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F1 Students - Maintaining Status

Benefits of F1 Status:

Your benefits include the ability to:

• Change to another immigration status;
• Change degree level;
• Change program of study;
• Transfer to another College or University;
• Extend your duration of stay, if more time is needed to complete your degree;
• Request dependents to join or accompany you;
• Obtain employment (under restricted conditions, and only with specific approval);
• Travel outside the U.S. and reenter to continue study.

Eligibility for Benefits:

In order to be eligible for the benefits of your status, you must remain in good legal standing in the United States. To remain legally in the US, you must:

Maintain Key Documents: Always make sure your documents are in order and accurate, especially prior to travel outside the US, and maintain the validity of your passport. If you need assistance in extending your passport, International Student and Scholar Services can give you the address and phone number of your nearest consulate.

Obey Department of Homeland Security Regulations: Always follow the Immigration rules and regulations that apply to your status. For example: you must have the appropriate authorization for any work (paid or unpaid) that you do, and you must not be employed for more than 20 hours a week while classes are in session unless you have special authorization to do so.

Report Changes: Always update ISSS about changes in your official papers, address, phone number, program of study, admission to another degree program or change of degree level, financial support, health insurance, or marital status. You may update your address through the PSU BanWeb Sytem and these changes will be roported to Department of Homeland Security.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In case of academic warning, disqualification/suspension, consult the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

For information about maintaining your immigration status in Japanese, Arabic, Chinese, Korean or Spanish, please follow this link to the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.

International students must be enrolled as full-time students at Portland State University. Full-time status is defined below:

• A minimum of 12 credit hours successfully completed per term. Only one online or distance education course or a total of three online credits (whichever is greater) may be counted toward your full time status.

Graduate Students:

• A minimum of 9 graduate credit hours successfully completed per term. Only one online or distance education course or a total of three online credits (whichever is greater) may be counted toward your full-time status. Graduate students who wish to take an undergraduate class should speak with an ISSS advisor before doing so as this could jeopardize their immigration status.

Post-baccalaureate Students:

• A minimum of 12 credit hours if pursuing a second undergraduate degree.
• A minimum of 9 credit hours if pursuing a graduate degree, at least three of which must be at the graduate level.
• Please note: You need prior approval from ISSS to enroll in any PSU Extended Studies courses. Independent Studies or Extended Studies courses which are being counted towards your full-time enrollment requirement should count towards degree completion if at all possible.
• If you choose to WITHDRAW from a course or change the grading option to AUDIT, you MUST consult an international student advisor at ISSS prior to doing so. Reducing your credit load to less than full time may place you out of status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under the January 1, 2003 regulations, failure to maintain the proper number of credits may also result in your having to abandon your studies and return to your home country.
• Do not take too many classes. Give yourself time to adjust to the U.S., to Portland State University, and to your classes. Taking too many classes can result in low grades and high stress. It may also endanger your academic standing and admission to professional programs.
• Listen to your academic and international advisors. Advisors are trained to evaluate students' needs and abilities. Following their advice can mean the difference between a good grade point average and a poor or inconsistent one.

The following marks are acceptable as grades for a course for status maintenance purposes:

• A, B, C, D, and P (Pass)

The following marks are NOT acceptable:

• F Fail
• AU Audit
  
• I Incomplete
• W Withdraw
• X No Basis for a Grade
• NP No Pass

In order to maintain your student status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, you need to complete the minimum required number of credit hours. This means that if you are an undergraduate, you must successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours, and if you are a graduate student you must successfully complete a minimum of 9 credit hours.

Underenrollment is a serious immigration issue and should not be taken lightly. If you have any questions regarding your class credit hours and your immigration status, contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Add/drops, changes and withdrawals

• A student who has registered and wishes to add a course may do so in the first two weeks of the quarter. After the first week, all adds are processed at the Registration windows in Neuberger Hall Lobby using the Special Registration Form. Late payment fees and schedule change fees begin after the second week of the term and are billed on a monthly billing cycle. Students who withdraw or drop a course may be entitled to certain refunds of fees paid. (See the PSU Bulletin Schedule of Classes for more information.) It is possible for you to pay the fees through the web with a $1 extra charge.
  
• This period also includes in-person processing of the Special Registration Form. This form is used for closed classes, other restrictions, overload approvals, grade option changes, and audits. There are expanded evening hours for registration and the cashier's offices.
  
• Classes may be dropped the first four weeks of the quarter on-line. If you wish to drop a class after this time, you must get permission from the academic departments. They will stamp the Special Registration Form, which can be obtained at the Registrar's Office. After you have this form filled out by the academic department, you will need to take it to the Registration window in Neuberger Hall Lobby.