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Maintaining F-1 Status

Review the following options for maintaining your F-1 Status

Enrollment Requirements

Pursue a full course of study (i.e., 12 units for UGRD and 9 units for GRAD).
- Unless authorized by ISSS for
- Be mindful of allowable online credits. Only one course per a students full-time enrollment can be online. The other remaining courses must be in-person or hybrid.
Make progress towards degree completion.
Maintain a valid I-20.
- Know your expiration date.
  - Extend in a timely manner.
  - Shorten - if finishing degree program earlier than expected.
- Update if major changes.
Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 12 months, when pursuing degree.
- Validity of 6 months when on OPT/STEM OPT.
Report a change of address within 10 days of moving via MySJSU.
Do not engage in off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) without the proper employment authorization (i.e., CPT).

Work within the dates of the authorized (EAD) Employment Authorization Document.
All employment (paid or unpaid) must be related to your major field of study.
Employment must be at least 20 hours per week, in order not to accrue unemployment days.
Do not exceed an aggregate of 90 days of unemployment.
Report employment via the SEVP portal or directly to ISSS within 10 days.
Report a change of address within 10 days of moving via the SEVP portal.
Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 6 months, when on OPT.

All employment must be for an e-verified employer, related to your major field of study, paid, and at least 20 hours per week.
Report employment and changes in employment within 10 days of the change, via the STEM OPT Employment Update e-form.
Reporting requirements at the following times: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months.
Maintain a valid travel signature.
- Validity of 6 months, when on STEM OPT.
Do not exceed 150 days of unemployment, applied to the entire period of standard Post-completion and STEM OPT.