F-1 Visa Policy for International Students at 海角社区

Updated as of February 20, 2025

All international students are required to pursue their studies on a full-time basis.

Immigration Status and Maintenance

Full-Time Study:

International graduate student: minimum of 9 credit hours per semester
International undergraduate student: minimum of 12 credit hours per semester

In-Person Requirement: ALL students are encouraged to take all classes IN-PERSON to maintain legal F1 visa status and legally stay in the United States.

International graduate students: required to study a minimum of 6 credits (2 courses) in-person out of the 9-credit hour minimum requirement over each semester.
International undergraduate student: required to study a minimum of 9 credits (3 courses) in-person out of the 12-credit hour minimum requirement over each semester.
ALL students: can study any number of online credits after the minimum in-person requirements are met.

Hybrid/Blended Courses: The Course Catalogue will show a campus location, which can be used to identify online or in-person courses. ROM, ABQ, and OBK are the in-person locations. ONL is the designation for an online course. However, with some in-person courses, the instruction may offer hybrid learning options. “Hybrid learning, with some requirements for in-person learning” is permitted per C.F.R. 搂 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G) and 8 C.F.R. 搂 214.2(m)(9)(v).

Hybrid learning can be defined as: courses with a minimum of 50 percent contact hours in-person with an instructor. The 50 percent contact hour minimum can be met via traditional classroom instruction, as well as office hours, labs, clinical, or any other instructional method with direct contact that is documented with the instructor. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that when they are enrolled in an ROM, ABQ, or OBK course, that they attend a minimum of 50 percent of the classes in-person. This policy does not supersede the instructor’s policy on class attendance.

Summer term: Enrollment during the summer terms is optional, except for international students that begin their programs during a summer term, in which case, full-time enrollment is required.

Continuing international students who have completed at least one full semester at Lewis may elect to take summer classes. These continuing students may take any number of on-campus or online summer courses with no minimum on-campus or course load requirements.
Students for whom Summer is the final semester at Lewis may elect to take summer classes, but at least one summer class must be taken in an on-campus or hybrid format. They must also file a Reduced Course Load request if fewer than a full-time load is required. If a student wishes to use the summer semester as their annual vacation, they should not enroll in any summer classes, and they will not be eligible for most forms of employment during that semester including CPT and GA positions.

Defining Full Course of Study

USCIS regulation regarding DSOs defining “full course of study” : See . The DSO from the school where the F-1 student will earn the student’s degree is responsible for the reporting requirements to DHS. In instances where a student is enrolled in programs with different full course of study requirements (for example,clock hours vs. credit hours), the DSO is permitted to determine what constitutes a full course of study.
Programs such as MSN and Ed.D that have credit hours that differ from clock hours (as in, credit hours may be lower than 9, but clock hours could be much higher) we as DSOs can define these programs as “full time” at 6 credits. On-campus regulations are not affected in any way by this, so the student still needs to adhere to 1 online course to contribute to full time study.

When we send warnings to students about being under enrolled, please note that MSN and EdD students will be considered “full time” at 6 credits. This should also further reduce the use for the OCW liability form.

Last and Final Semester Policy

Reduced Course Load: This form must be approved by your Academic Advisor and the ISGSS Director or DSO through SEVIS before you can drop to a less than full-time load. Students failing to request & obtain advance approval of a reduced course load will be considered “out of status” by the SEVP.

One class remaining: A student’s last and final class (i.e., capstone or any other required course) must be taken in-person to maintain legal F-1 visa status. A Hybrid/Blended course may be acceptable but requires DSO review (regardless of semester). If the student's final semester is the summer semester, at least one of the remaining courses must be taken in an on-campus/hybrid format.

Disclaimer: Full-time enrollment may be defined differently for immigration purposes than how it is defined by other academic units or programs. It is your responsibility as an F-1 student to ensure that your enrollment meets the requirements of your immigration status throughout the duration of your program at 海角社区.

For any questions or clarification, please email ISGSS@lewisu.edu.