Maintaining Status

Both F-1 international students and J-1 exchange students must comply with international student health insurance requirements.  Visit the link below to learn more about the international student health insurance requirement and U.S. health care.

Personal Contact Information

F-1 international students and J-1 exchange students must report any changes in their U.S. residential address and contact information to SF State within 10 days of the change. Students must also provide contact information for at least one emergency contact inside and outside the United States.

Failure to report one’s U.S. address and phone number will result in the termination of the student’s SEVIS record and I-20 or DS-2019. Termination indicates that the student is “out of status” and will accrue unlawful presence while in the United States until status is regained. A record of unlawful presence may have a detrimental effect on future U.S. immigration.

Type of Addresses

Each student should report two types of addresses:

Updating U.S. Mailing Address and Phone Number

Step 1: Log in to the Student Center and scroll down to the “Personal Information” section. Click “Mailing Address” to update the U.S. mailing address or "Home Phone" to update the U.S. phone number:

Step 2: Click “Edit” to enter the current U.S. mailing address or U.S. phone number. Make sure to click the “OK” button FIRST and then click “Save”. 

Additional Information For F-1 International Students

"SEVIS Domestic Address"

The SEVIS Domestic Address is the U.S. address associated with the student’s SEVIS record. When students update their U.S. Mailing Address using their Student Center, their SEVIS Domestic Address is automatically updated to reflect the same information. Students cannot manually update information in this field. 

"SEVIS Foreign Address"

The SEVIS Foreign Address is the foreign, permanent address associated with the student’s SEVIS record. When students update their permanent address with the SF State Registrar’s Office, their SEVIS Foreign Address is automatically updated to reflect the same information. Students cannot manually update information in this field.

An emergency contact can be a lifesaver in the event of all kinds of emergencies. Students' emergency contacts should be someone who needs to be notified if something happens to them. The emergency contact should know students well personally. Revisit emergency contacts every once in a while and make necessary changes or updates.

Determining Your Emergency Contact Person

We recommend students provide at least two emergency contacts at the online Student Center:

1st contact: This should be one of family members, relatives, friends, and partners in their home countries.

2nd contact: This should be a backup person in case the first contact cannot be reached.  The 2nd emergency can be either inside or outside the U.S., but there should be someone who could get in touch with students' contacts in their home countries.

Updating Emergency Contacts

Step 1: Log in to the Student Center and scroll down to the “Personal Information” section. Click “Emergency Contact”.

Step 2: Click “Add an Emergency Contact".  Be sure to click "Save" when you are done.

Full-Time Requirement

Both F-1 international students and J-1 exchange students must enroll and maintain enrollment in a full-time course load each Fall and Spring semester. There are no enrollment requirements for Summer or Winter breaks.

What constitutes a full-time course load:

• Undergraduate students: a minimum of 12 units per semester. 
• Graduate students: a minimum of 8 units per semester. 
• Certificate students: a minimum of 12 units per semester

A note about full-time enrollment: A maximum of 3 units of online classes may be counted towards the 12 or 8-unit minimum. 3 units of College of Professional & Global Education (CPaGE) (Academic unit classes only, no CEU) classes may be counted towards this minimum for F-1 international students only.

H-1 exchange students are NOT eligible to enroll in CPaGE classes.

Completion of a Full-Time Course Load

Grades that count towards satisfying the full-time enrollment requirement are as follows:  A, B, C, D, F, CR (Credit), NC (No Credit), and I (Incomplete) / IC (Incomplete Charged)*.

*F-1 International students who receive an "I" (incomplete) grade for a course are given one calendar year (12 months) immediately following the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned to make up the necessary work for the class. Failure to complete the assigned work within this one year will result in the "I" grade being converted into an "IC" grade.

Grades that do not count towards satisfying the full-time enrollment requirement are W (Withdrawal), WU (Unauthorized withdrawal), and AU (Audit).

Online Courses vs. Hybrid Courses

What is an Online Course?

An online course is a course that does not require a student’s physical attendance for classes, exams, or other purposes integral to the completion of the class.

For degree requirement purposes, students may enroll in as many online courses per semester as fit their academic plans; however, no more than the equivalent of three(3) units may be counted towards the full-time enrollment requirement.

Students should contact their academic advisor to learn if there is a limit to the number of online courses that may be applied toward their major or general education requirements.

F-1 international students who are in their final semester at SF State and need just one class to graduate are not allowed to stay in the U.S. if the class is only available online. 

What is a Hybrid Course?

A hybrid course is NOT considered an online course. A hybrid course is a course that requires physical attendance for at least one component. This could be an orientation, exam, seminar, or any other activity that requires the student to come to campus. All units from hybrid courses may be counted toward the full-time requirement.

