Reduced Course Load

• Overview

  
  Reduced Course Load

  Immigration regulations require that F-1 students maintain a full course of study. If a student cannot enroll full-time, they must be approved by Visa and Immigration Services for a Reduced Course Load before dropping below full-time.
  
  Academic Reduced Course Load
  An Academic Reduced Course Load permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time if they are experiencing academic difficulty.
  
  Final Semester Reduced Course Load
  A Final Semester Reduced Course Load permits F-1 to reduce their course load below full-time (at least one credit) if it is their last semester of study and less than a full course load is needed to graduate.
  
  Medical Reduced Course Load
  A Medical Reduced Course Load permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time (or, if necessary, not enroll in any courses) due to a student's temporary illness or medical condition.
  
  
  Learn more about the types of Reduced Course Loads available by choosing from the tabs above.

• Initial Academic Difficulty

  
  Initial Academic Difficulty

  If a student cannot enroll full-time, they must be approved by Visa and Immigration Services for a Reduced Course Load before dropping below full-time.

  A Reduced Course Load due to Initial Academic Difficulty, or an "Academic Reduced Course Load" permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time (to a minimum of 6 credits or half the clock hours required for a full course of study) if they are experiencing academic difficulty. A Reduced Course Load for this reason can be used only one time per degree program.
  
  

  Eligibility Requirements

  ​To be eligible for an Academic Reduced Course Load, a student must be experiencing academic difficult in one of the following areas:

  Possible Only During the First Year of Study at Stony Brook*

  • Initial difficulties with the English language
  • Initial difficulties with reading requirements
  • Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods

  *Not applicable for students who are continuing their studies at SBU at a new degree level or program.

  
  Possible throughout the Program of Study

  • Improper course level placement (for example: there was a miscommunication regarding course level selection)

  
  
  Eligible Student Must Also:

  • Enroll full-time until the Reduced Course Load is approved by VIS.
  • Not have used an Academic Reduced Course Load in the past. Only one Academic Reduced Course Load per degree level is permitted.
  • Maintain enrollment in at least 6 credits (or half the clock hours required for a full course of study) after the Reduced Course Load is approved by VIS.

  Application Deadlines

  The Reduced Course Load application must be signed by an Academic Advisor AND approved by VIS BEFORE a student is permitted to drop or resign below full-time or before someone is administratively withdrawn from a course(s).

  The completed Reduced Course Load request must be submitted in accessVIS before the end of the Add/Drop period. Students who drop below full-time without a VIS approved Reduced Course Load are considered out of status. This immigration violation could result in SEVIS termination and other serious consequences.

  If the add/drop period has passed and it is necessary to withdraw from a course due to academic difficulty, then submit a complete Reduced Course Load e-form in accessVIS. If approved by VIS, the student may drop below full-time.

  If the Reduced Course Load is approved by VIS, it is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the appropriate courses by the university deadlines.  Specific drop/withdrawal deadlines can be found on the academic calendar.  It is also important to consider financial liability deadlines (i.e. fees charged when a course is dropped) when deciding if withdrawing from a course is appropriate.

  Application Process

  The Academic Reduced Course Load request requires a recommendation letter from the ESL department or an Academic Advisor on department letterhead. Therefore, students should plan to discuss their situation with an advisor. 

  1. Log in to accessVIS through "Full Services" using your NetID and Password.
  2. Click on “F-1 Student Services” and then “Reduced Course Load”. Complete the entire e-form and upload the following:
     • • Written personal statement outlining the conditions/situation causing the need for a reduced course load.
       • Recommendation from ESL or Academic Advisor on department letterhead
       • Late Drop/Withdrawal Form Requiring VIS Signature (if applicable)

  Please allow 5-7 business days for processing. 

• Final Semester of Study

  
  Final Semester of Study
  

  A Reduced Course Load for Final Semester of Study permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time if it is the final semester of study and less than a full course load is needed to graduate.*

  If students only need one course to complete their program of study, the course cannot be completed through online or distance education.  If a student needs more than one class in the final term to complete the course of study, the student must still comply with the standard limit on distance/online education of 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G), which allows no more than one class/three credits to be counted towards the full course of study count.

