Rights and Responsibilities Part 2

Registration, Attendance, and Course of Study Requirements

Registration and Attendance - You must register for and complete a "full course of study" each fall, spring, and summer semester at Cambridge College. Undergraduate students must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits and 8 credits for graduate students each semester. F-1 students can enroll in one (or 3 credit) on-line or distance education course per semester.

You may take a reduced course load only with prior permission from the ISO and only due to extreme circumstances. You may take a reduced course load without permission only during your last semester of study. Failure to be certified full-time in a timely manner will jeopardize your immigration status.

Registration Exceptions

There are some circumstances that permit a reduced course of study, such as illness or needing fewer than full-time status in your final semester in order to graduate. Before registering for a part-time course load or dropping below full-time, an F-1 student must obtain prior authorization from an ISO advisor. Registering for a part-time course load or dropping below full-time without prior authorization from the ISO will immediately jeopardize your immigration status. If you are considering reducing your course load you must make an appointment with your ISO advisor to discuss your situation prior to dropping below full-time. You must resume a "full course of study" in the following semester unless you obtain renewed authorization by the ISO advisor for medical reasons.

Length of Time You May Remain in the United States on your Cambridge College Form I-20

Your Form I-20 is issued for the expected duration of your program of study. F-1 students admitted to the U.S. generally receive a "D/S" notation on their Form I-94 Arrival/Departure card, indicating permission to remain in the U.S. for "duration of status". The duration of F-1 status ends as soon as the student's Form I-20 expires or as soon as the student completes his or her program of study, whichever is sooner.

If you need more time to complete your studies than allowed by your Form I-20, you must contact the ISO before the expiration date (see the date indicated in Item #5 of your Form I-20) to request an extension. Before completing your program of study, you may want to make an appointment with an ISO advisor to discuss options for extending your lawful status in the U.S.

Change of Address

If you move within the United States, DHS must be informed of your change of address within 10 days of your move. To ensure timely notification, please email the ISO at anna.shanley@cambridgecollege.edu with your student ID and new address information. The change of address will then be forwarded automatically to DHS through your record in SEVIS and updated with the Registrar's Office.

Since a change of address notification is required for all non-immigrants and since SEVIS only permits one U.S. address, F-2 dependents who maintain a U.S. address different than that of the F-1 student must notify the ISO and DHS of their address by filing Form AR-11. Effective January 2007, Form AR-11 can be completed electronically at: http://www.uscis.gov/AR-11. If you choose to mail the AR-11, we recommend using Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested as proof that you have submitted the form. Please contact ISO if you have any questions.

Dependents and Other Family Members

If you are married and/or have children, you may be eligible to have your spouse (husband or wife) and/or children (under the age of 21) visit you temporarily or join you for the duration of your studies. Under federal immigration regulations, dependent spouses and children who accompany or follow-to-join an F-1 student must each be issued an independent Form I-20 in order to apply for an F-2 dependent visa. F-2 dependents are allowed to remain in the U.S. as long as the F-1 student maintains legal F-1 status. They may not engage in any form of employment. F-2 spouses may not engage in any full-time study or part-time study leading toward a degree and an F-2 child may only study full-time in elementary or secondary school (kindergarten through 12th grade). F-2 dependents must be approved by the USCIS for change to F-1 status before commencing full-time study at the college level.

If other members of your family (parents, siblings, etc.) wish to visit you temporarily, the ISO will be pleased to issue a Letter of Invitation to assist with their applications for visitor visas.

Please contact the ISO for more information about adding dependents.

Travel

We encourage you to contact the ISO anytime you plan to travel outside of the U.S. This is particularly important as regulations and practices concerning reentry into the United States continue to change. Many students now experience significant difficulties and delays in applying for visas at U.S. embassies or consulates. When you return to the U.S. after travel abroad, you should bring your passport, Form I-20 and Form I-94 to the ISO so that we may update your file. Immigration regulations require that we maintain current copies of your passport and immigration documents.

Travel Within the U.S. - You may travel within the U.S. provided you maintain your lawful F-1 status and have a valid passport, Form I-20, and Form I-94 in your possession.

Travel Outside the U.S. before Completion of Studies - You may leave the U.S. at any time. You are permitted to return in F-1 status if you have a valid passport, valid F-1 visa stamp and a current Form I-20 that has been signed for travel on page 3 by an authorized staff member at the ISO. Only a Designated School Official (DSO) at the ISO is authorized to sign a Form I-20. A travel signature is valid for one year except for travel to Canada , Mexico and adjacent islands, in which case the signature is valid for six months.

Travel Outside the U.S. after Completion of Studies - The date you officially complete your studies is very important to your ability to travel and re-enter the U.S. If you attempt to return to the U.S. in F-1 status after your completion date, you may be denied the right to re-enter the U.S. unless you have been authorized to engage in Optional Practical Training and have received your Employment Authorization Document and obtained a written offer of employment in your field of study.

Any physical absence from the United States for a period of 5 months or more may affect your eligibility for Optional Practical Training or other opportunities for off-campus employment. Please discuss this with your ISO advisor in an appointment before finalizing your travel plans or leaving the United States.

Contact an ISO advisor for more information about a leave of absence.

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