F-1 Student Visa

International students are required by federal regulations to be enrolled full-time each semester.

• For undergraduate students, this means 12 credit hours
• For graduate students, it means 10 credit hours

You are allowed to enroll for online distance education courses. However, there is limit to how many credit hours you can use of online courses to fulfill your full-time enrollment requirement.

• International students may count only the equivalent of one class or three credits per semester toward the full course of study requirement. 
• You are not limited in the number of online distance education courses you can take. You are only limited in the number of credit hours you can count toward fulfilling the full-time enrollment requirement. 

For example, if you are an undergraduate student, you would need to be enrolled for at least 9 credit hours of traditional courses. You could then use one class (or three credit hours) of online distance education courses to reach the full-time enrollment threshold and, if desired, enroll for more online classes to increase your overall credit hours.

If you have finished all required course work and will no longer be enrolling full time, you may choose to enroll with a reduced course load. In order to do this, submit the “Reduced Course Load for Academic Reasons” eForm in iBearcatsGlobal.

International graduate students who have completed all required course work MUST register for at least one graduate credit hour during an academic year (preferably fall semester) to maintain university and immigration status. International students must also register for one graduate credit hour each semester (excluding summer) if:

• they live in university housing; 
• have office space or use university equipment, or laboratories; 
• use any university facilities including computer labs, libraries, practice facilities or recreational facilities; 
• they are authorized for Curricular Practical Training.

If you register for less than six credit hours, you will not be charged for the university student health insurance policy. If needed, graduate international students who are registered for one credit hour are eligible to purchase university student health insurance by enrolling through the student health insurance office. If you decide not to get the university policy, you MUST have insurance while in U.S.

Working on a reduced course load
Being on a reduced course load does not change the fact that international students are permitted to work only on campus and only 20 hours a week while school is in session.

• Breaks when school is not considered in session includes any break of 7 days or more (spring break; break between the end of one semester and the start of another). 
• Breaks also include summer semester when enrollment in the summer is not mandated by your program. 

While registering for one credit hour (or not enrolling at all), it is assumed that you are writing your thesis or dissertation full-time for that semester as well as the semesters not enrolled. As such, F-1 students can only work 20 hours a week except during the breaks stipulated. Graduate Assistants on Reduced Course Load will need to register full-time for each semester they will be working as graduate assistants (whether as a teaching assistant or research assistant). Students funded by grants do not need to be registered for 12 credit hours.

For information regarding OPERS, Social Security and Medicare taxes exemption, see the UC International webpage about this exemption.

Returning to your home country and the U.S.
Many F-1 students decide to return to their home country for visits while completing their program of study. If you leave the U.S. for more than 5 months, your current SEVIS record will be terminated. If you plan to leave the U.S. for a period of at least 5 months, notify UC International Services prior to departure.

In order to return to the U.S. after a break of more than 5 months, UC International Services will need:

• Your college/unit to certify that you are still a student in good standing and when you will complete the program. 
• You to submit proof of financial support for the remainder of their program of study. 

Upon receipt of these two items, UC International Services will create a new SEVIS record for you and send you a new I-20. Federal regulations require that you pay the SEVIS fee again, go to the U.S. embassy, and get a new F-1 visa stamp before you re-enter the U.S.

If you want to travel outside the U.S., you need a travel signature from UC International Services on your Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 exchange visitors). Complete and submit a Travel Signature Request eForm on iBearcatsGlobal at least 5 days prior to the anticipated travel date. We encourage you to submit the eForm as soon as you know your travel plans.

Travelling domestically inside the United States does not require a travel signature. However, make sure you are using your passport OR a photo ID issued by the state in which you reside to board a plane.

• You will need to make sure that the ID is what is termed as a REAL ID. REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs are marked with a star on the upper portion of the card. 
• If you have questions about whether your state license or ID is acceptable, check with the state where your ID was issued. 
• Even if you have a REAL ID, you should still carry your actual passport, valid F or J visa, I-20 or DS-2019 and I-94 with you when traveling inside the U.S.

