International Student & Scholar Services

International Programs

Maintaining Legal Student Status in the US

As a student at the University of Pennsylvania in F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrant status, your primary purpose for being in the US is to study full time. F-1 and J-1 students must comply with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) regulations while in the United States. Be sure to read the Instructions to Students on page 2 of your I-20 if you are in F-1 status, or on page 2 of your DS-2019 if you are in J-1 status. By following those instructions and the information below, you will maintain legal student F-1 or J-1 status in the US and be able to take full advantage of student status benefits such as work and travel. If you have any questions please visit International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to discuss your situation.

Points to Maintaining F-1 or J-1 Status

Maintain full-time enrollment and progress
Obtain proper employment authorization before beginning any work
Update address, legal name, or major within 10 days of a change
Check for valid ISSS signature and proper documentation before traveling outside US
Transfer F-1 or J-1/SEVIS administration when changing schools
Obtain program extension if you will continue study beyond end date on I-20 or DS-2019
Obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 if you begin a new degree program
Do not stay in the US beyond grace period
Obtain permission from ISSS before requesting a leave of absence or withdrawal from Penn
Keep your passport valid
Maintain adequate medical insurance
Receive email regularly from ISSS
F-2 dependents may not work or study

Maintain Full-Time Enrollment and Progress

Undergraduate Students

Undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of four courses each semester. This does not include audits or incompletes. This applies to students in all four undergraduate schools and the College of General Studies (CGS).

Graduate Students

Graduate students must be enrolled for a full-time course load as defined by your academic program. For some programs this will mean a minimum of three courses; other programs require more or less. You must check with your school or department to learn the definition of a full-time student. Full-time enrollment does not include audits or incompletes. Once you have completed your coursework and are working on your thesis or dissertation, you must maintain your full-time status by registering for master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation tuition or registration.

All Students

No more than one (1) course unit (CU) of Distance Education per semester may count toward full-time enrollment for F-1 students.
You are also required to make normal progress towards completing your course of study. The measure of normal progress is the rate at which the average full-time student in your school or department advances toward his or her degree or program objective. Working to complete courses designated from previous semesters is not maintaining normal progress. If you find yourself in this situation please consult with an ISSS advisor at the earliest opportunity.

If you are considering, for whatever reason, to drop a course that will cause your enrollment to drop below full-time, you must consult with an ISSS advisor before doing so. Dropping below a full-time enrollment will jeopardize your legal ability to remain in the US. Even if you need less than a full course load in your last semester of coursework, you must notify ISSS by the first week of classes to verify that it is your last semester in order to be considered to be maintaining a full course of study as required by federal regulations.

Obtain Proper Employment Authorization Before Beginning any Work

DHS considers working without proper authorization as one of the most serious violations of your student status. If you refer to your I-20 or DS-2019 form you will see the statement: Warning—a nonimmigrant who accepts unauthorized employment is subject to deportation. Consult an ISSS advisor before you accept an offer of employment or begin work. We will advise you whether or not it is possible for you to work, and if it is, assist you with the appropriate documents. Please keep in mind that it is illegal to begin work before obtaining written permission first (except in the case of work defined as on campus), even if you have applied for work authorization and are anticipating approval. Refer to the ISSS handouts on F-1 and J-1 employment options for detailed information on on-campus employment and the types of off-campus work authorization available and procedures necessary to obtain approval. Pay special attention to deadlines and processing times!

Update Address, Legal Name, or Major Within 10 days of a Change

Federal regulations require F-1 and J-1 students to report any change of US address, legal name, or major to their sponsoring institutions within 10 days of the change. At Penn, we require you only to enter your current address where you physically reside in the US through Penn InTouch. When you change your major through you academic advisor (or for graduate students this is done by official admission into a new program), the information is updated through Penn's Student Records System (SRS). ISSS receives the address and major changes from Penn InTouch on a daily basis and transmits them to DHS through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), as required. If you change your legal name, consult an ISSS advisor to make the changes. (If Penn is not your program sponsor because your DS-2019 was prepared by another organization you must report any changes to the organization that prepared your form.)

