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Maintaining Lawful F and J Status

Notifying the ISO of Physical Address

All new students must provide a physical address (not just a post office box) to the International Student Office within 15 days of arrival on campus.

Change of Address

Please report any change of address to the International Student Office within 10 days of the change by filling out the online ISO-SEVIS update form available through the ISO Web link.  (The ISO will report the change to the U.S. government through the SEVIS system.) 

Note that even if you are changing rooms or apartments in the same building, you must report a change of address.
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In addition to notifying the ISO of an address change, you must also notify directly the following departments and agencies:

• Registrar (you may provide a postal box number, rather than a physical address, if you prefer)
• Human Resources (if you are employed)
• U.S. Postal Service
• Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles (PennDOT)
• Any utility companies or businesses/agencies from whom you expect important mail.

Full Course Load and Reduction of Course Load Below Full-time Status

• F-1 students must be enrolled full-time, which here at Gannon University means with 12 credits for undergraduates and 9 credits for graduate students. J-1 students must be enrolled full-time, or with a course load that is in accordance with the terms of their exchange agreement. International students must not drop below the full-time load without first consulting the ISO.
• F-1 students may reduce their course load for certain academic reasons, but must first consult with the ISO. In these instances, students may not work on campus during the semester in which the RCL is authorized.
• F-1 students may reduce their course load in the last semester of their degree work, provided they seek permission from the ISO to do this BEFORE the beginning of the semester in which the course load will be reduced. Students with an RCL for the last semester may continue to work on campus.
• F-1 students may also reduce their course load in the event of a medical condition which can be documented. Students must work with the ISO in order to receive this authorization. Students with a medical RCL may not continue to work on campus.
• International F-1 and J-1 students in RCL with Gannon University health insurance will continue to receive coverage for the semester in which the course load is reduced.
• Continuing F-1 and J-1 students are are not required to register for classes during the summer session. New students, however, must register for a full course load if the summer session is the first semester of the degree program.
• Audited classes and classes in which you are completing work on a grade assignment of Incomplete from the previous semester do not count toward the full course load requirement; classes taken "pass/fail" do.
• SPECIAL NOTE FOR F-1 and J-1 GRADUATE STUDENTS REGISTERING FOR CLASSES IN THE DAHLKEMPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (DSBA): You must register for at least one to two classes in each 10-week session for a total of 9 credits each semester (two consecutive 10-week sessions). You must register for all courses in each of the two semester's sessions at the beginning of the semester.
• All F-1 and J-1 students seeking a Reduced Course Load must complete an RCL form, available online and in the ISO, have it signed by the Academic Advisor, and submit it before dropping below the full course load.

Distance/Online Learning

• F-1 students may not take more than one course or 3 credits of on online or distance learning toward fulfillment of the full course load requirement.
• F-1 students may not take the final 3 credits of the final semester as online or distance learning (please see ISO staff regarding this issue if you have questions).
• F-1 and J-1 students may take one online course in either of the 10-week sessions offered by the DSBA so long as they take 6 credits of classroom-based credits during the semester.

Program Extensions for F-1s and J-1s

• F-1 and J-1 students who have maintained their lawful immigration status and are making progress toward the completion of a degree or program of study, but who are unable to complete studies by the end date on the I-20/DS-2019, may apply for an extension any time BEFORE the end date on the I-20 or DS-2019. 
• You MAY NOT request a program extension after the end date on your I-20/DS-2019.

Lawful Transfer Process

• F-1 transfer students must be able to begin classes within 5 months of transferring out of the current school or within 5 months of the program completion date on the I-20 (whichever comes first).
• You must request from your current school a "Transfer Out" in SEVIS, and this must be completed within the 60-day grace period following completion of your studies at the first institution. F-1 transfer students should proceed through the transfer process with guidance and support  from the immigration advisors at both institutions.
• J-1 transfer students should work closely with each of the sponsoring agencies to ensure that a transfer is completed in a timely manner.

F-1 On-Campus Employment

• F-1 students may work on campus without special authorization from the ISO, but not in excess of 20 hours in any given week while school is in session for fall and spring semesters. F-1 students may work on campus up to 40 hours a week during breaks and the summer semester. For more information regarding employment in general, as well as a list of employers considered "on-campus," please see the following link: Employment.
• Gannon University allows students to work only 10 hours maximum in college budget work-study positions. Students may, however, work up to 20 hours with special project funding or a combination of 10 hours work-study and 10 hours special project funding.
• All students, regardless of immigration status, who are sponsored by a governmental agency may not work on campus with college budget work-study funding, but they may work with special project funding.

J-1 On-Campus Employment

J-1 students must request and be granted written permission to work on campus before beginning work.

F and J Off-Campus Employment Options

Please see the following link for more information, and arrange to meet with an ISO staff member to discuss important details: Employment.

Valid Passport
Keep your passport valid at all times and dated to expire at least six months into the future. You may renew or revalidate your passport inside the U.S. at your home country Embassy or Consulate, but you should make arrangements to do this well in advance of the passport expiration.

Valid I-20/DS-2019
Keep your student status forms valid at all times by reporting any errors, as well as changes to name, major, degree level, length of program, or source of financial support. Remember to read through the regulations that are part of the full form, and to sign and date the form as an acknowledgement that you have reviewed the form, confirm its accuracy, and will abide by the rules stated. Changes to report include changes of name, program major, finances, program end date, etc.

Report Any Plans to Withdraw, Transfer, Take a Leave of Absence, Cease Enrollment
You must notify the ISO before you end your studies, if it is before the end date on your status form. Once permission

J-1 Notice to ISO for Completion of Studies
J-1 students must report the end date for completion of studies and depart the country by the end of the grace period of 30 days.