Dear F-1/J-1 International Students:
The Spring 2014 semester has now begun and this is
a reminder that all F-1 and J-1 international students must be registered for a full course load every semester. Full time status is defined as follows:
•
Undergraduate students (including undergraduate study abroad exchange students) -
12 credits per semester
•
Graduate students with graduate assistantship -
6 credits per semester
•
Graduate students without graduate assistantship (including graduate study abroad and Law School exchange
students) - 9 credits per semester
•
JD students -
12 credits
**Please note that:
(1)
your full-time enrollment must be
in your field of study and commensurate with your level of education.
(2)
continuing registration courses (a.k.a. 0 credit courses) are not considered full-time enrollment
for international students to maintain their full-time study. These courses are available only for those F-1/J-1 graduate students who are in their last semester and have received prior approval from International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).
If students are not enrolled full-time after the
10th day of classes (February 3, 2014) without official approval from ISSS, their immigration status will be terminated. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
All students MUST have full-time enrollment until authorization from ISSS is given to drop below full-time.
LAST SEMESTER:
Students in their last semester of study may be eligible
to take a reduced course load. If it is your final semester and you feel that you are eligible, you must submit a “Reduced Course Load (RCL) Request Form” to ISSS
by February 3, 2014. The RCL Request Form is available online at www.isss.uconn.edu > FORMS AND RESOURCES > FORMS.
Students will fill out Section A of the form.
An international advisor at ISSS will fill out Section B of the form and give it to you to take to your academic advisors, who will must fill out Section C the form and sign-off on the reduced course load. After all
sections are completed, the ISSS advisor will assess the information provided on completed RCL Request Form and determine if students are eligible to register for less than a full-time course load based on the last semester.
ACADEMIC DIFFICULTY:
Students in their first semester may be eligible for
a reduced course load if there are academic difficulties related to initial adjustment to English language, U.S. teaching methods, or reading requirements. Students must first attempt to study full-time and must maintain full-time enrollment until Immigration
Services approves the Reduced Course Load authorization. Reduced Course Load requests for academic difficulty will only be accepted and assessed AFTER the 10th day of the semester. Students must receive approval from Immigration Services
before dropping below full-time.
Students will fill out Section A of the form.
An international advisor at ISSS will fill out Section B of the form and give it to you to take to your academic advisors, who will must fill out Section C the form and sign-off on the reduced course load. After all
sections are completed, the ISSS advisor will assess the information provided on completed RCL Request Form and determine if students are eligible to register for less than a full-time course load based on academic difficulty.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
F-1 and J-1 international students who will be taking
a leave of absence (LOA) for the spring 2014 semester need to contact an international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the LOA implications on their F-1/J-1 status and their SEVIS records.
STUDY / RESEARCH ABROAD:
All F-1 and J-1 international students who will be
pursuing full-time research outside of the U.S. must contact an international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the requirements to maintain F-1/J-1
status and their SEVIS record while outside of the U.S.
REGIONAL CAMPUS STUDENTS:
If you are a student at a regional campus and cannot come to Storrs to submit your Reduced Course Load request form, please e-mail your International Advisor as soon as possible to make arrangements to complete the Reduced Course Load paperwork. The International Advisor for regional campus students is Rae Barter, [log in to unmask] . The same deadlines for registering and applying for a Reduced Course Load apply to regional campus as to Storrs campus students, with the exception of the Law School, which carries a January 31st add/drop deadline for LLM students. All LLM students must have a full course of study by January 31st, unless they have received authorization from ISSS to take a reduced course load.
Remember that all international F-1 and J-1
students must see an International Advisor at ISSS BEFORE dropping below a full course of study. It is a status violation to drop below full-time study as an international F-1/J-1 student before authorization is granted. Dropping below full-time enrollment
without authorization will lead to termination of status.
Please contact ISSS if you have any questions.
Best,
International
Student & Scholar Services
Office
of Global Affairs
University
of Connecticut
2011
Hillside Road, Unit 1083
Storrs,
CT 06269-1083
phone-(860)
486-3855
fax-(860)486-5800
***************************************
*
To schedule an appointment with an immigration Services advisor please visit
www.advapp.uconn.edu
and select Immigration Services
**
Visit our new website -
http://isss.uconn.edu