Enrollment and the SEVIS record
F-1 status depends on full-time enrollment and a valid record in SEVIS, which your school's designated school official maintains. Dropping below a full course load, taking an unapproved break, or changing programs without updating the record can all create problems. Transfers between schools need to be handled through SEVIS in the right order, and rules on changing programs have been in flux, so check with the school before making any change. In recent years some students have seen their records terminated with little warning, and a terminated record calls for prompt advice rather than waiting. A rule replacing the open-ended admission period with a fixed one was finalized but has been held up in court, so where these rules stand should be checked before you plan around them.
Work: what is allowed and when
On-campus work is generally allowed within limits while school is in session. Off-campus work usually requires authorization, either through Curricular Practical Training, which has to be part of your program, or Optional Practical Training, which requires an application to USCIS and an approved work card before you begin. Students in qualifying STEM fields may be able to extend OPT with an eligible employer. Unauthorized work is one of the most serious status violations for students, and questions often come up about unpaid internships that function as jobs and about remote work for clients abroad. Ask the international office and, if needed, a lawyer before accepting anything unusual.
If status is already in trouble
Options for a student who has fallen out of status can include an application for reinstatement with USCIS, or in some situations leaving and returning with a new form. Each carries different risks, and the right choice depends on what went wrong and when. Keep your I-20s, transcripts, employment authorization cards, and any messages from the school. After a program or an OPT period ends, there is usually a limited grace period to leave, transfer, or change status. In our first conversation, we look at the timeline of the problem, your current SEVIS status, and your plans after graduation. We explain the options honestly without telling you how USCIS will rule.
