How many credit hours must a student complete to maintain full-time status?

Undergraduate

  • 12 credits (Fall/Spring)
  • If Summer is the student'€™s first semester at the University of Florida they must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Graduate

  • 9 credits (Fall/Spring) (Department may require up to 12 credit hours)
  • If Summer is the student's first semester at the University of Florida they must maintain a minimum of 6 credit hours.

What must the student do if they are unable to maintain full-time status?

If there is a legitimate reason (i.e. academic or medical problem), the student should contact a Student Advisor at the International Center for advisement.

How can the student transfer to another school as an F-1?

  • Be admitted to the school where they want to transfer.
  • Contact the International Student Adviser and ask them what is needed in order to transfer the student'€™s SEVIS record to the new school. Please check the Transfer Out form.
  • Once the International Student Advisor has transferred the student's record out, the student should go to the immigration specialist at the new school to finalize the transfer.

Can an F-1 student apply for work permission?

F-1 students are eligible to work on campus up to 20 hours per week without approval from UFIC. An F-1 student may not work off campus. Permission to work off campus may be granted by the Citizen & Immigration Services (USCIS) when there is economic necessity due to unforeseen changes in financial circumstances. One cannot submit a request to USCIS for work off campus until they have completed one academic year of study.

Can the spouse or child on an F-2 visa work?

An F-2 cannot work on or off campus under any condition.

What is the expiration date of the I-94?

Almost every I-94 has an expiration date of D/S. This stands for Duration of Status - period during which the student is pursuing a full-time course of study in any education program. If there is a specific date indicated the student should come to the International Center before that date.

When can the student take a vacation or holiday from their academic study?

Breaks between terms and Spring break are good times to travel for short periods of time.
If the student has maintained full-time status for the Spring term and will have full-time status in the Fall term, then the student can take the entire Summer off.

How can the student visit Canada or Mexico?

The student should first determine if a visa is required for citizens of their country to enter Canada or Mexico. If the student needs a visa, they should contact the nearest Canada/Mexico consulate office well in advance of their planned trip. In some cases, one month is needed to process a visa application.

For a trip less than 30 days in duration the student will need to take these documents:

  • Valid I-94
  • Passport (valid for at least 6 months)
  • I-20 or DS-2019 that has a recent signature for travel.
  • A U.S. visa stamp (does not need to be valid unless it is marked with 212 (d)(3)(28) and is exempt from automatic re-validation).

How can the student have their family join them in America if they have an F-1 visa?

The student'€™s spouse and/or children may be permitted to enter the U.S. on an F-2 visa, which may be obtained with a new I-20. Proof of sufficient financial support for the dependent is required before the request can be approved. Please see I-20 Request.