As an F-1 student, it is your responsibility to be familiar with and abide by the immigration regulations as they relate to your academics. Please contact OISS directly if you have any questions about the information below.
Academics
An F-1 student's immigration record can be directly impacted by academic issues. As such, it is critical that students pay special attention to the following academic matters.
As an international student on an F-1 visa, you are required to maintain full-time status during the regular semester (fall/spring). Full-time status is equivalent to the following:
| Standing | Number of Units |
| Undergraduate | 12 |
| Graduate | 9 |
| Doctoral | 6 |
The only exception to the full-time requirement is during your final semester, if you require less than full-time loading to complete the final requirements for your degree.
You may request to be authorized for a reduced course load on a semester basis (with a maximum of 2 semesters). A reduction of course load may be authorized due to compelling medical reasons. You must present a letter provided by your physician/medical provider stating your diagnosis, treatment plan, and why a reduction in course load is being recommended.
A reduction in course load may also be authorized if you present a well-documented case for initial adjustment issues that may result from either language adjustment or a lack of familiarity with the American educational system (or both).
You must obtain written authorization/permission from OISS if you would like to file for a leave of absence or withdrawal from the university. Once your leave of absence/withdrawal has been officially processed you will have 15 days to depart the country.
For more information on how to successfully file for an LOA/Withdrawal, please schedule an appointment with OISS.
If you will be transferring out to another U.S. institution, you must notify OISS of your intent to transfer. In order for our office to release your F-1 SEVIS record to your new school, you must submit a copy of your acceptance letter from the new school.
Please be reminded that disciplinary issues, academic probation, or disqualification will impact your immigration standing. For instance, an F-1 student who is disqualified for academic reasons will not be eligible to keep their I-20 record active. In this case, your F-1 record will be terminated and the you will have to depart the United States immediately. F-1 record termination therefore invalidates both your I-20 and F-1 visa stamp, and the you may no longer use either document for travel. This is why it is critical for you as an F-1 student to seek advising in matters relating to your immigration status, if you find yourself in a problematic academic situation.
As an F-1 student, you may request to take classes at another university during the regular semester only upon registering full-time at USD. In other words, if you are an undergraduate student, you must first be registered for 12 credits at USD during the fall or spring semester in order to receive permission to take classes at another institution within the same semester. If you have satisfied the full time load requirement and are interested in taking a class off-campus, you may request for a Concurrent Enrollment letter via iTorero.
Note: If you wish to take summer or intersession classes off-campus, you are not required to be registered full-time at USD for those terms.
If you interested in taking a class at another school or institution, you must take all measures to ensure that the class you are taking off-campus will be credited back to your degree at USD, either by confirming it with USD’s Articulation Agreement or with your respective academic advisor. You should consult with your academic department on the current process for requesting a transfer of credits to your degree.
Embassy-sponsored students: You are responsible for ensuring that classes taken off campus are approved and acknowledged by your respective embassies.
A "hold" is a block on your student account that may be placed by various departments on campus, such as your academic department, OISS, or the USD Health Center. A hold indicates that there is something that requires your attention and you should contact the office that placed the hold to resolve it. Please note that you will NOT be able to register or undertake other school-related transactions if there is an active hold on your account.
Please note
OISS attempts to provide the most recent, useful information to our students. However, we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to here, the iTorero Portal, and in emails coming out of OISS.
Information provided by OISS does not constitute and should not be considered legal advice or a legal opinion, and it may not necessarily reflect the most current legal developments. OISS likewise cannot guarantee the outcome of status-related benefit requests filed with US government agencies. Students should seek the advice of counsel or a tax professional for additional guidance. OISS reminds students and scholars that failure to comply with F-1 and J-1 regulations is a violation of your status, which may result in serious consequences including the termination of your SEVIS record, your inability to re-enter the US, and the accrual of unlawful presence which could lead to your removal from the US.
Direct all questions regarding your F-1 and J-1 status to OISS, internationaloffice@sandiego.edu.