To maintain F-1 status, international students must be enrolled in a full course of study each fall and spring semester (summer enrollment is optional if it is not your first semester). 

Undergraduate full-time enrollment is 12 credits hours and Graduate full-time is 9 credits hours. Part-time undergraduate borders commuters must be enrolled for at least 6 hours and part-time graduate border commuters for at least 3 hrs. 

There are only certain reasons which U.S. Immigration will accept for enrolling less than full-time. The acceptable reasons are listed below. For any semester in which you are enrolled less than full-time, please complete the following form, and have your academic advisor submit the recommendation if the advisor feels that you have a valid Immigration reason. 

Please note that immigration regulations do not consider financial difficulties a valid reason for enrolling less than full-time.