Check for Valid ISSS Signature and Proper Documentation before Traveling Outside the US

If you will travel outside the US, you must have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa (stamp) and a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 Form. Each signature is valid for one year (365 days) while you are a full-time student (six months for F-1 students on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)). F-1 students on post-completion OPT should seek advice from ISSS before traveling. If you need a travel signature on page 3 of your I-20 (F-1) or on page 1 of your DS-2019 (J-1), please come to ISSS. Signatures can only be obtained by an ISSS official. See F-1 and J-1 Travel Checklist (PDF) for travel instructions.

Transfer F-1 or J-1/SEVIS Administration when Changing Schools

If you plan to transfer from Penn to another school in the US, meet with an ISSS advisor to discuss your plans. At your written request, ISSS must confirm that you are maintaining valid F-1 or J-1 status and release your student record in SEVIS before you can attend another school. You must then complete F-1 or J-1 transfer procedures with a Designated School Official (DSO) at the new school.

Obtain Program Extension If You Will Continue Study Beyond End Date on I-20 or DS-2019

If you need to remain in the US to complete your program of study beyond the date authorized on your I-20 (see item 5 on page 1) or DS-2019 (see item 3 on page 1) you must request a program extension through ISSS. Apply at least 30 days before the completion date noted on your I-20 or DS-2019. At that time, you will need to complete ISSS’s program extension form and establish that there are valid academic reasons for extending the time necessary to complete your program. A student who fails to have their I-20 or DS-2019 extended prior to the expiration date of the document is considered out of status and may need to apply for reinstatement to regain student status.

Obtain a New I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSS if You Begin a New Degree Program

To continue at Penn in a different academic level (e.g. bachelors to masters or masters to PhD) or, in some cases, when you change to a new degree program at the same level after completing a degree, you must apply for a change of program, which will extend your study at Penn. You must verify your admission to a new program and your ability to finance the program by completing an Application for I-20 or DS-2019 Form. ISSS will issue a new I-20 or DS-2019 indicating your new program.

Do Not Stay in the US beyond the Grace Period

If you are in F-1 student status, you are allowed a 60-day grace period to stay in the United States after the completion date of your studies or your post-completion OPT. If you are in J-1 status, you are allowed a 30-day grace period after the completion of your program or post-completion Academic Training. During this time you may not work. Do not remain in the US beyond your grace period without taking appropriate steps to maintain some kind of legal status in the US.

Obtain Permission from ISSS Before Requesting Leave of Absence or Withdrawal from Penn

Students planning to withdraw from Penn or take a leave of absence should consult an ISSS advisor prior to making official action; otherwise they may jeopardize their F-1 or J-1 status. Furthermore, students taking a leave of absence or withdrawing have a grace period of only 15 days to leave the US. See Notification of Departure or Withdrawal from Penn (PDF) for details.

Keep Your Passport Valid

If your passport will expire within 6 months, or to replace a lost or stolen passport, contact your embassy or consulate in the US for instructions on obtaining an extension or new passport.

Maintain Adequate Medical Insurance

Federal regulations require those in J-1 status to have comprehensive medical insurance covering themselves and all their dependents. Failure to maintain medical insurance is a violation of J-1 status. While the F-1 student regulations do not have the same requirement, the University of Pennsylvania itself requires all students and their dependents to have comprehensive medical insurance. For detailed information on J-1 medical insurance requirements, please visit: http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/j1/insurance.html.

Receive Email Regularly from ISSS

From September to May, ISSS sends at least one email message per month to international students. Some are simply announcements about upcoming events but others contain important immigration information to help you avoid serious immigration problems. If you do not receive regular messages from ISSS, please inform ISSS immediately so we can identify the problem and correct it.

F-2 Dependents May Not Work or Study

If you have a spouse or children in F-2 dependent status, they may not work in the US under any circumstances and may not study except for classes that are avocational or recreational. Minor children may study through 12th grade.

ISSS Resources

For detailed information or questions about your status, please visit the ISSS web site at http://www.upenn.edu/oip/ or meet with an ISSS advisor.