  * For undergraduate students, full-time is defined as 12 credits/semester, while for graduate level students, full-time is defined as 9 credit hours.

  
  Wintersession & Summer Sessions
  Effective Fall 2023, if a student will complete all degree requirements graduate at the end of a wintersession or summer session those terms are then considered a regular semester/term for DHS reporting and registration requirements (they are no longer considered to be an annual vacation/break term because it is the final term).

  To maintain F1 status and stay in the US (including eligibility to apply for post-completion OPT) a student must follow the same registration requirements they normally would during the fall and spring semesters. This includes full-time enrollment and a limitation on the number of fully online classes.

  If a student needs less than a full course load to complete their degree program, then an approved Reduced Course Load for Final Semester of Study is required to maintain status. If approved for a RCL for the summer/winter semester, the student must enroll for at least 1 credit.

   

  Eligibility Requirements

  To be eligible, an Academic Advisor or Academic Department representative must confirm that less than a full course of study is needed to graduate and verify the student will graduate at the end of the term for which the Reduced Course Load is authorized.

  Students who need a Reduced Course Load must submit a complete request in accessVIS before the end of the Add/Drop period. Specific drop/withdrawal deadlines can be found on the academic calendar. 

  If a student is enrolled full-time and realizes after the Add/Drop period that it is their final semester, they may also apply. However, students must maintain full-time enrollment until VIS approves the Final Semester Reduced Course Load.

  Students who drop below full-time without a VIS approved Reduced Course Load are considered out of status. This immigration violation could result in SEVIS termination and other serious consequences.

  Application Process

  In order to request authorization from VIS for a reduced course load you must login to accessVIS and complete the Reduced Course Load request.

  1. Login to accessVIS through "Full Services" using your NetID and password
  2. Click on F-1 Student Services (located on the left sidebar toward the bottom of the webpage)
  3. Complete the Reduced Course Load request. Note, undergraduate students must upload the Major/Minor Progress Review Form, completed by their Undergraduate Major Department Advisor(s).

  Please allow 5-7 business days for processing. 

   

• Medical Reduced Course Load

  
  Medical Reduced Course Load

  A Medical Reduced Course Load permits F-1 students to reduce their course load below full-time (or, if necessary, not enroll in any courses) due to a student's temporary illness or medical condition. A Medical Reduced Course Load (when approved by a Designated School Official) allows the student to remain in the U.S. and maintain their F-1 status while seeking medical treatment inside the U.S.

  A maximum of 12 months of Medical Reduced Course Load is possible per degree level. Medical Reduced Course Loads are issued on a semester basis. If more than one semester of a Reduced Course Load due to medical condition is needed, the student must submit a new doctor’s letter for the additional semester(s).

  If a student cannot register for any classes (zero credits) due to a medical condition, they should also apply for a Medical Leave of Absence from the university. 

  Students authorized for a medical underload for zero (0) credits, are not be eligible to work on campus, as enrollment is required to be "cleared for hire".  Nor would they be eligible for off-campus employment authorization as full-time enrollment is one of the eligibility requirements.

  
  

  Eligibility Requirements

  In order to eligible for a Medical Reduced Course Load, the student must obtain medical documentation from their treating physician to substantiate the need for an underload. A letter (on letterhead) from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy or clinical psychologist recommending a reduced course load be authorized due to the student's current medical illness/condition, is required. The letter must include:

  • the recommended number of credits (or zero credits if necessary);
  • the term or period of time you are recommended to maintain a reduced course load,
  • the treating physician's physical signature.

  Click here for the Medical Reduced Course Load Certification Letter template letter.

  Application Process

  To request a Medical Reduced Course Load, complete and submit the Reduced Course Load request in accessVIS indicating "Medical" as the reason for requesting the reduced course load. 

  Follow the instructions below to access the request form.

  1. Login to accessVIS through "Full Services" using your NetID and password
  2. Click on F-1 Student Services (located on the left sidebar toward the bottom of the webpage)
  3. Complete the Reduced Course Load request, uploading a copy of letter provided by your treating physician. 

  If approved, an I-20 indicating the authorization for a reduced course load will be issued.