Refer any questions to the ISS Staff at 836-6618. The administrative secretary will need your name and dept.

Visa Classifications

• Students
  •  F-1 visa
  •  F-2 visa for dependent(s)
• Exchange
  • J-1 visa
  • J-1 visa for dependent(s)
• Visitor
  • B1 visa for business
  • B2 visa for pleasure
• Workers
  • H1-H4 visa specialty worker  

ISS Encumbrance codes

• IT - Waiting for an official transcript
• IN - International Orientation and Student Check-in
• IF - $50 Application fee
• IV - Waiting for USCIS change of status approval

International Admission Coordinators

• Lisa Gibson, DSO

• Will Crites, DSO

Immigration Terminology

Responsible for signing USCIS forms for F visa holders and dependants

• PDSO: Primary Designated School Official (Diana Garland)

• DSO: Designated School Official

Responsible for signing USCIS forms for J visa holders and dependants

• RO: Responsible Officer (Lisa Gibson)

• ARO: Alternate Responsible Officer

Required Credit Hours for Int'l Students to Maintain Visa Status

Students must be full-time if their program begins with the summer session. Summer is optional for students who begin their program in the Fall or Spring.

Additional requirements of maintenance of status include a good faith effort to keep a valid passport at all times, not accepting unauthorized employment, and not transferring schools or changing programs without going through the prescribed procedures. 

• Undergraduate Students: 12 credit hours (Fall, Spring)

Any deviation from this minimum requirement should be discussed by the faculty adviser and ISS Staff PRIOR to dropping below or enrolling in less than full-time.

• Graduate Students: 9 credit hours (Fall, Spring)

• Graduate Students with a Graduate Assistantship: 6 credit hours (Fall, Spring)

Any deviation from this minimum requirement should be discussed by the faculty adviser and DSO PRIOR to dropping below or enrolling in less than full-time. Faculty and students should be particularly careful to check with the ISS Staff when the student is enrolled in thesis credit hours since such enrollment is often for only one or two credit hours.

On-line or Distance Education Courses

• Undergraduate and Graduate: No more than 3 credits per semester can be counted toward the BCIS full course of study requirement.

• English Language Institute students cannot count on-line or distance education classes toward full course enrollment.

Under-enrolled Procedures

A student who drops or enrolls below full time without PRIOR approval of the DSO will be considered out of status.

Exception From Full Course of Study Form: Will be used for under-enrollment and dual enrollment approval.

The form MUST be submitted to DSO PRIOR to dropping below or enrolling less than full-time. The student is responsible for completing the top portion of the form and submitting it to his/her academic advisor. The Academic Advisor will review and check a reason (if they approve), sign and date the bottom. The exception form will be reviewed by ISS for USCIS compliance and if approved, signed and dated. The student will receive the original and a copy will be kept in the ISS office.

PLEASE NOTE: Students can be granted permission for reduced course load due to academic difficulty only ONCE per program level.

Academic Training

• Curricular Practical Training:

  Off-campus employment completed before graduation within the student's major. Student must have the job offer BEFORE completing application.

  • Curricular practical training letter

  • J-1 Academic training letter

• Optional Practical Training:

  Off-campus work completed after graduation within the student's major.

NEW USCIS REGULATIONS AS OF JAN 1, 2003:

• Students may be authorized for 12 months of Optional Practical Training per education level i.e. Bachelors, Masters

• Students must apply PRIOR to their graduation day. We encourage students to apply early since it is currently taking 4 months for USCIS to process the applications.

Transfer Procedure

Transfer Release Form: Will be used for students who intend to transfer to another school.

The student is responsible for completing the form for intent to transfer and list the school. ISS will contact the student with a release date (generally the last day of the current semester attending). The student MUST contact ISS PRIOR to the release date if they wish to cancel the request.

Helpful Links

Counseling & Testing