	International Programs Penn Abroad \| ISSS \| IA@Penn
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By following those instructions and the information below, you will maintain legal student F-1 or J-1 status in the US and be able to take full advantage of student status benefits such as work and travel. If you have any questions please visit International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) to discuss your situation. Points to Maintaining F-1 or J-1 Status Maintain full-time enrollment and progress Obtain proper employment authorization before beginning any work Update address, legal name, or major within 10 days of a change Check for valid ISSS signature and proper documentation before traveling outside US Transfer F-1 or J-1/SEVIS administration when changing schools Obtain program extension if you will continue study beyond end date on I-20 or DS-2019 Obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 if you begin a new degree program Do not stay in the US beyond grace period Obtain permission from ISSS before requesting a leave of absence or withdrawal from Penn Keep your passport valid Maintain adequate medical insurance Receive email regularly from ISSS F-2 dependents may not work or study Maintain Full-Time Enrollment and Progress Undergraduate Students Undergraduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of *four* courses each semester. This does not include audits or incompletes. This applies to students in all four undergraduate schools and the College of General Studies (CGS). Graduate Students Graduate students must be enrolled for a full-time course load as defined by your academic program. For some programs this will mean a minimum of *three courses; other programs require more or less. You must check with your school or department to learn the definition of a full-time student. Full-time enrollment does not include audits or incompletes. Once you have completed your coursework and are working on your thesis or dissertation, you must maintain your full-time status by registering for master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation tuition or registration. All Students No more than one (1) course unit (CU) of Distance Education per semester may count toward full-time enrollment for F-1 students. You are also required to make normal progress towards completing your course of study. The measure of normal progress* is the rate at which the average full-time student in your school or department advances toward his or her degree or program objective. Working to complete courses designated from previous semesters is not maintaining normal progress. If you find yourself in this situation please consult with an ISSS advisor at the earliest opportunity. If you are considering, for whatever reason, to drop a course that will cause your enrollment to drop below full-time, you must consult with an ISSS advisor before doing so. Dropping below a full-time enrollment will jeopardize your legal ability to remain in the US. Even if you need less than a full course load in your last semester of coursework, you must notify ISSS by the first week of classes to verify that it is your last semester in order to be considered to be maintaining a full course of study as required by federal regulations. Obtain Proper Employment Authorization Before Beginning any Work DHS considers working without proper authorization as one of the most serious violations of your student status. If you refer to your I-20 or DS-2019 form you will see the statement: *Warning—a nonimmigrant who accepts unauthorized employment is subject to deportation. Consult an ISSS advisor before* you accept an offer of employment or begin work. We will advise you whether or not it is possible for you to work, and if it is, assist you with the appropriate documents. Please keep in mind that it is illegal to begin work before obtaining written permission first (except in the case of work defined as on campus), even if you have applied for work authorization and are anticipating approval. Refer to the ISSS handouts on F-1 and J-1 employment options for detailed information on on-campus employment and the types of off-campus work authorization available and procedures necessary to obtain approval. Pay special attention to deadlines and processing times! Update Address, Legal Name, or Major Within 10 days of a Change Federal regulations require F-1 and J-1 students to report any change of US address, legal name, or major to their sponsoring institutions within 10 days of the change. At Penn, we require you only to *enter your current address where you physically reside in the US through Penn InTouch. When you change your major through you academic advisor (or for graduate students this is done by official admission into a new program), the information is updated through Penn's Student Records System (SRS). ISSS receives the address and major changes from Penn InTouch* on a daily basis and transmits them to DHS through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), as required. If you change your legal name, consult an ISSS advisor to make the changes. (If Penn is not your program sponsor because your DS-2019 was prepared by another organization you must report any changes to the organization that prepared your form.) Check for Valid ISSS Signature and Proper Documentation before Traveling Outside the US If you will travel outside the US, you must have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa (stamp) and