Immigration regulations require F-1 and J-1 students to be enrolled in a full-time course load each fall and spring semester in order to maintain nonimmigrant visa status. Full-time enrollment is only required in the summer if it is your first or last semester of enrollment.
ISSS Drop Advising Hold
Each fall and spring semester a hold is placed on all F-1 and J-1 student records to prevent them from dropping a class without prior permission from ISSS and unintentionally falling below full-time enrollment, a violation of status. This hold does not affect a student's聽ability to add a class or drop classes related to future semester enrollment.
- The Fall 2020 hold will be placed on F-1 and J-1 student records on September 10, 2020. It will be viewable in the .
If students in F-1 or J-1 status wish to drop a class, they must contact an ISSS advisor to request permission to drop the class(es). If dropping the class(es) will not result in under-enrollment, then the ISSS drop hold will be removed for 48 hours in order to allow students to drop the approved class(es).
- Students can meet with an ISSS advisor during advising hours or email ISSS聽to have the hold removed temporarily.
ISSS will place the hold back on students鈥� records to prevent the dropping of additional courses.
Exceptions to the Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
ISSS can only authorize a drop below full-time enrollment if the required documentation is submitted to ISSS and a student is eligible for an academic reduced course load, medical reduced course load, or it is the student's final semester and less than full-time enrollment is required to complete the degree.
Please contact ISSS with any questions regarding the Drop Advising Hold and full-time enrollment requirement.