Maintaining F-1 Status
All F-1 international students need to maintain their immigration status throughout their program as well as through the OPT/STEM OPT periods if applicable. Failure to maintain status can result in the termination of the F-1 SEVIS record.
Enrollment Requirements
Students must be enrolled full-time throughout the academic year in their program with minimal exceptions (see the Reduced Course Load page for additional information). Per SEVP, students are only allowed to take 1 online class per full-time course load, the rest of the courses must be listed as in-person in the EMU Catalog. Any additional online classes taken over the full-time threshold will not be counted against the student.
- Undergraduate Students: Must take a minimum of 12 credits each semester, with at least 9 credits being in-person
- Graduate Students: Must take a minimum of 8 credits each semester, with at least 5 credits being in-person
- ESL Students: Must take a minimum of 18 credits each semester, no online classes allowed
If a student drops below the full-time minimum or isn’t taking enough in-person courses, an advisor from OISS will email the student to correct the issue. Students will have three days to correct their enrollment or OISS will terminate their SEVIS record.
Address Information
Students must keep an updated valid U.S. address on file at all times. When you move, you will need to update this information within 10 days of the move. If you leave the country during the summer vacation, please update your new address once you return for the Fall semester.
To change your address:
- Go into your my.emich account
- Find the Student Academic Services tab
- Select Your Personal Info
- Select Update Addresses and Phones
- Select Local Mailing Address from the drop-down menu at the bottom of the screen
- Enter the address information and telephone number (the phone number will not roll over from your previous submission) and select Submit
For On-Campus Addresses:
- Enter the room number and name of the hall on Address Line 1 (example: 99 Brown Hall)
- Leave Address Lines 2 and 3 blank
- Enter Ypsilanti as the City
- Enter Michigan as the State
- Enter 48197 as the Zip Code
- Enter phone number (if applicable)
For Off-Campus Addresses
- Enter the building or house number along with the name of the street and apartment number, if applicable (example: 123 Main St, Apt #1)
- Leave Address Lines 2 and 3 blank
- Enter the correct City
- Enter the correct State
- Enter the correct Zip Code
- Enter phone number (if applicable)
Vacation Periods
At Eastern Michigan University, the academic year consists of the Fall and Winter Semesters which typically run from late August through late April. The Summer semester is considered a vacation term for all continuing students, so enrollment is optional. The above enrollment requirements will not be counted during this term unless the student begins their studies at EMU during the summer semester. Continuing students who also choose to take guest classes during the summer do not need to apply for concurrent enrollment.
Re-Entry into the U.S.
Every time a student reenters the U.S. they should always pull their most Recent I-94 from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website. Occasionally, a student may be processed with the wrong visa type, which can cause issues with their immigration status. If a student pulls their I-94 and it is incorrect they should come and speak to an OISS advisor during drop-in hours.
Students should also ensure that they have a valid travel signature that will be no older than 12 months from the time of re-entry (6 months for those on OPT/STEM)
Updated Immigration Documents
It is a student's responsibility to ensure that all of their documents are up to date and accurate at all times.
- Passport: Must be valid 6 months into the future at all times. OISS does not require a copy of your updated passport if you renew it.
- Visa: Must only be valid at the time of entry into the U.S. May otherwise expire while the student remains in the U.S.
- I-20 with a valid travel signature.
If a student decides to change their major, OISS will send the information to SEVIS, but will not automatically send the student a new I-20. If you require an updated I-20 you will need to submit a Travel Signature request.
OPT/STEM Extension
Students who are now on Post-Completion OPT or the STEM OPT Extension still have certain reporting requirements that they must adhere to maintain status. Please review the information on the appropriate page in the Employment section to ensure that you are properly maintaining your status while on OPT/STEM.