Maintaining F-1 & J-1 Status | CSUSB ISSS

You must be enrolled in a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters. If you are considering dropping below full-time, you must receive authorization from ISSS before making any changes.

• Undergraduate students seeking a Bachelor's degree must enroll in at least 12 units per semester.
• Graduate students seeking a Master's degree must enroll in at least 6 units per semester, or be enrolled in a culminating experience course. 

You must enroll in primarily in-person courses each term. There are limits on how many online or distance education courses can count toward your full-time enrollment requirement.

Taking too many online courses may result in you falling out of status, even if you are enrolled in the correct number of units. If you are unsure whether your course schedule meets the requirements, contact ISSS before finalizing your enrollment.

• Undergraduate students seeking a Bachelor's degree must enroll in at least 9 units of in-person or hybrid instruction per semester.
• Graduate students seeking a Master's degree must enroll in at least 3 units of in-person or hybrid instruction per semester. 

You must continue making progress toward completing your degree program. Delays, withdrawals, or academic difficulties may impact your immigration status.

Note: Graduate students may not be considered to be making normal academic progress if their program completion is significantly delayed beyond expected timeframes.

You must ensure that your passport, I-20 (F-1), or DS-2019 (J-1) remain valid at all times. If your program will take longer than expected, you must request an extension before your document expires.

👉To request an extension, submit a service request with ISSS. 

Employment in the U.S. is limited and regulated for F-1 and J-1 students. You must receive proper authorization before engaging in any type of work, whether on-campus or off-campus.

To understand employment regulations, visit: Employment | International Education | CSUSB.

You are required to maintain health insurance coverage that meets university and/or federal requirements throughout your program. Enrollment in health insurance is a requirement for any period, no matter how short, that you are within the US in F-1 or J-1 status at CSUSB. 

More information pertaining to the health insurance requirement can be found here: Health Insurance | International Education | CSUSB.

You must report any changes to your U.S. address, contact information, or academic program to ISSS within 10 days of the change occurring. 

Before traveling outside the United States, you should ensure your documents are valid and properly endorsed for re-entry.

Continuing students may take an annual vacation during the summer term if they:

• Were enrolled full-time in the preceding spring semester, and
• Intend to enroll in the following fall semester
  • If you are graduating in the Summer, this will count as a regular non-vacation term. You will be subject to enrollment requirements. Please refer to "Final Term Enrollment" for more info. 

During this approved vacation term:

• Enrollment is not required
• You may remain in the United States
• You may be eligible for full-time on-campus employment (if otherwise authorized)

Federal regulations allow students to take an annual vacation during official school breaks, provided they are eligible and plan to continue their studies.

Note: Health Insurance enrollment is required if you are in the United States for any period during the summer term, even if you are not enrolled in classes. 

Winter break is considered an official school break between the fall and spring semesters.

If you were enrolled full-time in the fall semester:

• You are not required to enroll during winter break
• You may remain in the United States
• You may work on-campus during the break (if otherwise eligible)

• Initial Students: If your program begins in the summer term, you are required to enroll full-time for that term
• Final Term: If summer is your final term, you must follow final term enrollment rules (you may not take it as a vacation term)
• Intent to Enroll: You must plan to enroll in the next required term (fall or spring) to be eligible for a vacation period

If you plan to travel outside the United States during a break:

• Ensure your immigration documents are valid
• Make sure you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019

You may be able to drop a class, but you must remain enrolled full-time.

If dropping a class would put you below full-time enrollment, you must receive authorization from ISSS before making the change. Dropping below full-time without authorization may result in a violation of your status.

No. You must be enrolled in primarily in-person courses.

Only a limited number of online classes can count toward your full-time enrollment requirement. If your schedule is mostly or fully online, you may not be maintaining your status—even if you are enrolled in enough units.

Yes, if you need fewer units to complete your program, you may be eligible for a reduced course load in your final term.

However:

• You must request authorization from ISSS
• At least one required course must be in-person

It depends.

If summer is your vacation term, enrollment is not required. 

However, if Summer is your final term, then you may be required to enroll. If you are unsure, contact ISSS.

Not without authorization.

Off-campus employment requires specific authorization such as CPT or OPT. Working without authorization—even if the opportunity is unpaid—may result in the loss of your immigration status.

Yes, but you should plan ahead.

Before traveling, make sure:

• Your passport is valid
• Your visa (if applicable) is valid for re-entry
• Your I-20 or DS-2019 has a valid travel signature

Travel without proper documents may impact your ability to re-enter the U.S.

Yes. Your visa stamp is used for entry into the United States, not for staying in the U.S.

You may remain in the United States with an expired visa stamp as long as you:

• Maintain valid F-1 or J-1 status
• Have a valid Form I-20 or DS-2019
• Have a valid passport

Travel Considerations

If you travel outside the United States and your visa stamp is expired, you will generally need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate before returning.

You cannot apply for a visa stamp from within the United States.

Travel to Canada or Mexico (Automatic Visa Revalidation)

In limited situations, you may be eligible to re-enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico without renewing your visa stamp if:

• Your trip is 30 days or less, and
• You meet all eligibility requirements for automatic visa revalidation

Not all students qualify for this benefit. We strongly recommend that you contact ISSS before making travel plans.

Important Reminder

Even if your visa stamp is expired, you must continue to maintain your immigration status while in the United States.

If you have questions about your documents or travel plans, contact ISSS before traveling.

Changes to your academic program may require updates to your immigration record.

You should contact ISSS to ensure your SEVIS record and immigration documents are updated appropriately.

You may be eligible for a Reduced Course Load (RCL), but this requires prior authorization from ISSS.

Do not make changes to your enrollment until you have received approval.

Taking a break from your studies may impact your immigration status and is not automatically allowed for F-1 or J-1 students.

F-1 and J-1 students are generally not permitted to take a leave of absence and remain in the United States, unless there is a documented medical reason for an RCL.

At CSUSB:

• Graduate students may be discontinued if they do not enroll by the Census date (add/drop deadline)
  • 👉 Visit the Office of Graduate Studies' Forms Page for Instructions on filing a Leave of Absence.
• Undergraduate students may be discontinued after two consecutive semesters of non-enrollment
  • 👉 Visit Academic Advising's Leave of Absence Policy Page for Instructions on filing a Leave of Absence. 

Regardless of your academic standing, taking a semester off without proper authorization may result in the loss of your immigration status.

Important Reminder about LOA

If you are considering taking a semester off, you must contact ISSS before the term begins or before dropping your courses.

ISSS will review your situation and advise you on available options, which may include:

• Authorized early withdrawal
• Temporary departure from the United States
• Other immigration considerations based on your situation

Do not stop attending classes or withdraw from courses without first speaking with ISSS.

If you need more time to complete your program, you must request a program extension before the end date listed on your Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1).

If your document expires before you request an extension, you may lose your immigration status and may not be eligible for an extension.

Common reasons for a program extension may include:

• Changes in academic program requirements
• Unexpected delays in completing coursework or research
• Medical or academic difficulties

Extensions cannot be granted after your I-20 or DS-2019 end date has passed. 

If you believe you will not complete your program by your current end date, contact ISSS as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Transferring to CSUSB (from another school):
 

If you are currently attending another U.S. institution and plan to attend CSUSB, you must request that your current school transfer your SEVIS record to CSUSB.

You will receive instructions from International Admissions after you are admitted. Your SEVIS record must be transferred and active at CSUSB before the start of your program.

Transferring from CSUSB (to another school):
 

If you plan to leave CSUSB and attend another U.S. institution, you must request a SEVIS transfer through ISSS.

You will need to provide:

• Proof of admission to the new school
• The school’s SEVIS program number
• Your requested transfer release date

Do not stop attending classes or leave CSUSB until your transfer has been properly coordinated.

Important Reminder on Transferring: 

You must coordinate your transfer with ISSS before your program ends or within your allowable transfer timeframe. Failing to properly transfer your SEVIS record may impact your immigration status.

In some cases, you may be eligible to change your nonimmigrant status.

There are generally two ways to do this:

• Travel and re-enter the U.S. with a new visa in a different status, or
• Apply for a change of status within the U.S. through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Each option has different timelines, requirements, and risks. The best option depends on your individual situation.

Changing your status is a complex immigration process and may impact your ability to study, work, or remain in the United States.

We strongly recommend that you contact ISSS before taking any steps.

👉 Visit our Change of Status page