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Immigration regulations state that all international students must register for a full course load.
Undergraduate F-1 and J-1 students register for at least 12 credits per term to be at a full course load.
Graduate students must register for at least 9 credits per term or as otherwise approved by an international student advisor.
Immigration Registration: At the start of every term, except summer term, all WOU International students must complete the Immigration Registration online form by the second week of the term. Please use the online form below.
Immigration Registration Form (Online form)
Reduced Course Load or RCL: A student may be eligible to register for less than a full course load if they meet one of the following eligibility requirements. Select the relevant PDF form link from the far right column to download and print the form needed.:The deadline for submitting an RCL form is the first Friday (5 p.m.) of a given term.
| RCL REASON |
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS & LIMITATIONS
|
APPLICATION FORM (PDF)
|
|---|---|---|
|
Graduation Term
| Student is in the final term of their degree program and does not need a full course load to complete. One term limit. |
Requires Academic Advisor signature |
|
1st Term Academic Difficulties
| Student is in the first term of their degree program and is having initial difficulties with English or American teaching methods. One term limit. |
Requires Academic Advisor signature |
|
Improper Course Placement
| Student is having difficulties with a course because they were improperly placed in it and they need to drop the class in order to make constructive academic progress. One term limit. |
Requires Academic Advisor signature |
|
Medical Condition
| Student is having difficulties because they are experiencing physical or psychological issues. |
Requires medical physician or licensed clinical psychologist signature |
Concurrent Enrollment: A student may enroll at WOU and at another SEVIS-approved college or university as long as the total number of credits being taken adds up to a full course load (12 for undergraduates, 9 for graduates). Students must first obtain authorization from an international student advisor at ISSA. After they have completed registration for classes at the other school, they must provide a printout of their course schedule. Once the term is finished, they must submit an official or unofficial transcript showing the course(s) completed over the term. Use this online form to request concurrent enrollment.
Concurrent Enrollment Form (Online form)
Add or Drop Classes: To add or drop WOU classes, use this form.
Add/Drop Course Form (PDF)
Hybrid/Online Course Agreement: If a student would like to take an online course(s) but doing so would be a violation of their immigration status, they may work with the professor of the online course to develop a hybrid course. A hybrid course is one in which the student takes most of the course online but also agrees to meet with the professor a specified number of hours at specified times so that physical presence requirements are established. Complete the following form with your professor to establish a hybrid course and submit it for final approval to an international student advisor.
Hybrid Online Course Verification Form (PDF)
Maintaining immigration status is just as important as maintaining good academic status. Please read and understand the following tips on how to maintain student nonimmigrant status below.
10 Tips on How to Maintain Your Status:
1. Enroll for a full course of study and attend classes every term, except vacation term.
2. Submit the Immigration Registration Form every term, except summer term.
3. Register for only 3 credits of online courses per term unless you register above a full course of study.
4. If needing a Reduced Course Load (RCL), apply BEFORE dropping any classes.
5. Make academic progress and keep your grade point average at 2.00 or higher each term.
6. Tell ISSA before you leave WOU or the U.S. (such as, travel, study abroad, withdrawal, or transfer).
7. Do not start any type of job until you have gained the proper authorization. Check with ISSA first.
8. Update ISSA on any changes in your address (within 10 days of moving), major, or financial situation
9. Keep your immigration documents correct and up-to-date (I-20 or DS-2019, passport, visa, I-94)
10. Check your WOU e-mail at least twice a week for important information.
Reinstatement of Immigration Status: When a student fails to maintain their immigration status, his/her SEVIS record will be terminated. If a student with a terminated record wants to continue studying at WOU, they must apply for reinstatement with USCIS using the I-539 form. Go to www.uscis.gov to find the most up-to-date version of the I-539 form. Also, students must meet with an international student advisor and understand the information in the following PDF.
