U.S. Government Rules for Students with F & J Visas

Enrollment Regulations

Both F-1 and J-1 students must register full-time every Fall and Spring semester to fulfill the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements. A minimum enrollment for undergraduates is twelve (12) credits. For graduates. the minimum is nine (9) credits.

  • Failure to enroll for full-time study or to obtain approval from the International Student Adviser for under-enrollment in advance may cause your SEVIS record to be terminated.

Meme with Kitten Saying "Terminated"  

 Source: https://rorypitts.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/terminated.jpg Links to an external site.

  • F-1 students may count only one 3-credit course online course (Distance Education, World Campus, Web) towards the minimum full-time enrollment each semester.
  • J-1 students should only take in-resident classes until they speak with an international student adviser and their J-1 visa sponsor about pursuing any online courses.
  • Exceptions to full-time study must be approved by the International Student Adviser in advance by completing the Reduced Course Load eForm in iStart.

Summer Enrollment

Person Surfing  

  • Summer is considered a vacation period and has no credit or online course restrictions if you intend to enroll in the subsequent fall semester.
  • Students who intend to graduate or complete their program in summer, must enroll in the summer.
  • Undergraduate students beginning in Summer I must be registered for 12 credits; students beginning in Summer II must be registered for 6 credits.
  • Graduate students beginning in the summer must be registered for 5 credits unless they have a half-time (20 hours per week) assistantship, which requires only 4 credits.

Learn more about Maintenance of Status Links to an external site. on the Penn State Global Website.

Employment

Employment for F-1 and J-1 students is limited, and working without permission is a violation of status and a deportable offense. F-1 and J-1 students may not work off-campus without permission from ISSA.  

On-Campus Employment is permitted with certain restrictions. A Social Security number is required for anyone receiving payment.

ISSA offers workshops every semester which explain the different types of off-campus employment available to F-1 and J-1 students. Employment regulations are complex and we emphasize the importance of obtaining the information directly from the international student advisers.

On-Campus Employment Policies

F-1 students may work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. If you were registered in spring and are registered for the summer term or will enroll for the following fall, you may work full-time on campus (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer.

J-1 students are allowed to work on-campus up to 20 hours per week while school is in session. If you have been registered in spring and are registered for the summer term or will enroll for the following fall, you may work full-time on campus (more than 20 hours per week) during the summer.

However, all J-1 student employment requires written authorization each year by the Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of the student's program. This is done by completing the Permission for J-1 On-Campus Employment form in iStart. If your DS-2019 was issued by a programming agency such as IIE, then the RO or ARO of that agency must give you annual work authorization.

 

Off-Campus Employment Policies

F-1 Curricular Practical Training

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment which is an integral part of an established curriculum. Once F-1 students have been lawfully enrolled full-time for one academic year, they may apply for CPT. The practical experience such as an internship must occur before all coursework is completed. During the summer which is not a final semester before graduation, students can do full-time CPT (more than 20 hours per week).

If the internship is a degree requirement, enrollment in internship course may not be needed. If the internship is not required for the degree, but important part of the academic program, the experience must be completed for course credit.

Visit our website under Application and Authorization Procedures Links to an external site. Links to an external site.or the Employment Information Links to an external site. section of the Penn State Global website to learn more.

J-1 Academic Training

J-1 students may participate in Academic Training (AT) that is directly related to their major field of study, during or after their studies. They must receive written approval in advance from ISSA that specifies the duration and type of AT. The students must have health insurance that meets the Department of State requirements Links to an external site. during the entire period of academic training.

J-1 students on AT must understand that they are primarily in the U.S. to study rather than engage in academic training. Also, AT is temporary and not a permanent position.

For exchange, undergraduate, and Master's degree students, AT cannot exceed the number of months of study or 18 months, whichever is less. 

For PhD students the limit is 36 months or the number of months of study, whichever is less.  No more than 18 months of academic training may be used prior to the completion of studies.  A new form DS-2019 must be issued for each 18 month period. 

Visit our website under Procedure Links to an external site. to learn more. 

 

Travel and Re-Entry

Before F-1 and J-1 students leave the U.S., they should make sure to have the following documents to re-enter the U.S. to continue studies:

  • Valid passport (must be valid at least 6 months into the future)
  • Valid U.S. visa (except Canadian citizens)
  • Valid form I-20 or DS-2019 with signature for re-entry (Request a travel signature through iStart Links to an external site..)
  • Current proof of financial support
  • Transcripts (not required but recommended)
  • Proof of current enrollment or proof of registration for the next semester (not required but recommended)

 

Travel Signature

The I-20 or DS-2109 should be endorsed within the semester the student is traveling or within 12 months of re-entry. Validity of a travel signature is 12 months.

Only ISSA staff who are a Designated School Official (DSO) can sign Penn State I-20 or DS-2019s. Do not ask faculty or academic advisor to sign your visa documents!

For more information related to international travel, visit our website on Travel. Links to an external site.