International Programs
J1 Students - Maintaining Status
Benefits of F1 or J1 Status:
Your benefits include the ability to:
- Change to another immigration status;
- Change degree level;
- Change program of study;
- Transfer to another College or University;
- Extend your duration of stay, if more time is needed to complete your degree;
- Request dependents to join or accompany you;
- Obtain employment (under restricted conditions, and only with specific approval);
- Travel outside the U.S. and reenter to continue study.
Eligibility for Benefits:
In order to be eligible for the benefits of your status, you must remain in good legal standing in the United States. To remain legally in the US, you must:
Maintain Key Documents: Always make sure your documents are in order and accurate, especially prior to travel outside the US, and maintain the validity of your passport. If you need assistance in extending your passport, International Student and Scholar Services can give you the address and phone number of your nearest consulate.
Obey DHS Regulations: Always follow the Immigration rules and regulations that apply to your status. For example: you must have the appropriate authorization for any work (paid or unpaid) that you do, and you must not be employed for more than 20 hours a week while classes are in session.
Report Changes: Always update ISSS about changes in your official papers, address, phone number, program of study, admission to another degree program or change of degree level, financial support, health insurance, or marital status.
Maintain Student Status: Your eligibility for opportunities such as employment, transfer from one university to another, and changes in your academic program depend upon maintaining lawful status. When you enter the United States, an immigration inspector asks you to read and sign the statement on the Form I-20 (for F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (for J-1 students). Signature on either document signifies your agreement to abide by the conditions of F-1 or J-1 status while in the United States.
Note: A new immigration law enacted in 1996 creates new penalties for failure to maintain student status. These new penalties make it more important than ever for students to be careful to maintain their F-1 or J-1 status while they are studying in the United States. Since the new rules are so strict (some involve three-year or ten-year ban on entry into the United States), you must stay in close contact with International Student and Scholar Services so that you don't run into problems.
Employment: You may not work on or off campus unless you have specific permission from the DHS or ISSS. There are several types of employment that may be available to you as a benefit of your status. Please refer to Immigration Issues and Employment Regulations for more information. However, please be sure to check with ISSS before considering employment of any kind.
Note: DHS regulations do not necessarily distinguish between paid employment and volunteer work.
Be Enrolled as a Full-Time Student: International students must be enrolled as full-time students at Southern Oregon University as defined below.
Full-Time Status:
Undergraduate Students:
- A minimum of 12 credit hours successfully completed per term. Only one online or distance education course or a total of three online credits (whichever is greater) may be counted toward your full time status.
Graduate Students:
- A minimum of 9 graduate credit hours successfully completed per term. Only one online or distance education course or a total of three online credits (whichever is greater) may be counted toward your full-time status. Graduate students who wish to take an undergraduate class should speak with the International Student Advisor before doing so as this could jeopardize their immigration status.
Post-baccalaureate Students:
- A minimum of 12 credit hours if pursuing a second undergraduate degree.
- A minimum of 9 graduate credit hours if pursuing a graduate degree, at least three of which must be at the graduate level.
- If you choose to WITHDRAW from a course or change the grading option to AUDIT, you MUST consult an international student advisor at ISSS prior to doing so. Reducing your credit load to less than full time may place you out of status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under the January 1, 2003 regulations, failure to maintain the proper number of credits may also result in your having to abandon your studies and return to your home country.
- Do not take too many classes. Give yourself time to adjust to the U.S., to Southern Oregon University, and to your classes. Taking too many classes can result in low grades and high stress. It may also endanger your academic standing and admission to professional programs.
- Listen to your academic and international advisors. Advisors are trained to evaluate students' needs and abilities. Following their advice can mean the difference between a good grade point average and a poor or inconsistent one.
The following marks may affect your visa status:
- AU Audit - You may not audit classes as part of your full-time enrollment.
- F Fail or NP No Pass - If you receive more than one F or NP in a term, it may affect your status.
- I Incomplete - An Incomplete may affect your status.
- NC No Credit - A NC may affect your status, depending on the circumstances.
- W Withdraw - You may not withdraw below full-time enrollment.
- X No Basis for a Grade - An X will always affect your visa status and may jeopardize your full-time enrollment.
If you know you will receive any of the above grades, please make an apointment to see the International Student Advisor as soon as possible.
In order to maintain your student status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, you need to complete the minimum required number of credit hours. This means that if you are an undergraduate, you must successfully complete a minimum of 12 credit hours, and if you are a graduate student you must successfully complete a minimum of 9 credit hours.
Underenrollment is a serious immigration issue and should not be taken lightly. If you have any questions regarding your class credit hours and your immigration status, contact the International Student Advisor.
Students who need to return to their home country and/or leave their program early, should speak to the International Student Advisor immediately. A student who withdraws from classes without permission from OIP must leave the United States immediately. These students are considered to have violated their status; consequently, their SEVIS record is terminated for "withdrawal without approval." Students who receive permission have 15 days in which to depart the country. These students maintain their status, and their SEVIS record reflects an "authorized withdrawal."
Extension of Stay
J-1 students are admitted to the U.S. for a period of stay noted as duration of status or D/S on the I-94 card. Duration of status is defined as the period during which you, as a student, are pursuing a full course of study in any educational program and any periods of authorized practical training, plus 30 days within which to depart from the United States.
J-1 students: For those students with J-1 visa status, a new DS-2019 form must be obtained from your sponsor before your current one has expired. If your program sponsor is Southern Oregon University, you need to establish that you are maintaining full-time student status at SOU and that you have sufficient funds for the extended period. This will need to be verified before a new DS-2019 form is issued.
