Enrollment and Reporting Requirements

Current Students

F-1 and J-1 students must know the restrictions and reporting requirements of their immigration status. It is important to abide by the regulations governing immigration status in order to be eligible to remain in the United States and to apply for certain benefits such as off-campus employment authorization.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is here to help you understand the immigration rules and regulations. 

If you are unable to find the answers you need on the website, visit our Advising page for ways to connect with an advisor.

Immigration Status

Immigration status refers to the lawful status you hold as a non-immigrant in the United States, which is determined either by how you last entered the country, or by the result of a change of status petition submitted to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

"Maintaining status" means to abide by the regulations and reporting requirements governing your immigration status. Failure to properly maintain your status may result in the termination of your program and losing your eligibility to study in the United States.

Enrollment Requirements

F-1 students must enroll full-time (8 credits for graduate students and 12 credits for undergraduate students). No more than one online class per academic term can count towards the minimum full-time enrollment requirement. Additional courses above the minimum full-time requirement can be in any modality (in person, online, hybrid, etc.).

There are limited exceptions to full-time enrollment. F-1 students may apply for ISSS approval of a non-summer vacation term or reduced course load for academic or medical reasons. More information on these options can be found in the ISSS Portal. Click on the Control Center tab and locate the relevant request. Do not drop below full-time enrollment without ISSS approval. 

J-1 students must enroll full-time (8 credits for graduate students and 12 credits for undergraduate students) unless authorized by ISSS to drop below full-time enrollment. No more than one online class per academic term can count towards the minimum full-time enrollment requirement. However, the purpose of the J Exchange Visitor program is to facilitate in-person exchange, so ISSS should enroll in in-person or hybrid classes as much as possible. Do not drop below full-time enrollment without ISSS approval.

ENROLLMENT TERMS

  • Academic Term: Must maintain full-time enrollment each academic quarter or semester.
  • Summer Vacation: Enrollment is generally not required unless the student is beginning studies in the summer or if the student was approved for a non-summer vacation quarter for that calendar year. See our page on the annual vacation term for more information.

I-20/DS-2019 Program End Date

The program end date listed on the I-20/DS-2019 is the estimated completion of your academic studies. If you complete your academic studies before this date, ISSS can update your program end date accordingly. 

If you will be unable to complete your program by this date, you must request an extension before the program end date. Extension requests can be granted because of compelling academic reasons, such as changes of major or research topics, unexpected research problems, or documented illnesses. 

Delays caused by academic probation or suspension are not acceptable reasons for program extensions. Once your program end date has passed, an extension request cannot be processed.

To request a program extension, log into the ISSS Portal and find the Program Extension request in the Control Center. You should apply at least one week before the I-20 expiration date.

Students whose I-20s expire in August CANNOT consider summer as a vacation term until after an extension has been processed.

Leave of Absence from Academic Program

If you intend to take a leave of absence from your academic program at DU, meet with an ISSS advisor to plan your departure and determine whether you will be eligible to return in F-1 or J-1 status in the future. 

Regulations and Reporting Requirements

The list below outlines some of the major responsibilities and reporting requirements of F-1 and J-1 immigration status. If you are unsure about a particular requirement or how it may apply to your status, please contact an international student advisor to learn more.

MAINTAINING IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS

  • Passport: Must be unexpired at least six months into the future.
  • I-94 Arrival/Departure Record: Review details after each entry into U.S. to confirm it is correct and carry a copy with you at all times (Get Most Recent I-94)
  • U.S. Visa: Must be unexpired when traveling and re-entering the U.S. The visa stamp can expire while inside the U.S but it cannot be renewed inside the U.S.
  • Form I-20 or DS-2019: Must contain current biographical, academic, and financial details.

REPORTING CHANGES

  • Change of Address: Must be reported within 10 days of moving. Update the Mailing address in My4D to inform ISSS.
  • Change of Legal Name: Submit a copy of your updated passport to ISSS.
  • Change of Immigration Status: Submit copy of I-797 Notice of Approval from USCIS to ISSS.

EMPLOYMENT

Federal immigration regulations limit employment for F-1 and J-1 students. The kind of employment, the number of hours per week and the periods of employment are specified by the regulations. You should verify that you have authorization before beginning in any form of employment.

See our Employment section for more information.