Examples

The Following Combinations Meet the Undergraduate Full Time Requirement:

• 9 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 3 units of online courses
• 9 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 6 units of online courses
• 12 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 6 units of online courses

The Following Combinations DO NOT Meet the Undergraduate Full Time Requirement:

• 6 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 6 units of online courses
• 3 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 9 units of online courses

The Following Combination Meets the Graduate Full Time Requirement:

• 5 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 3 units of online courses

The Following Combination DOES NOT Meet the Graduate Full Time Requirement:

• 3 units of in-person or hybrid courses and 5 units of online courses

Students’ academic standing at SF State may also affect their immigration status. Students who fall out of good academic standing will be placed on Academic Notice (Probation) and may be subject to Disqualification of Status. Academic Notice is generally associated with a GPA below 2.0.  

Students considered in F or J status while on Academic Notice or Subject to Disqualification, as long as they maintain full-time enrollment and meet all other requirements. However, students may lose benefits, such as on-campus employment approval, until they regain good academic standing. Students may also be required to supply further documents detailing the steps they are taking to regain academic standing (e.g. proof of attending tutoring, professors’ office hours, etc.). Failure to comply with such requests may result in program termination.

Resources for Students on Academic Probation

Undergraduate Students: See Academic Notice | Advising Hub (sfsu.edu) 

Graduate Students: See Academic Notice/Probation | Division of Graduate Studies & Career Development (sfsu.edu) 

Immigration Consequences

F-1 international students who have been disqualified form SF State will not be able to maintain F-1 status at SF State.  The student must transfer their SEVIS records and I-20s to other Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certified schools in order to remain in the U.S. 

Reduced Course Load (RCL) Due to Medical Condition

Who is Eligible?

J-1 exchange students may be eligible for Reduced Course Load (RCL) Due to Medical Conditions if they experience a temporary illness or injury that prevents them from maintaining full-time study.  

What to know about RCL Due to Medical Condition

J-1 exchange students who wish to request RCL Due to Medical Condition must request a U.S. licensed medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), or licensed clinical psychologist to complete the RCL Due to Medical Condition form. Alternatively, students may attach to their RCL form an original letter from the medical care provider (on the provider’s official letterhead) substantiating the student’s medical condition. Such a letter must contain a brief but detailed description of the student’s medical condition and recommend that the student enroll in either zero units or a part-time course load for the semester.  

The student must resume full-time study in the next available Fall or Spring semester to maintain legal status unless a second RCL Due to Medical Condition is approved. A separate RCL Due to Medical Condition must be completed and approved each semester if more than one semester of RCL approval is required.

Deadlines: 

If the student’s medical condition occurs before the beginning of the semester: RCL Due to Medical Condition must be approved by an exchange student advisor before the drop/add deadline.
 

If the student is enrolled full-time and a medical condition occurs during the current semester: The student should contact a J-1 exchange student advisor as soon as possible. RCL Due to Medical conditions cannot be approved retroactively after the semester ends. The student must request RCL Due to Medical Condition BEFORE the end of the semester.
 

How to request RCL Due to Medical Conditions

1. Review the RCL Due to Medical Condition information above. Download the RCL form, and complete it as instructed.
2. Email the completed RCL form to exchange@sfsu.edu to schedule a virtual appointment with a J-1 exchange student advisor. The document will be processed within 5 business days.
3. If able, discuss the situation with a J-1 exchange advisor during the virtual appointment. The adviser will assess the situation and notify the student of approval within 5 business days.

Reduced Course Load (RCL) Due to Academic Difficulty

Who is Eligible?

Students may be eligible for Reduced Course Load (RCL) due to Academic Difficulty if they experience academic difficulties that prevent them from maintaining full-time enrollment.
 

What to Know about RCL Due to Academic Difficulty

Federal Immigration regulations define academic difficulty as Initial difficulty with English Language or reading requirements (first semester in the U.S. only); unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods (first semester in the U.S. only); or improper course placement. Eligible students MUST apply for RCL Due to Academic Difficulty before the add/drop deadline. RCL due to Academic Difficulty cannot be approved retroactively for previous semesters.

Students who wish to request RCL Due to Academic Difficulty must complete the RCL Due to Academic Difficulty form and must speak with a J-1 exchange student advisor at the Division of International Education first to verify eligibility. The RCL form must be approved by the student, exchange student advisor, and study abroad advisor at the student’s home university. 

Once RCL Du to Academic Difficulty has been approved, students must:

• Register for a minimum of 6 units (for undergraduates) or 4 units (for graduates) in the approved semester AND
• Resume full-time studies during the next available Fall or Spring semester in order to maintain legal status (only if studying at SF State during the next semester).

