Academics and studying
Maintaining Valid F-1 or J-1 Student Status
Requirements to maintain status
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.
- Maintain active communication with ISO and promptly notify them of any changes to your I-20 or DS-2019 information.
- Notify ISO of any address changes within 10 days by following these steps to inform both ISO and the relevant university offices:
- Please use the Student Address and Communications Update form in URcompass.
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Use UR Student to keep your address updated and apply the correct ‘Usage Tags’ to ensure accurate information is sent to ISO. Follow these guidelines:
- If you live in University housing, your address will update directly with ISO. If your campus housing changes, contact Residential Life to update your assignment; otherwise, ISO will not reflect any manual changes you make in UR Student.
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Tag your off-campus US address as “Where you live while at school”, your foreign address as “Where you live when you’re not in school, outside of the USA”, and your US mailing address as “Where you get your mail”. Reference the University IT tutorial Updating an Address in UR Student (PDF) for guidance. Note: This system will not make updates to your records in HRMS, or the University’s Bursar’s Office (for billing). You must access those records directly or contact the appropriate offices to make any address changes.