Dear F-1/J-1 International Students:

 

The Spring 2016 semester will begin soon 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 exchange students) - 12 credits per

                  semester

•              Graduate students with graduate assistantship - 6 credits per semester

•              Graduate students without graduate assistantship - 9 credits per semester

•                  Exchange students: 12 credits (1000-4000 level courses) or 9 credits (5000- 6000 level courses)

•              JD students - 12 credits

 

Any student registering less than full-time must submit a “Reduced Course Load (RCL) Request Form” to ISSS by the below deadline. The RCL Request Form is available online at http://isss.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2014/10/ISSS_914_RCL_Authorization_Request.pdf

 

If requesting a reduced course load based on FINAL SEMESTER*, the deadline for form submission is Tuesday, January 19, 2016. You must complete Section A and your academic advisor must complete Section C before submitting the form to ISSS. Students who are not at Storrs campus can email the completed form to [log in to unmask] . If approved, you will receive a copy of the form (with ISSS approval indicated) and/or a new Form I-20.

*Note that if you will complete your program in the summer, the spring semester is not considered the final semester.

 

If requesting a reduced course load based on ACADEMIC DIFFICULTY, students may not apply for an RCL until January 28, 2016. Students must attempt a full-time course load before requesting a reduced course load for academic difficulty. This means you must be registered full-time until you have received permission from ISSS to register less than full-time. After completing Section A, you must come see your ISSS Advisor to complete Section B BEFORE having your academic advisor complete SECTION C.

 

**Please note that 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 RCL authorization from ISSS.

 

Remember all international F-1 and J-1 students must have authorization from an ISSS international advisor 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.

 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

 F-1 and J-1 international students who will take a leave of absence (LOA) for the Spring 2016 semester must contact an international advisor at ISSS as soon as possible to discuss the implications of Leave of Absence 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 either studying abroad or pursuing full-time research outside of the U.S. must contact their 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.

 

 

Please contact ISSS if you have any questions at [log in to unmask] . Have a great semester!

 

 

 

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)

                                                   

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

GLOBAL AFFAIRS

2011 HILLSIDE ROAD, U-1083
STORRS, CT 06269-1083
PHONE: 860.486.3855  |  EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
http://isss.uconn.edu