Maintaining Your Status

1. Full-Time Enrollment

To maintain your F-1 or J-1 student status, you must be registered for a full course of study each academic term.

• Undergraduate Students: Full-time enrollment requires at least 12 credit hours each semester except when you need a lesser course load to complete the course of study during the current term. You MUST see your academic dean and contact an OIS advisor.
  
  
• Graduate Students: For immigration purposes, 9 credit hours each semester is considered full-time. If you are taking fewer than 9 credits, you may file a "Deviation from Full Course of Study Form", signed by your academic advisor and return it to the OIS for approval.

If you have any concerns about your registration or your ability to enroll full-time:

• Undergraduate students should contact their Class Dean.
• Graduate students should contact their Academic Advisor.

If you are unable to enroll full-time, you must obtain authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) from OIS before dropping below full-time status. Failure to do so will result in a violation of your immigration status.

If you are concerned about your registration status and its influence on your immigration (F-1/J-1) status, you should contact the OIS immediately at [email protected]

For details, see the section below on Reduced Course Load.

2. Reduced Course Load (RCL)

Students may qualify for a Reduced Course Load in limited situations. You must obtain prior approval from OIS before registering for fewer than the required number of credits.

Full-Time Standards

• Undergraduate Students: 12 credit hours per semester
  
  
• Graduate Students: 9 credit hours per semester

If you are taking fewer than the full-time requirement, you must complete a Deviation from Full Course of Study Form, obtain your academic advisor’s signature, and return the form to OIS for approval.

Exceptions to Full-Time Enrollment

Acceptable reasons for an RCL include:

• Academic difficulties (e.g., initial language or reading challenges, unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods)
  
  
• Medical conditions (with documentation)
• Completion of program requirements during the current term

You do not need to apply for a Reduced Course Load during your final semester if you are taking fewer courses to complete your degree.

⚠️ Important: Failure to obtain authorization for a Reduced Course Load before dropping below full-time enrollment will cause you to fall out of status and lose eligibility for on-campus employment, practical training, transfer, or change of status.

If you believe you qualify for an exception or are unsure about your status, contact [email protected] immediately.

3. Change of Program or Major

During your course of study at Fordham, if you change program or major, please notify the OIS immediately by submitting a New I-20 Request Form. Before submitting your request:

• Review the Program End Date on page 1 of your current I-20.
  
  
• If it is incorrect, contact [email protected] for guidance.

If the change in your program is from undergraduate to graduate level or from English language study to a degree program, once you are admitted to the program, please notify the OIS. You will need to submit an AFCOE and financial support documentation.

4. Program Completion Date

The completion date on an I-20 (PROGRAM END DATE on page 1) or DS-2019 (item #3) indicates when you are scheduled to complete your current program. All visa holders should be aware of this date and know of the options that are available if more time is needed to complete their studies at Fordham. Likewise, if the program completion end date is too far into the future and needs to be shortened, an OIS advisor needs to be alerted.

Once the program completion date has passed, you will have a grace period during which you will need to do one of the following:

• Exit the United States
• Change Education Levels at Fordham
• Change visa status
• Transfer to a new program
• Apply for OPT (F-1 only)

After Program Completion

Once your program end date passes, you have a grace period to take one of the following actions:

If you need more time to finish your studies, see the Program Extension section below.

5. Program Extension

If you are unable to complete your degree by the program end date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019, you must request an extension before your current document expires.

• F-1 students: Check Page 1 of your I-20 under “Program Start/End Date.”
  
  
• J-1 students: Check Section 3 of your DS-2019.

How to Apply

1. Contact your academic advisor or Dean to discuss your academic progress.
   
   
2. Submit a Program Extension Request to OIS at least three weeks before your current I-20/DS-2019 expires.
   
   
3. OIS will review your request. If approved, your program end date will be extended in SEVIS, and you’ll receive a new I-20/DS-2019.

Eligibility Requirements

You must:

• Have maintained valid F-1 or J-1 status throughout your studies.
• Be making normal academic progress.
• Have valid academic reasons for requiring more time.
• Obtain your advisor’s or Dean’s approval for the new completion date.

Address Update for International Students

One of the requirements for maintaining your legal status is to maintain an updated local address. If you live in on-campus housing, your local address will be automatically entered into the University database. However, if you do not live in campus housing, we will not know your address unless you tell us.

Any time your local address changes, you must notify us within 10 days.

Domestic students: please find information about changing your address on the Registrar's website.

Address Update Options

• Through your fordham.edu account: 
  • Log in to fordham.edu
  • Select the Student tab on the top left
  • Select the Information folder in the My Information box
  • Select Update Addresses and Phones
  • Under the Type of Address to Insert, select “Non-University Local Address” to enter a US address, or “Permanent Address” to enter a new home address outside the US
• If you are not able to update your address following the steps above, please email your new address to us at [email protected]. Make sure to include you’re A# in the email.

Address Types

Permanent Address: Current address in home country – where you sleep when you leave the United States to ‘visit home’

Non-University Local Address
Current U.S. local address – this is where you sleep at night!

Billing: Address where you want any bills mailed to

Mailing: Address where you want all correspondence/mail from the University mailed to

Note: as an F-1 or J-1, your permanent address must always be outside the U.S.