a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 Form. Each signature is valid for one year (365 days) while you are a full-time student (six months for F-1 students on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)). F-1 students on post-completion OPT should seek advice from ISSS before traveling. If you need a travel signature on page 3 of your I-20 (F-1) or on page 1 of your DS-2019 (J-1), please come to ISSS. Signatures can only be obtained by an ISSS official. See F-1 and J-1 Travel Checklist (PDF) for travel instructions. Transfer F-1 or J-1/SEVIS Administration when Changing Schools If you plan to transfer from Penn to another school in the US, meet with an ISSS advisor to discuss your plans. At your written request, ISSS must confirm that you are maintaining valid F-1 or J-1 status and release your student record in SEVIS before you can attend another school. You must then complete F-1 or J-1 transfer procedures with a Designated School Official (DSO) at the new school. Obtain Program Extension If You Will Continue Study Beyond End Date on I-20 or DS-2019 If you need to remain in the US to complete your program of study beyond the date authorized on your I-20 (see item 5 on page 1) or DS-2019 (see item 3 on page 1) you must request a program extension through ISSS. Apply at least 30 days *before* the completion date noted on your I-20 or DS-2019. At that time, you will need to complete ISSS’s program extension form and establish that there are valid academic reasons for extending the time necessary to complete your program. A student who fails to have their I-20 or DS-2019 extended prior to the expiration date of the document is considered out of status and may need to apply for reinstatement to regain student status. Obtain a New I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSS if You Begin a New Degree Program To continue at Penn in a different academic level (e.g. bachelors to masters or masters to PhD) or, in some cases, when you change to a new degree program at the same level after completing a degree, you must apply for a change of program, which will extend your study at Penn. You must verify your admission to a new program and your ability to finance the program by completing an Application for I-20 or DS-2019 Form. ISSS will issue a new I-20 or DS-2019 indicating your new program. Do Not Stay in the US beyond the Grace Period If you are in F-1 student status, you are allowed a 60-day grace period to stay in the United States after the completion date of your studies or your post-completion OPT. If you are in J-1 status, you are allowed a 30-day grace period after the completion of your program or post-completion Academic Training. During this time you may not work. Do not remain in the US beyond your grace period without taking appropriate steps to maintain some kind of legal status in the US. Obtain Permission from ISSS Before Requesting Leave of Absence or Withdrawal from Penn Students planning to withdraw from Penn or take a leave of absence should consult an ISSS advisor prior to making official action; otherwise they may jeopardize their F-1 or J-1 status. Furthermore, students taking a leave of absence or withdrawing have a grace period of only 15 days to leave the US. See Notification of Departure or Withdrawal from Penn (PDF) for details. Keep Your Passport Valid If your passport will expire within 6 months, or to replace a lost or stolen passport, contact your embassy or consulate in the US for instructions on obtaining an extension or new passport. Maintain Adequate Medical Insurance Federal regulations require those in J-1 status to have comprehensive medical insurance covering themselves and all their dependents. Failure to maintain medical insurance is a violation of J-1 status. While the F-1 student regulations do not have the same requirement, the University of Pennsylvania itself requires all students and their dependents to have comprehensive medical insurance. For detailed information on J-1 medical insurance requirements, please visit: http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/j1/insurance.html. Receive Email Regularly from ISSS From September to May, ISSS sends at least one email message per month to international students. Some are simply announcements about upcoming events but others contain important immigration information to help you avoid serious immigration problems. If you do not receive regular messages from ISSS, please inform ISSS immediately so we can identify the problem and correct it. F-2 Dependents May Not Work or Study If you have a spouse or children in F-2 dependent status, they may *not* work in the US under any circumstances and may *not* study except for classes that are avocational or recreational. Minor children may study through 12th grade. ISSS Resources For detailed information or questions about your status, please visit the ISSS web site at http://www.upenn.edu/oip/ or meet with an ISSS advisor. Related Links ISSS Visa & Immigration Information http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/ ISSS Instructions and Forms http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/forms/ Foreign Embassies in the US http://www.state.gov/misc/10125.htm Penn InTouch https://sentry.isc.upenn.edu/intouch/ J-1 Medical Insurance Requirements http://www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/j1/insurance.html Return to F-1 Student Visa Information \| J-1 Student Visa Information
	International Programs Penn Abroad \| ISSS \| IA@Penn