As a student in the U.S. in F-1 status, you are required to follow specific federal laws.  This is meant to provide a generic overview of certain F-1 requirements; it does not contain all laws for every situation.  If you ever have questions or concerns, always contact an advisor with International Student and Scholar Services for specific guidance.

As an F-1 student, it is your responsibility to maintain your non-immigrant F-1 status.  Failure to follow the laws for F-1 status can result in you losing your legal ability to be in the U.S., and may harm your chances of getting a new visa in the future.  To ensure you are following F-1 laws, you must:

1. Keep your passport valid at all times, in most cases for at least 6 months into the future.
2. Ensure your I-94 card is always marked as F-1, D/S when you re-enter the U.S. 
3. Complete your class registration by the published registration deadline (generally the 10-12 days after the first day of class, as published in the Office of the Registrar Academic Deadlines calendar [1].
4. Update your change of physical address [2](where you live in the US) on ISIS [3] within 10 days of the change.  This address cannot be a P.O. Box or a departmental address.
5. Pursue a full-course of study each fall and spring semester, defined as 12 semester hours for undergraduate students and 9 semester hours for graduate students. 
6. Obtain permission from an ISSS advisor if you need to enroll in less than a full-course of study, using the Part-Time Enrollment Authorization form [4].  
7. Obtain permission from an ISSS advisor before withdrawing [5]from all your courses.   
8. Make normal progress toward completing a course of study.  This includes graduating when you are eligible to graduate and not delaying graduation [6] for non-academic reasons. 
9. Not let your I-20 expire.  You must remember the expiration date on your I-20, and process your program extension [7] prior to the expiration date listed on your current I-20 if you are not able to complete your studies by that time.
10. Restrict your on-campus work [8] to a weekly total of 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.  You may work full-time during the winter and summer vacations. 
11. Refrain from beginning off-campus work [9]until you have obtained the necessary authorization in advance from either ISSS or the USCIS. 
12. If traveling outside the U.S. [10], ensure you have a valid visa (except citizens of Canada and Bermuda) and a recent travel signature on your I-20.
13. Notify ISSS if I will be out of the U.S. for more than 5 months [5]. 
14. Contact ISSS if you wish to transfer [11] to another U.S. school.
15. Not work after completing your program of study unless you have been authorized for Optional Practical Training [12].
16. Depart from the U.S. within 60 days after completing your program [6]of study.