Reinstatement for F-1 Students (PDF)
Change of Status: Individuals who do not have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency must obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa in order to maintain lawful nonimmigrant student status. Individuals with B-1/2 or F-2 visa status, for example, will violate their visa status if they attempt to enroll in a program of study in the U.S. before they obtain F-1 visa status. If you need to change visa status download the I-539 form at www.uscis.gov and read the information in the following PDF.
Change of Visa Status (PDF)
Other Information: The following resources are additional references for students on maintaining immigration status.
Information about Maintaining Status (PDF)
Maintaining Immigration Status and Related Topics (Power Point)
Information for current students from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Information about SEVIS in your native language: English Arabic Chinese Japanese Korean Spanish
Updates or Changes to Immigration Documents
International students are required to keep all immigration documents up-to-date and current. If a student has a change of name, address, major, program end date on I-20 or DS-2019, new educational level, financial information, number of dependants, or needs a new immigration document, then they must complete the appropriate form below.
Change Address, E-mail or Phone Form (Online form)
Change of Major Form (Online form)
Request for New I-20 or DS-2019 (Online form)
Extend Duration of Program of Study Form (Online form)
Bringing Dependants to the U.S. and Adding Dependents to SEVIS Record (PDF)
Before traveling outside the U.S., students should read and understand all of the information in the following PDF,
Travel Signature: Students must get an updated signature on page 3 of their I-20 or on their DS-2019 every six months if they will travel outside the U.S. If the signature will be more than six months old when reentering the U.S., a new signature will need to be added. Be prepared to turn in your current I-20 or DS-2019, and copies of updated documents after submitting the following online form. This form must be submitted in order to obtain a travel authorization signature.
Travel Authorization Signature on I-20 or DS-2019 Form (Online form)
Check the Following BEFORE Traveling Outside the U.S.:
The expiration date on your passport (and your dependents) must be valid at least six months after the date you plan to re-enter the U.S. Otherwise, make sure to renew it.
The expiration date on your U.S. visa must be valid up to the date you plan to re-enter. Otherwise, you must apply for a visa renewal while abroad. But, when you travel to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands for under 30 days, you may re-enter with an expired visa and it will be automatically revalidated.
The date of the travel authorization signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 must not be older than six months from the day when your re-enter the U.S.
Review detailed information on immigration documents here.
Vacation Term: Students may take a vacation term every summer term and/or after they have completed three consecutive terms of full-time study. When students plan to take a vacation term during fall, winter or spring term, they must fill out the following form. Meet with an international student advisor if you began taking classes in winter, spring or summer and need a vacation term.
Vacation Term Notice Form (PDF)
Students who plan to transfer to another SEVIS-approved school must read this Transfer Out Information link and submit the form below.
Transfer Out Form (Online form)
Departure from WOU - Graduation, Withdrawal and Leave of Absence
Go to the Departure Page.
Students must inform the ISSA office if they will depart WOU either permanently or temporarily. The Departure Page has information about students' responsibilities when leaving WOU. Depending on the reason, leaving can have a major impact on students' academic and immigration status.
All departing students must submit the Departure Notice form (Online form)
Go to the Employment Page.
Employment regulations are very complex. The Employment Page has information about the process of finding a job, applying for on-campus work permission, getting a Social Security Number, and applying for off-campus work authorization, Optional Practical Training, Curricular Practical Training, and Academic Training.
Students may request that an ISSA advisor write various types of letters for them, such as: recommendation for a visa renewal, verification of academic status, verification of current address, verification of immigration status, or invitation for family members to come to the U.S.
Letter Request Form (Online form)
Invitation for Family Members Visa Request Form and Information (PDF)
Emergency Contact and Information Release Form (PDF)
DMV and Drivers License Information (PDF)
List of Academic Advisors (PDF)
Local Schools in the Monmouth/Independence Area (PDF)
List of Immigration Lawyers (PDF)
Maps of Campus and Monmouth/Independence
For detailed information regarding these forms, look for the relevant section title above.
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International Students and Scholars Affairs ph:503-838-8425 fax:503-838-8338 | or e-mail: global@wou.edu
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