Maintaining Student Immigration Status
Maintaining F-1 Student Status Change of Status (COS) Reinstatement of Status (ROS) Transfer Out
Maintaining Your F-1 Status
This information reviews important immigration documents and explains regulations about maintaining your F-1 Status while in the U.S.
Keep Your Documents Up to Date
I-20: Do not let your I-20 expire. Submit an Extension of I-20 e-form via the iRocket portal and allow time for it to be approved by OISSS before it expires. If your I-20 expires before you graduate, you will be out of legal status. Keep all I-20s for your records.
Passport: Do not let your passport expire or have less than 6 months validity. You should contact your consulate for instructions to extend or replace it. You cannot work with an expired passport.
I-94: Print a copy of your I-94 each time you re-enter the USA. Your I-94 should read Class of Admission: F1 and Admit Until Date:D/S” (Duration of Stay) if not, contact OISSS. Get your most recent I-94 at USCIS.
Visa: Your visa can expire while you are in the U.S. However, if you travel outside of the U.S., you will need an unexpired visa to re-enter. Be aware of the number of entries into the U.S. you are allowed (i.e., M stands for multiple entries).
Address changes: Update changes to your address in your MyUT portal under the “International” tab. Go to MyUT Portal.
Permanent Address: Maintain a permanent (foreign) address outside the U.S. to which you intend to return.
Lost or Stolen Documents: Contact OISSS if your documents are lost or stolen. You may also need to file a police report.
Maintain Full-time Enrollment
UToledo Undergraduates: You must maintain 12 credit hours per semester (for Fall and Spring semesters).
UToledo Graduates: You must maintain 9 credit hours per semester (for Fall and Spring semesters).
American Language Institute Students: You must maintain 20 hours of classes per week (for Fall and Spring semesters).
Reduced Course Load: If you need to fall below the required number of credit hours, please submit a Reduced Course Load request via the iRocket Portal. You may or may not be eligible to fall below these hours legally. Legitimate reasons include the following:
- Academic difficulties
- Final semester of study
- Completed course work (graduate students only)
- Medical condition or illness
Summer Term: If Summer term is your first academic semester at UToledo, you must register full time. For all others, summer is considered vacation time and you are not required to take courses.
Distance Learning (online classes): Only 3 hours of distance learning or online courses may count towards the full-time enrollment requirement.
Co-Enrollment: A student can be enrolled in two different schools at the same time (concurrent enrollment), as long as the enrollment in both schools amounts to a full time course of study. Students can submit the Co-Enrollment Request through the iRocket Portal. Go to the iRocket Portal.
GPA Requirements: Undergraduates must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and graduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Change of Major and/or Change of Level: Please submit the appropriate e-form via the iRocket portal to notify OISSS of these changes. Go to the iRocket Portal.
Authorized Early Withdraw: Submit this e-form via the iRocket if you need to take a leave of absence from classes and return home. Go to the iRocket Portal.
Travel
Submit a Travel Signature Request via the iRocket Portal any time you plan to travel outside of the U.S. even if you already have a valid travel signature on your I-20 (signatures valid for 1 year) and during OPT. Be sure to re-enter the U.S. on your F-1 visa. If you are given a 30-day entry (Form I-515A), visit OISSS immediately upon entry. Go to the iRocket Portal.
If you are on OPT, you must have the following in order to travel:
- Valid F-1 Visa
- OPT (EAD) Card
- Verification of Employment letter from current employer
- Signed I-20 (travel signature is valid for up to 6 months during OPT)
Work Authorization
On-Campus Work: If you are in legal F-1 status you are eligible to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters. During vacation periods and the summer semester, you are eligible to work full-time on campus. To find an on-campus job, visit the UToledo Career Services office.
Off-Campus Work: You must get proper work authorization prior to working off-campus. Off-campus work authorization falls under three different categories: Severe Economic Hardship, Curricular Practical Training (CPT), and Optional Practical Training (OPT). You will be in violation of status and eligible for deportation if you work without DHS authorization.
Dependents on the F-2 Visa
- You may bring your dependents (spouse and/or unmarried children under age 21) to the United States on an F-2 visa.
- To bring dependents after you have arrived in the U.S. submit an Add SEVIS Dependent
e-form
via the iRocket Portal. - Dependents on an F-2 visa cannot work or receive compensation for services.
- Dependents can study part-time at an SEVP certified school and can study part-time or full-time in a vocational or recreational program (i.e. hobbies, trade).
- Children dependents are allowed to study full-time in K-12 school.
- Dependents must travel with proper paperwork, such as the I-20 endorsed for travel.
Change of Status
If you need to change your status from F1 to a different category, submit a Change of Status Request e-form via the iRocket Portal. You will find an explanation of your options within the form as well. Go to the iRocket Portal.
Reinstatement of Status
If you have failed to maintain your status, refer to the Reinstatement of Status e-form on the iRocket Portal for an explanation of your options and how to request an ROS. Go to the iRocket Portal.
Transfer Out
To transfer to another school, please submit a Transfer Out Request on the iRocket Portal. You will need to provide the acceptance letter from your new school and a preferred date of transfer. Go to the iRocket Portal.