Academics and studying
Maintaining Valid F-1 or J-1 Student Status
Requirements to maintain status
As an international student, alongside your academic responsibilities, you must also adhere to federal immigration regulations throughout your studies at the UR. It’s important to remember that maintaining your F-1 or J-1 student status is your responsibility. In addition to maintaining your status, it’s also important to carry evidence of your valid non-immigrant status at all times. You should carry a print-out of your current I-94 record (printed from the Customs and Border Protection website), your Form I-20/DS-2019, and a copy of your passport when you travel around the Rochester area. If traveling outside of Rochester city limits (into the suburbs and beyond), please review the ISO Travel Guidance page for more information. Make it easy for a government officer to verify your legal status by having copies of immigration documents available, if requested!
We recommend that you make multiple copies of all your documents and store them in different places—not all on your personal or on a single device you are carrying—to reduce the risk of losing all documentation at once.
To maintain valid F-1 or J-1 status, you must adhere to the following requirements:
- Attend the University of Rochester, as authorized by your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019.
- Pursue a full-time course of study each and every academic term, unless otherwise authorized for a reduced course load in advance by ISO.
- Maintain active registration each term and make normal progress toward your degree until you complete all requirements or transfer to a new school.
- Keep your passport valid at all times and at least 6 months into the future.
- Follow proper immigration procedures to extend your stay, change your educational level, or transfer schools, as needed.
- Adhere to all grace period rules and SEVIS reporting deadlines.
- F-1 and J-1 students cannot work off campus without written authorization prior to the start of employment.
- Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours per week when classes are in session.
- J-1 students must have written authorization prior to the start of on campus employment.
For J-1 students: Maintain active health insurance and supplemental medical evacuation coverage for yourself and any dependents.
Address and Academic Reporting
- Notify ISO of any address changes within 10 days. Please use the Student Address and Communications Update form in URcompass.
- Maintain active communication with ISO and promptly notify them of any changes to your I-20 or DS-2019 information.