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students at fair

Although ISSS staff will do our best to assist students with maintaining their F-1 student status, ultimately, students are responsible for maintaining their own F-1 student status. Below is a summary of basic rules and what actions students need to take to maintain F-1 student status:

  • All new students must submit New Student SEVIS Record Activation before initial quarter starts in the ISSS Portal. In the form students must upload a copy of F-1 student visa/ approval notice, I-94 and confirm that they are registered full time and their U.S. mailing address, phone number and foreign permanent address are up to date.
  • Students must enroll full-time during each academic semester. Full-time is 12 credits for undergraduate students and 10 credits for graduate students.
  • Summer is a vacation quarter for students who enrolled full time during Spring quarter and plans to enroll in Autumn quarter. Students do not need prior approvals to take Summer as their vacation quarter. Students wishes to take non-Summer quarter as a vacation quarter must consult with their International Student Advisor in advance. 
  • Mode of Instruction:
    • No more than the equivalent of ONE fully-online (asynchronous and synchronous) class per quarter may count toward the full-time enrollment.
    • Classes with any in-person element, such as hybrid, will be considered in-person.
    • Online class cannot be the only class students take during the final quarter. 
  • Thesis (700 level)/Dissertation (800 level) Credits will be considered  full time enrollment even for as few as 2 credits. 
  • Students may turn in the Reduced Course Load (RCL) Authorization in the ISSS Portal if they are facing any of the following reasons:
    • Improper Course Level Placement
    • Unfamiliarity with American Teaching Methods
    • Initial Difficulties with Reading Requirement (first quarter only)
    • Initial Difficulties with English Language (first quarter only)
    • Illness or Medical Condition (proof required)
  • Students must fill out the Reduced Course Load (RCL) Authorization in the ISSS Portal if their graduating quarter credit load is not full time. 
  • Students are permitted to take time off from studies and remain outside of U.S. at any time. This is called Leave of Absence (LOA). If you come across an unforeseen circumstance and need to suspend your study or plan to take an LOA, please contact your International Student Advisor immediately. 
  • Students must report contact information changes within 10 calendar days via MyUW. This include changes to phone number, local (U.S. mailing), U.S. physical (only if different from local/U.S. mailing).

    • Students have access to update their contact info by logging into MyUW. Go to the "Quick Links” on the left side of the main page and then click on "Change Student Address." If you have graduated from UW Tacoma, are engaged in Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT and are unable to edit their contact info in their MyUW, update them on SEVP Portal.

  • Students must make normal academic progress in order to complete the course of study. In the case of Academic Dismissal, your SEVIS record will be terminated.
  • Students must never let their I-20 expire. Submit the Program End Date Extension via the ISSS Portal at least 30 days before the expiration date.
  • Students must never let their passport expire.
  • Students must abide by the Student Employment Policy when working on campus.
  • Students must not engage in a paid internship or other paid work off-campus without consulting with their International Student Advisor in advance.
  • Students must obey the Federal, State, and Local Laws.
  • Students must abide by the UW Tacoma Student Code of Conduct.
  • After completion of their program, F-1 students are allowed to remain in the U.S. for 60 days, this is called grace period. Do not overstay your time in the U.S.

Additional rules apply when students are engaged in Optional Practical Training (OPT). Attend the OPT Info Sessions to learn more.

If you violate your status and/or run into a situation where you are questioned by Federal or Local Agents (for example Police, Immigration Agents or FBI), you want to make sure that you know what to do. To learn more, please visit Know Your Rights, a useful resource prepared by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). 

As always, please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!