form. You, the student, will then be responsible to for submitting this form to your admitting department.
If you would like to transfer OUT of SMU, you will need to complete the “Transfer Out Request Form” and submit it to ISSS office, along with a copy of your admission letter to your new school.
*Note: SEVIS records can only be transferred out after the completion of the semester or within the 60-day grace period.
Forms:
Transfer TO SMU (Main Campus)
Transfer OUT Request (Student)
If you are already in the U.S. and are interested in changing your visa status to F-1/J-1 or F-2/J-2, then the ISSS office can guide you through this process. There are two options for obtaining a change of status:
Option 1: Apply inside the U.S. for a change of Status
This option requires adjudication from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) government agency. The application process can take up to 6-9 months, or even longer. Current processing times can be found by going to the USCIS website.
Option 2: Leave the U.S. and re-enter with a new visa status
This option requires you to depart the U.S., apply for an F/J visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and re-enter with your new visa. If you are a newly accepted student, who has not attended SMU before, and would like to study here for a future semester, then you would apply for an I-20 through the admission office. However, if you are a current student at SMU and would like to pursue this option, you will need to submit the following documents:
Note: Please note that all students wanting to change status will need to speak to an International Advisor before any I-20s can be issued, with exception of new students traveling to get an F/J visa.
Forms:
Change of Status Options
Change of Status I-20 Request
Re-entry to the U.S. to Change Status Request (Current Students Only)
It is your responsibility to remain in compliance with immigration and the university regulations. The ISSS office provides information and services to ensure that you are aware of your responsibilities and are able to remain complaint. The ISSS office has taken steps to provide you this information by creating the “International Student Compliance” Course, which every new student will be required to complete. In addition to our website and the course, the ISSS office hosts seminars and information sessions on various topics throughout the year.
If you do not comply with the regulations, the ISSS office is required to terminate your SEVIS record. Termination of a SEVIS record (I-20/DS-2019) has serious negative consequences for you, as it can end your ability to stay in the U.S. and attend school.
Reasons for the termination of your SEVIS record include:
In most cases, the termination of your SEVIS record means that you must make plans to immediately depart from the United States. In other words, there may not be a grace period after a termination.
If your SEVIS record is terminated, you have two options: travel outside the United States with a new I-20 or submit a reinstatement application to regain your status. An International Advisor at the ISSS can work with you to determine your options.
Best ways to ensure that your SEVIS record is not terminated:
Forms:
Reinstatement vs Re-entry
Reinstatement to F-1 Status
Re-entry to the U.S. to Correct Status
There are instances when a student would like discontinue their enrollment at SMU. The university does allow Leave of Absences, however, for immigration purposes there needs to be action taken on the SEVIS record. Therefore, if you are planning to cancel enrollment or withdraw from the university entirely, you will need to submit the “SEVIS Record Withdrawal” form. In addition, you will also need to depart the country and submit a flight itinerary.
If you are looking to take time off from school for medical reasons, you have one of two options:
If you withdraw your SEVIS record, your record will be terminated for “Authorized Early Withdrawal”. If you decide to return to SMU, your next enrollment needs to be within 5 months from your last enrollment to keep the same SEVIS ID. If your next enrollment is more than 5 months after your last enrollment, then you can come back to SMU with a new I-20, which has a new SEVIS ID (will require a new SEVIS fee payment). Once you are ready to return to SMU, please submit the "Returning After Early Withdrawal" form (link to form below).
*Note: If you make plans to take a leave of absence with the university and do not inform the ISSS office, your SEVIS record will be either be terminated for “Unauthorized Drop Below Full-Time” or “Failure to Enroll”. Having a terminated record for these reasons could have serious consequences for your future in the U.S.
Forms:
SEVIS Record Withdrawal
Returning After Early Withdrawal
As an F-1 student, you have several options after completing your program. As you get ready to complete your program of study, you can: