Maintaining F-1 Status | myPBA

International

Student Responsibilities

As an F-1 student, the primary purpose for being in the United States is to study. Following the procedures below will ensure compliance with F-1 regulations. Failure to comply with these procedures could result in cancellation of your student visa record and eventual deportation.

Enroll in a full course of study every semester.

Undergraduate Students: 12-18 credit hours per semester
Graduate Students: 6-9 credit hours per semester
Pharmacy Students: 12-18 credit hours per semester
Maintain a valid passport.
Check-in each semester! Confirm immigration information via email or in-person with the ISS Office every semester.

International students will be sent an email each semester with their current SEVIS information. You MUST review the information carefully and respond immediately for check-in. All information on your SEVIS record must be correct. Failure to check-in by the end of add/drop could result in cancellation of the student visa record.
Maintain a valid Form I-20 by obtaining required signatures from the PDSO/DSO every 12 months.

Confirm the I-20 is valid BEFORE traveling outside of the US. First, check your program end date accurately reflects your graduation date. Secondly, check your travel signature on page 2 is not more than 12 months old upon re-entry to the US. The following staff members are authorized to endorse page 2 of the I-20:

Dawn Musgrave-Demarest (PDSO, ISS Office)
Isabel Maldonado-Ramirez (DSO, ISS Office)
Keith Dawson (DSO, Admissions)
Kat Rummell (DSO, Admissions) Jennifer Cook (DSO, Orlando Campus)
Do not work without proper authorization.

Please arrange a meeting with the ISS Office BEFORE beginning any type of employment: On-campus, CPT (Internship) or OPT. Failure to obtain prior approval may result in termination of your SEVIS record.
Notify the ISS Office immediately if you: (keep in mind US regulations require this information to be updated within 10 days of the change)

- Change your major or degree level

- Move to a new address

- Withdraw or transfer from the university

- Complete your program of study BEFORE the end date indicated on your I-20.

- Will NOT complete your program of study BEFORE the end date indicated on your I-20.

Full Course of Study Requirements and Exceptions

F-1 students are permitted to drop below a full course of study, as long as it is due to one of the following reasons:

Illness or medical condition: Student must provide medical documentation and cannot be authorized for more than 12 months.
Initial difficulty with English language, Initial difficulty with reading requirements, Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods or Improper course level placement : Student must provide recommendations from professor(s)/academic adviser and cannot be authorized for more than one semester.
To complete course of study in current term: If an F-1 student is in the final semester and less than 12 credits are required to complete their program, dropping below a full course of study can be authorized. Student must provide the graduation audit and cannot be authorized for more than one semester.

Please contact the Admissions Office to confirm if you are eligible for this authorization. If approved, a new I-20 will be issued for the semester that the authorization is desired.

Online Classes

No more than the equivalent of ONE on-line/distance education class or 3 credits per semester may count towards the "full course of study" requirement. An online class is defined as a course that "does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class."