F-1: Maintain F-1 Status Requirements > International Student & Scholar Services

F-1: Maintain F-1 Status Requirements

It is important to maintain your F-1 status to ensure a successful stay in the United States. During your time as an F-1 student, there are some regulations you will need to adhere to in order to maintain your F-1 status and to be eligible for future benefits.

Most important ways of maintaining your F-1 status:

Maintain a valid Passport
Submit updated visa or passport to ISSS Portal
Update your local/U.S. address within 10 days of a change
Enroll Full-Time for - 12 credits for undergraduates (of which at least 9 must be in-person) and 9 credits for graduate students (of which at least 6 credits must be in-person)
- If only one course is needed to complete your program of study, the final course cannot be a fully online course
Do not work without permission
Do not overstay your F-1 status

For instructions on how to update your ISSS portal with any address changes, documentation updates or any other personal information changes you can click on our “Personal Information Updates” tab on this website.