Enrollment Requirements

U.S. immigration regulations require you to enroll full time each fall and spring semester until you complete your program. If you are not enrolled full time, you violate your immigration status. This can lead to the loss of F-1 benefits, including employment eligibility, and may result in immigration consequences.

Academic Level	Minimum Total Credits	Minimum In-Person/Hybrid Credits*
F-1 Undergraduate Students	12 credits per semester	9 credits per semester
F-1 Master’s or PhD Students	9 credits per semester	6 credits per semester

* Hybrid courses include both online instruction and required in-person attendance. For immigration purposes, hybrid courses count as in-person courses.

Problematic Grades

The following grades do not count toward full-time enrollment:

NR/NF/NU – No Record of Attendance
W – Withdrawal from a course

If you receive one of these grades and fall below full-time enrollment, your immigration record may be terminated in SEVIS.

Contact VIS immediately if you believe this situation may apply to you.

Online and Distance Learning Rules

You may count one online course or up to 3 online credits toward the minimum credits required for full-time enrollment each semester.

You may take additional online or distance-learning courses after you meet the minimum in-person and total credit requirements.

Degree programs that are fully online, or that offer only online courses in the first semester, are not eligible for I-20 issuance.

Students in F-1 or J-1 status cannot enroll in these programs while inside the United States.

If you hold another immigration status in the U.S., or if you plan to complete an online program while living outside the United States, contact the appropriate admissions office for guidance.

Starting or Finishing Your Program in Summer or Winter

If you start or complete your degree during a summer or winter term, that term is treated as a required semester for immigration reporting. This means you must register full-time or be on an approved Reduced Course Load, and you must follow all limits for online courses.

Program Start in Summer

If your academic program begins during the summer semester, you must enroll full time during that term and follow all limits on online courses.

This requirement applies to:

New students beginning their program in summer
Students returning from an approved leave of absence who resume studies in summer

Program Completion in Summer or Winter

If you complete your degree during a summer or winter term, that term is treated as a required semester for immigration reporting.

To maintain your status and remain eligible for benefits such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), you must:

Enroll full time, unless approved for a Reduced Course Load
Follow limits on online courses

Key Guidelines

If you need fewer courses to complete your program, you must receive VIS approval for a Reduced Course Load for your final semester.
If approved, you must still enroll in at least 1 credit.
If only one course remains to complete your degree, that course cannot be fully online.
If you need more than one course during your final term, you must still follow the standard online course limit.
If you plan to complete final coursework outside the United States or through another institution, you must speak with Visa and Immigration Services (VIS) before making plans because this may affect your immigration status and eligibility for benefits.

Exceptions to Full-Time Study

Immigration regulations require full-time enrollment each required semester. If you cannot enroll full time, or if you need fewer credits to complete your degree, you may qualify for a Reduced Course Load (RCL).

VIS must approve a Reduced Course Load before you drop below full-time enrollment.

Learn More About Enrollment Exceptions

Optional Summer or Winter Enrollment

If summer or winter terms are not a required semester for you, you may choose whether or not to enroll.

If you decide to enroll during an optional summer or winter term:

There is no minimum or maximum number of credits required
You may take online or in-person courses

Final Semester Enrollment

During your final semester, you must enroll in at least one in-person or hybrid course to maintain your immigration status.

If you are approved for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) for your final semester, you must still include a course that requires physical attendance.

Review Requirements for Final Semester RCL