After every trip outside the United States, you must check your Form I-94 to make sure that CBP has correctly recorded your admission and Admit Until Date. Under visa regulations, your period of admission will be based on your authorized program period (end date on I-20 or DS-2019 form) and will include the applicable 30-day departure period. Do not assume that your I-94 will automatically match the expiration date on your I-20 or DS-2019.

After you return to the United States, go to the CBP I-94 website and download your most recent Form I-94. Carefully review the “Admit Until Date” and contact UC International Services immediately if you believe the information is incorrect. You must also upload a copy of your most recent Form I-94 to UC International Services by submitting the Update Immigration/Visa Documents eform in iBearcatsGlobal.

Students may work on campus no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.

• These 20 hours include the work you do for your assistantship if you have one. 
• You are not permitted to work off-campus without receiving prior authorization from the US Federal Government and/or UC International Services.

If you are interested in working in the United States, refer to our webpage outlining employment options for students.

Under F-1 visa regulations, you may continue authorized on-campus employment for up to 240 days while USCIS is processing your Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, provided you timely file the application.

• To qualify for the automatic extension of employment authorization, USCIS must receive your Form I-539 before the program end date listed on your Form I-20. 
• If you file your I-539 during the 30-day or 60-day grace period after your program end date, you may remain in the United States while the application is pending, but you may not continue working until USCIS approves the application.

Under F-1 visa regulations, students face restrictions on changing educational objectives, transferring schools, and pursuing additional degrees. Issues can get complex because of integrated bachelor's/master's programs, master's en route to a Ph.D., professional degrees, and more. Students with questions about changing educational objectives should consult with UC International Services before making any decisions about new educational objectives.

These restrictions must be carefully considered before making a change:

• Undergraduate students: Students generally may not change educational objectives or transfer to another SEVP-certified school until they have completed their first academic year at the school that initially issued their Form I-20, unless SEVP authorizes an exception based on extenuating circumstances.
• Extension of Stay: If a change in educational objective will extend beyond the student's current period of admission, the student must obtain an Extension of Stay by filing Form I-539 with USCIS or, if otherwise eligible, depart the United States and seek readmission with a new Form I-20.
• Graduate students: Graduate-level F-1 students may not change academic programs at any point before completing the educational objective for which they were admitted.
• Additional degrees: Beginning September 15, 2026, an F-1 student who completes a program at one educational level may not continue in F-1 status to pursue another program at the same or a lower educational level. Students may pursue a program at a higher educational level, subject to the applicable F-1 requirements.
• Higher-level programs: A student who completes a program and wishes to begin a program at a higher educational level may do so through an approved Extension of Stay with USCIS or, if otherwise eligible, by departing the United States and seeking readmission with a new Form I-20.

Any time you change majors (such as chemistry to math) or degree levels (such as master’s to doctoral), you must obtain a new I-20. You must receive the new I-20 from UC International Services within 15 days of starting the new program.

Use the “Sources of Financial Support for Current Students” eForm in iBearcatsGlobal to request a new I-20 form. You must provide evidence of acceptance to the new program and proof of financial support for the new program.

All international students are required to carry the University of Cincinnati Student Health Insurance policy unless they can prove coverage equal to or greater than the University policy. If you are not registered for at least 6 credit hours or more, you will not be eligible for the University Student Health Insurance policy.

However, you must have insurance while in the United States.

If you are an F-1 student, you must file your change of address with the University within 10 days of moving. This includes address changes of any of your dependents as well.

You can notify the university of this change by completing the Change of Local U.S. Address eForm on iBearcatsGlobal and by updating your personal information in Catalyst.

If you leave the University before the program completion date on your I-20 or DS-2019, you are required to inform UC International Services that you are leaving and why you are doing so. Use the Departure Certification eForm on iBearcatsGlobal to notify us.

Some common reasons include early graduation, leave of absence, suspension, expulsion, or family emergencies. 

You are currently authorized to study or conduct research at the University of Cincinnati. Under F-1 visa regulations, you face restrictions on transferring to another SEVP-certified school. These restrictions must be carefully considered before deciding to transfer:

• Undergraduate students generally may not transfer to another SEVP-certified school during their first academic year unless SEVP authorizes an exception based on extenuating circumstances.
• Graduate-level students generally may not transfer to another SEVP-certified school before completing the educational objective for which they were admitted.

