CURRENT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
STAYING IN STATUS
International students on a F-1 visa must be enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more) and make satisfactory progress each term to maintain active status with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A hold is placed on each international student to monitor his or her status. Do not transfer schools or work off campus without contacting the International Admissions Coordinator. Each file is checked the day after drop/add and the last day of the withdraw period to ensure each student is still enrolled full-time. Student is notified via telephone and in writing to make an appointment with the International Admissions Coordinator to discuss status.
If a student cannot justify being out of status, student will be given the option to possibly rectify and re-establish status; if not, student will be reported to USCIS through the Student Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Student will be required to leave the country immediately if he or she does not meet USCIS compliance.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
All international students, regardless of visa type, and permanent resident students must notify the appropriate authorities as well as the International Admissions Coordinator when there is a change of address.
EMPLOYMENT FOR F-1 STUDENTS
On-Campus
F-1 students who are maintaining status may engage in on-campus employment. Employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week while school is in session. Students may work full-time during vacation periods as long as they have maintained status and they intend to register the following semester. You may contact Jennifer Pickney in the Career and Employment Services Office at 843-574-6119 for an appointment.
Off-Campus
A F-1 student who has maintained F-1 status for an academic year and is in good academic standing may apply for off-campus employment based on "economic hardship”. Documentation would have to show that part-time on-campus employment opportunities were insufficient. Economic hardship refers to financial problems caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student’s control.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Curricular Practical Training employment is available to F-1 students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least nine consecutive months. Students in English language programs are ineligible. To be considered for CPT, the work must be related to the major field of study and an integral or important part of the established curriculum.
If the academic program requires employment in the field of study to graduate, the student may participate in CPT as long as he or she meets the other requirements of lawful status. If employment is required, CPT need not be credit bearing. If employment is an optional part of the degree program, credit-bearing training opportunities that are an important part of the program of study may be used for CPT.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Students who have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time basis for at least nine months are eligible for Optional Practical Training. Employment must be in the student’s field of study and for the purpose of gaining practical experience. Students are eligible for a maximum of twelve months for all practical training. Students do not get twelve months practical training for each degree sought.
Students may apply for authorization for OPT training directly related to their field of study and commensurate with their educational level [8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(D)(1)] in the following cases:
- during the student’s annual vacation as long as the student intends to register for the next semester at current school (It is recommended that students have a job offer before applying);
- while school is in session, provided that practical training does not exceed twenty hours a week (it is recommended that students have a job before applying);
- after completion of course requirements except for thesis, project, or portfolio (it is recommended that students have a job offer before applying); and
- after completion of the course of study (this type of practical training must be applied for no later than 30 days before completion of the program).