How to request RCL Due to Academic Difficulty

1. Review the RCL Due to Academic Difficulty information above. Download the RCL form, and complete it as instructed.
2. Email the completed RCL form to exchange@sfsu.edu to schedule a virtual appointment with a J-1 exchange student advisor. The document will be processed within 5 business days.
3. If able, discuss the situation with a J-1 exchange advisor during the virtual appointment. The adviser will assess the situation and notify the student of approval within 5 business days.

The International Education Exchange Council (IEEC) is the largest student organization at SF State. With its focus on cross-cultural exchange, IEEC hosts internationally focused events, such as the Study Abroad Fair, and is a fantastic way to meet both fellow exchange students and U.S. students interested in international education and global issues. 

As part of the SF State Exchange Program, all J-1 exchange students contribute to IEEC through one of several available service commitments.

Changing IEEC Commitment

J-1 exchange students who will study at SF State for two semesters may change their IEEC commitment in their second semester if they wish. Students interested in changing their IEEC commitment should contact exchange@sfsu.edu before the last day of the current semester. For example, if a student wishes to change to a new IEEC commitment in Spring, the request must be submitted before the last day of classes in the Fall semester.

In certain situations, students may be allowed to change their IEEC commitment during the semester. Students who wish to change their IEEC commitment during the semester must schedule an appointment to speak with an exchange student advisor.

Some J-1 Exchange Visitors are subject to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, also known as the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement or Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement. Students subject to the 212(e) must be physically present in their country of nationality or last legal permanent residence for at least two years (either consecutive or an aggregate) after completing their J-1 exchange program and leaving the United States before applying for certain U.S. visas or U.S. permanent residence.

Exchange students will be subject to the 212(e) in the following situations:

• The student’s J-1 program was supported financially either directly or indirectly by the U.S. government or the government of the student’s home country.
• The student’s J-1 subject area has been designated as a desirable skill by the government of the student’s home country (view the Exchange Visitor Skills List for additional information).

Students subject to the 212(e) will find this information reflected on their Form DS-2019 and J-1 visa. 

Consequences of the 212(e)

A person subject to the 212(e) MAY NOT apply for the following U.S. visas until they have fulfilled the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement or obtained a waiver: H-1B temporary worker visa, L visa, K visa, or U.S. permanent residence.

A person subject to the 212(e) MAY apply for the following U.S. visas before fulfilling the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement or obtaining a waiver: F-1 visa, J-1 visa, O-1 visa, B-1/B-2 visa, among others.

212(e) Waiver

Students subject to the 212(e) may request a waiver from the U.S. State Department. Waivers are granted only in certain circumstances, and the Division of International Education is unable to assist J-1 exchange students or scholars with the waiver process.

J-1 visa holders with questions about the 212(e) / Two-Year Home Residency Requirement should contact an exchange student advisor at the Division of International Education.

Students approved to extend their period of study or participate in Academic Training immediately after their SF State studies end will receive a new DS-2019 with extended program dates that meet the duration needed to complete their additional period of study or Academic Training. Please see Academic Training information at Employment section for further information.

If students wish to extend their period of study for an additional semester, they must first speak to an Exchange Advisor no later than April 1, 2024

A J-1 visa holder’s spouse and/or children (21 and under) can accompany them during their program in the United States by entering the country in J-2 dependent status. J-2 dependents may legally remain in the United States as long as the primary (J-1) visa holder maintains legal status. 

What to Know about J-2 Status

Duration: The duration of a J-2 visa holder’s right to remain in the United States may not exceed the length of the associated J-1 visa holder’s program. Additionally, a J-2 visa holder’s right to remain in the United States may be extended if the associated J-1 visa holder’s program is extended. When the associated J-1 visa holder completes their program and leaves the United States, any J-2 dependents must leave as well.

Grace period: Like J-1 visa holders, J-2 visa holders receive a 30-day grace period after the end date on their DS-2019. During the grace period, J-2 visa holders may travel within the United States, but they may not leave and re-enter the United States with their expired DS-2019 immigration documents.

Health Insurance: As with J-1 visa holders participating in a program at SF State, J-2 dependents must purchase and maintain SF State-specified health insurance for the duration of their program.

Employment: J-2 visa holders may be authorized for employment by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for the duration of the associated J-1 visa holders program as indicated on their DS-2019 or a period of four years, whichever is shorter. To work, J-2 dependents must apply for and obtain a Social Security Number. J-2 dependents who work are subject to federal and local income tax. 

J-1 visa holders with questions about J-2 dependents should contact an exchange student advisor at the Division of International Education.