After completing a degree: Beginning September 15, 2026, students who complete a degree program may not pursue another degree at the same or a lower educational level in F-1 status. A student may pursue a program at a higher educational level, subject to the applicable F-1 requirements.

If you decide to study or work at another school in the US, you must notify UC International of your intent to transfer and what school you plan on transferring to.

Complete a SEVIS Transfer Out eForm Request in iBearcatsGlobal. UC International will then enter a "Release" date in SEVIS. After this date is reached, the new school can issue you a SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019. You will then have to report to the Designated School Official/Responsible Officer at the new school within 15 days of the program start date.

Under the new F-1 regulations, students must distinguish between reinstatement and Extension of Stay.

A student who has violated F-1 status may need to request reinstatement. If the student will not have enough time to complete the program within the period of admission that will result from reinstatement, the student may also need to file a separate Form I-539 requesting an Extension of Stay. USCIS specifically states that, in this situation, the student must submit a separate Form I-539 and filing fee for the Extension of Stay request. If the reinstatement application is denied, the related Extension of Stay application will also be denied, and the filing fees will not be refunded.

You must provide USCIS with a detailed written statement explaining why you failed to maintain F-1 status. Your statement should clearly describe what happened, when it happened, why it happened, and what steps you have taken to prevent the violation from happening again.

To qualify for reinstatement, you generally must establish that:

1. You are currently pursuing, or intend to pursue, a full course of study at the school that issued your Form I-20.
2. You have not engaged in unauthorized employment.
3. Your failure to maintain F-1 status resulted from circumstances beyond your control, such as serious illness or injury, a natural disaster, closure of your institution, or certain errors or oversights by your Designated School Official (DSO); or, in the circumstances permitted by the regulations, failure to receive reinstatement would result in extreme hardship to you.
4. You are not deportable on grounds other than the applicable grounds related to overstaying or failing to maintain status.
5. You have not been out of status for more than five months when you file your reinstatement application, unless you can establish that exceptional circumstances caused the delay and that you filed as promptly as possible under those circumstances.
6. You do not have a record of repeated or willful violations of immigration regulations.

Lack of knowledge of the F-1 regulations generally does not, by itself, establish eligibility for reinstatement. If you did not understand that you were violating your F-1 requirements, you should explain that fact honestly, but you should also explain any circumstances that contributed to the violation.

Your statement should be complete and truthful. Do not leave out important facts about the violation. If you have consistently maintained a full course of study, explain that history. If your reinstatement is approved, explain how you will maintain F-1 status and comply with all requirements in the future.

Sign and date your statement before submitting it.

Supporting documentation can be important to your reinstatement application. Submit evidence that supports the circumstances described in your statement whenever possible.

Examples include:

• Medical documentation, if illness or injury contributed to the violation;
• Documentation concerning a natural disaster or other extraordinary circumstance;
• Documentation from your academic department or DSO concerning an error or oversight;
• Your academic transcript;
• Documentation showing your enrollment history;
• Documentation explaining circumstances in your home country, if relevant; and
• Any other documentation that supports the explanation provided in your statement.

