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Maintenance of Status

As an F-1 or J-1 student, you must meet certain obligations to maintain legal immigration status. Maintaining status is necessary to receive the benefits of F-1 or J-1 status, such as employment and program extension, and can be crucial to a successful application for a change or adjustment of visa status in the future. Failure to maintain your non-immigrant status can result in serious problems. Due to the complexity of U.S. immigration regulations, we recommend that you consult with an advisor at the U-M International Center for details.

Maintaining Legal F-1 or J-1 Status

To maintain lawful status, an F-1 or J-1 student must:

  • Attend the mandatory immigration check-in program at the U-M International Center.
  • Attend the university you are authorized to attend based on your I-20 or DS-2019.
  • Complete immigration school transfer procedure when necessary.
  • Be in good academic standing and make progress towards your academic program.
  • Extend your I-20 or DS-2019 prior to its expiration date if you are unable to complete your academic program by the original expiration date.
  • In the event of change of academic program or level, update your I-20 or DS-2019 in a timely fashion in accordance with immigration regulations.
  • Maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year.
  • Undergraduate students must enroll 12 credit hours per term while graduate students must enroll for 8 credit hours (or number of credit hours defined by the specific graduate program) per term. During any given term in which you have been officially appointed by the department as a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) or Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), you may enroll for 6 credit hours.
    NOTE: The courses you take for “audit” or “visit” do not count toward the full-time enrollment requirement for immigration purposes.
  • Suspension, dismissal, enrollment withheld, expulsion, or any other similar action which prevents enrollment may have effect on legal immigration status. See an advisor at the International Center.
  • Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours per week during academic year.  J-1 students also need written approval for their on-campus employment.
  • May not be employed without specific pre-authorization.
  • Always keep your passport valid. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future on the day you return to the U.S. from a trip abroad.
  • Maintain health insurance coverage.
  • Complete the Departure Form request through M-Passport if you leave your program before the end date of your I-20 or DS-2019.
  • Update your current and permanent address information in Wolverine Access within 10 days of moving.
Health Insurance Requirement

All international students and their accompanying dependents at U-M are required to have health insurance coverage that meets the University's standards. You will be automatically enrolled in the University's Blue Care Network (BCN) International Student/Scholar Health Insurance Plan after you attend the mandatory immigration check-in program. Your insurance coverage will begin on your I-20/DS-2019 program start date (Item 5). If your government or program sponsor is providing you with health insurance, you can apply for a waiver of the mandatory health insurance by submitting an insurance waiver request form and attaching a copy of your health insurance policy. In order for a waiver to be granted, you must apply within 30 days of your check-in and your health insurance coverage must meet specific mandatory standards.

U.S. Health insurance is not an option - it is a requirement.

Travel Outside the U.S. and Reentry

While studying at U-M and traveling outside the United States you need to have proper documents to reenter the United States. These documents include a valid F-1/J-1 visa (the visa sticker in your passport), passport valid 6 months into the future, and your most recent I-20/DS-2019 with a travel signature less than one year old.

Citizens of certain countries, returning from Canada, Mexico and the adjacent islands may be able to re-enter the US with an expired F-1/J-1 visa using Automatic Visa Revalidation.

Employment

U.S. government regulations require international students to be in the U.S. for the primary purpose of attending school. In general, employment in the U.S. is restricted. The following employment possibilities exist for international students:

  • On-campus employment: Limited to 20 hours per week while school is in session and available as full-time during school vacation and holidays. On-campus employment is defined as work done on the premises of the school who issued I-20/DS-2019.
  • Off-campus employment: Under certain conditions you may be eligible for off-campus employment either based on economic need or practical training. You may not begin the employment unless you have received official authorization from the U-M International Center.
Dependents

Dependents are defined as spouse and minor children under 21 years old of the F-1 or J-1 student. Please be aware that each of your dependents will need his/her own I-20 or DS-2019 to obtain an F-2 or J-2 visa at the U.S. embassy/consulate and to enter the United States. F-2 status holders may not accept employment or engage in business under any circumstances.  J-2 status holders may apply for employment authorization.

The F-2 spouse of an F-1 student may not engage in full time study, and the F-2 child may only engage in full-time study if the study is in an elementary or secondary school (kindergarten through twelfth grade). The F-2 spouse and child may engage in study that is avocational or recreational in nature.  J-2 spouse or children may enroll full-time or part-time.

Grace Period

When an F-1 student successfully completes their academic program or Optional Practical Training, there is a 60-day grace period during which the F-1 student and any F-2 dependents may stay in the U.S. During the grace period, a student may not work or reenter the United States in F-1 status.  J-1 students have a similar grace period after their exchange program ends (including any post-completion Academic Training), but it is only for 30 days.

Taxes

In general, international students must file federal tax forms every year that they are in the U.S. The deadlines to file the forms are April 15, if U.S. money is earned (this includes money earned from graduate student assistantships), and June 15, if no U.S. money is earned.

Departure or Transfer Out

If you are planning to permanently depart the U.S., pause your studies while outside the U.S., or transfer to another U.S. higher education institute, you should submit the Departure Form or Transfer Out request before you leave. See Departure & Transfer-Out for more information.

Additional Status Information