F-1 Transfer Students
Maintaining Your F-1 Status
Employment Opportunities

F-1 Transfer Students

F-1 Transfer for Students Remaining in the United States
If you do not leave the United States before arriving at the University of St. Thomas, your transfer will be processed when you check in with the International Student Office at the University.   Please submit a Foreign Student Advisor’s Report (FSAR) from your previous school within thirty days of completing the latest term at that school. (You may also download the FSAR at the ISO website). Also, bring all previous I-20’s from all other U.S. institutions you have attended. The transfer must be completed by the 15th class day.  It is essential that you identify yourself as a transfer student and speak to the international student advisor before registering for classes. 

F-1 Transfer for Students leaving the United States
If you leave the United States before arriving at the University of St. Thomas, you must enter the United States on the University of St. Thomas I-20.  If your current F-1 visa has not expired, it is NOT necessary for you to go to the U.S. Consulate or Embassy to obtain a new visa or have the name of the school changed on your current visa stamp page.  If your visa has expired and you leave the United States, you will have to apply for a new F-1 visa.  DO NOT enter the United States on a tourist visa. Your I-94 card should state "F-1" and "D/S" (Duration of Status).  If you have an expiration date on your I-94 card, then you should speak to the International Student advisor immediately.

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Maintaining Your F-1 Status

Note: IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW THESE REQUIREMENTS OR FACE POSSIBLE REMOVAL FROM THE UNITED STATES
 

1. Maintain a valid passport at all times.  Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months into the future.
2. Be a full-time student (12 credit hours for undergraduate and 9 hours for graduate) each semester.  Do not drop below these minimum full-time hours without consulting the International Student Advisor first.
3. Never let your I-20 expire.
4. Only attend the school listed on your current and stamped I-20.  To attend another university, you must transfer to that school (obtain approval on a new I-20).
5. Complete an I-20 transfer whenever you change schools.  An I-20 transfer must be completed within 45 days of the beginning of classes of the first semester at the new school.
6. Apply for an extension of your I-20 thirty days before the expiration date.  The extension can only be applied for with International Student Advisor within the 30-day period.
7. Do not work off-campus without first obtaining the proper authorization from the International Student Advisor.  If you work even one day before or after your authorization, you may be in danger of being removed from the U.S.  On-campus work does not require specific authorization, but you must maintain your full-time student status to be authorized.  On-campus work is limited to 20 hours or less per week during the fall and spring and may be full-time (40 hours) during the summer.
8. Visit the International student advisor first if you plan on traveling outside the U.S.  The back of your I-20 must be endorsed before leaving the country.
9. Report a change of address or phone number to the International Student Advisor within 10 days of the change. 

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Option 1: On-Campus Employment
F-1 students may engage in on-campus employment if they do not displace an American worker and as long as it is limited to part-time (20 hours or less per week) during main semesters when school is in session or full-time (more than 20 hours a week) during the summer and official school breaks when school is not in session. Work is limited to employers who are located on campus and provide direct services to students. If you are concurrently enrolled at another campus, you may only work at the campus named on your I-20. Employment may be in any field and is not restricted to your academic major. 

WARNING: Although no specific authorization for on-campus employment is required, you must remember that on-campus employment is contingent on maintaining your full-time student status. For example, if you drop below full-time hours without authorization from our office, your permission to work on-campus is immediately canceled. If you continue to work you are violating U.S. law and may be legally removed from the U.S.

Option 2: Curricular Practical Training (CPT) 
Curricular Practical Training is temporary employment authorization directly related to an F-1 student’s academic program where the work done counts towards course credit.  The work must be required for the degree program or earning credit for the degree program. Curricular Practical Training is only available to F-1 visa students who are and have been lawfully enrolled as a full-time student for at least nine consecutive months and are currently in status. The only exception is graduate students who are required to begin a required practicum or internship immediately.  CPT can be authorized for part-time employment (20 hours a week or less) or full-time employment (more than 20 hours a week).  Authorization for CPT must be renewed each semester that you wish to participate. 

WARNING: Students who accumulate one year or more of full-time CPT are not eligible for Optional Practical Training (a separate program), which is usually authorized after the completion of a degree program.

Option 3: Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization
As an F-1 student, you may be eligible to apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for off-campus employment due to severe economic hardship. Once authorized, this program allows you to work in any kind of job off-campus. 

You are limited to part-time employment (a maximum of 20 hours per week) during the fall and spring semesters. You must also maintain a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters. You can work full-time during the summer or officially recognized school breaks. 

To be authorized, you must prove that you have severe economic hardship that is due to a change in your circumstances that are beyond your control or ability to predict. Authorization is usually granted for one year at a time. If authorized, you will receive an Employment Authorization Card from the INS.

Option 4: Special Student Relief (SSR)
To be eligible for SSR, you must be able to prove to the International Student Advisor that you have economic need and your primary means of financial support comes from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, or Thailand.  If you are from these countries, but the means of your support is from another country, you are not eligible. If your nationality is different, yet your support comes from these countries, you are eligible. 

You must have also become an F-1 student in the U.S. prior to June 10, 1998.  If you arrived in the U.S. as an F-1 student after June 10, 1998 (or changed your status to F-1 after this date), you are not eligible. 

If you are authorized under this program you are eligible to work full-time on or off-campus (more than 20 hours per week) even while school is in session. You may also carry a reduced course load during main semesters. Undergraduate students will be considered full-time by maintaining and completing 6 hours per main semester.  Graduate students are only required to maintain and complete 3 hours.  Separate procedures are used for working full-time on-campus and full-time off-campus. 

You must have employment authorization before beginning to work (including full-time on-campus) and may need your academic departmental approval in order carry a reduced course load. 

Option 5: Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available to F-1 students who are currently in legal status and have been for at least nine consecutive months. 

OPT allows you to work up to 12 months anywhere in the U.S. in a field related to your major and does not require proof of employment. Only one 12-month period of time is granted during your entire academic career as an F-1 student in the U.S. The only exception is if you leave the U.S. for at least a five-month period outside the U.S. in between degree programs.  In this case you are eligible for a new 12-month period after you have once again fulfilled the nine consecutive months of being in legal status. 

Application can be submitted 120 days before completion of your studies.  Since the application process may take up to 90 days and employment cannot begin until you have received an Employment Authorization Card, we recommend that you apply early. Whatever time period is authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot be changed or retrieved once the start date has taken effect, even if you do not use your OPT.

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