1. Obtain a new Form I-20 from the University of Cincinnati issued for the purpose of “Reinstatement.” 
   1. UC International will issue a new Form I-20 for the purpose of “Reinstatement” if you are eligible to pursue reinstatement through the University of Cincinnati. To request a reinstatement I-20:
      1. You must be admitted to and pursuing an eligible University of Cincinnati program;
      2. You must provide documentation from your academic program establishing your expected program completion date; and
      3. You must provide evidence of sufficient financial support for the remainder of your program of study.
   2. Use the “Sources of Financial Support” eForm in the Limited Services section of iBearcatsGlobal to upload your sources of financial support. The eForm is available under the “Pre-Arrival Checklist” and the “Admission and Orientation” menus. 
2. Determine whether an additional Extension of Stay is required. The reinstatement application and an Extension of Stay application serve different purposes.
   1. Reinstatement asks USCIS to restore you to F-1 status after you failed to maintain your status.
   2. Extension of Stay asks USCIS to provide additional time in F-1 status beyond your current period of admission.
   3. If, after reinstatement, you will be unable to complete your program within six months after your F-1 status is reinstated (your new I-20 end date), USCIS requires a separate Form I-539 requesting an Extension of Stay. USCIS encourages students to file both Form I-539 applications at the same time when appropriate. A separate filing fee is required for each application. UC International will determine whether a separate Extension of Stay application is necessary based on your circumstances.
3. Complete an I-539 form, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting reinstatement to F-1 student status. Be sure to use the current version of the form and follow the USCIS filing instructions. If a separate Extension of Stay application is required, you must submit a second Form I-539 and the applicable filing fee. We recommend that you file form I-539 electronically through the USCIS online filing system.
4. Prepare your supporting documents. USCIS's Form I-539 instructions specifically require F-1 reinstatement applicants to submit the Form I-20 and evidence supporting the basis for reinstatement. Your application should include the documents required by USCIS and documents supporting your request, which may include:
   1. Your most recent Form I-94;
   2. Your passport biographical page and extension page, if applicable;
   3. Your valid F-1 visa, if available;
   4. Your new Form I-20 issued for reinstatement;
   5. Previous Forms I-20;
   6. Your written statement explaining the status violation;
   7. Evidence supporting the circumstances that caused the violation;
   8. Evidence of financial support; and
   9. Academic records or other documentation relevant to your reinstatement request.
5. Submit the Application to USCIS. 
   1. Submit the Form I-539 reinstatement application and all required supporting documentation to USCIS according to the current USCIS filing instructions. 
   2. Do not assume that filing the Form I-539 automatically restores your F-1 status. Your F-1 status is not reinstated unless and until USCIS approves the reinstatement request. 
   3. UC International Services will not review your I-539 prior to your submitting it to USCIS.

You should continue to comply with F-1 requirements while your application is pending, including maintaining the required course of study unless UC International advises you otherwise based on your specific circumstances.

Filing a reinstatement application does not itself reinstate your F-1 status. You should not engage in employment unless you have valid employment authorization under the applicable F-1 regulations.

If USCIS approves your reinstatement, you will receive a Form I-797 approval notice. After receiving your approval notice:

• Provide UC International with a copy of the approval notice;
• Submit the Update Immigration/Visa Documents eForm in the Biographical Information section of your iBearcatsGlobal record; and
• Review your immigration documents with UC International to confirm your reinstated status and period of admission.

Reinstatement is discretionary, and USCIS may deny an application if the student does not meet the regulatory requirements. Reinstatement may be particularly difficult when:

• You have been out of F-1 status for more than five months and cannot establish exceptional circumstances explaining the delay;
• You have engaged in unauthorized employment;
• You have a record of repeated or willful violations of immigration regulations;
• You cannot establish that the violation resulted from circumstances beyond your control or otherwise satisfy the applicable reinstatement standard; or
• You are otherwise ineligible for reinstatement.

If you have been out of status for more than five months, you should explain in detail why you were unable to file sooner and provide documentation supporting the reason for the delay. USCIS requires evidence that exceptional circumstances caused the delay and that you filed the reinstatement request as promptly as possible under those circumstances.

If you have engaged in unauthorized employment, you must disclose it in your application and written statement. Unauthorized employment is specifically identified in the reinstatement eligibility requirements and can prevent approval of reinstatement.

If UC International determines that reinstatement is unlikely to be successful, we may discuss alternative options with you.

One possible option may be to depart the United States and seek a new period of F-1 admission from outside the United States. Travel and reentry should not be undertaken without first discussing your circumstances with UC International. Admission to the United States is determined by U.S. immigration authorities at the time of entry, and obtaining a new Form I-20 does not guarantee admission.

F-1 students who are maintaining status and are present in the United States on September 15, 2026, will generally remain under the existing Duration of Status (D/S) system during the transition, provided they do not travel and reenter the U.S.

