International students are responsible for complying with the terms and conditions of their visa status; refer to Maintaining F-1 Status for more information.
An F-1 student who has failed to properly maintain F-1 status must discuss their situation with an International Services immigration adviser to determine whether the student will be best served by applying to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for reinstatement or by Travel outside the US and reentering on a new F-1 SEVIS record.
As a result of a violation of status a students SEVIS record is terminated, they are no longer eligible for a travel signature, change of status, employment or any other student benefits associated to the F1 status.
Some of the most common status violations are:
- Failure to maintain full-time registration;
- Failure to apply for a program extension before the program end date, if the extension is required to complete the program of study;
- Failure to obtain a new I-20 when changing an educational program or degree level;
- Failure to request a transfer within the specified timeframe of your graduation date or practical training end date: within 60 days.
- Failure to report changes in address within 10 days of such address change;
- Unauthorized employment: Working in the United States without appropriate authorization from International Services and/or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is a serious violation that may not be corrected through reinstatement or travel.
A student who suspects that he or she is out-of-status should contact International Services immediately by calling (225) 578-3191 to schedule an appointment with an immigration adviser.