These students:

• Will continue to see D/S on their Form I-94.
• Will retain the existing 60-day grace period following completion of their program or authorized practical training, subject to the transition rules.
• Will not immediately need to obtain a date-specific Form I-94 simply because the new regulations take effect.
• May, however, become subject to the new Extension of Stay requirements if they need to remain in the United States beyond the period permitted under the transition provisions.

The Department of Homeland Security is replacing Duration of Status (D/S) with a fixed period of admission called the Admit Until Date (AUD). The AUD will appear on your Form I-94 and will be based on the earlier of:

• the program end date listed on the Form I-20; or
• four years from the student's admission to the United States, or two years where applicable.

The rules also reduced the post-degree completion departure period from 60 days to 30 days.

You should make a habit of checking your Form I-94 after every entry to the United States. The Form I-94 is the document that establishes the student's authorized period of admission.

Do not wait until your current authorized period of stay is about to expire. The process should begin well in advance so you have sufficient time to:

• Determine whether an Extension of Stay is required.
• Meet with an academic advisor.
• Document the academic reason for needing additional time.
• Obtain financial documentation.
• Request an updated Form I-20 from UC International Services.
• Prepare and file Form I-539 with USCIS, when required.

Students may begin the extension process up to six months before their current authorized period of admission expires.

Students applying for an extension in conjunction with an OPT application should file 90 days before their current authorized period of admission and the I-765 application for work authorization can only be filed 90 days in advance of the program end date.

Before UC International Services can issue an updated Form I-20, you must demonstrate why additional time is needed to complete the academic program.

Academic Advisor Documentation

The student's academic advisor or academic department should provide documentation addressing:

• The student's current academic program and major.
• The expected new program completion date.
• The academic requirements that remain outstanding.
• The specific reason additional time is needed.
• The student's academic progress.
• A proposed timeline for completing the remaining requirements.
• Confirmation that the student is expected to complete the program by the requested new end date.

The explanation should be specific and factual. Simply stating that the student "needs more time" is generally not sufficient.

Acceptable Reasons for Additional Time

The new regulations recognize circumstances that may justify additional time, including certain:

• Compelling academic circumstances.
• Documented medical circumstances.
• Circumstances beyond the student's control.

Examples of academic circumstances may include:

• A change in major.
• Unexpected research problems.
• A change in faculty advisor.
• The need to refine a research topic.
• Delays in research funding.
• Other unexpected academic circumstances.

An extension should not be based simply on your inability or unwillingness to complete the program within the expected period. The regulations specifically identify academic probation or suspension and repeated inability or unwillingness to complete the program as circumstances that do not support an extension.

Financial Documentation

You should also be prepared to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support yourself during the additional period requested. Examples of financial documentation may include:

• Recent personal bank statements.
• Scholarship or assistantship documentation.
• An affidavit of financial support from a sponsor, together with supporting bank statements.
• Official government scholarship or sponsorship documentation.

Once the student has gathered the necessary academic and financial documentation, the student should submit the I-20 Extension of Program eForm through iBearcatsGlobal.

UC International Services will review the request and, if the student qualifies for an academic program extension, update the student's SEVIS record and issue a new Form I-20 reflecting the revised program end date. Additional instructions regarding the USCIS Extension of Stay process will be provided with the approval of the I-20 Extension of Program request.

When an Extension of Stay is required, you must submit Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, to USCIS.

Understand that:

• The Form I-20 does not itself extend your authorized period of stay.
• USCIS must receive the Extension of Stay application within the applicable filing period.
• You should retain the USCIS receipt and approval notices.
• An approved Extension of Stay should be documented permanently.
• You should provide UC International Services with a copy of your USCIS approval notice (Form I-797).

Maintaining F-1 status and maintaining an unexpired period of admission are related but distinct requirements. You must continue to comply with F-1 requirements while also ensuring that you do not remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of admission.

UC International Services will not review your I-539 prior to your submitting it to USCIS.

If you remain in the United States beyond the authorized period of admission without obtaining the required extension, you may fall out of lawful status and may face significant immigration consequences, including difficulty obtaining future immigration benefits or returning to the United States.