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Full Course of Study

To maintain your status as an F-1 or M-1 student in the United States, you must enroll in a full course of study at the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school where a designated school official (DSO) issued you the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” you used to enter into the United States.

The definition of a full course of study varies depending on both your status (F-1 or M-1) and the program of study you attend. For instance, U.S. government regulations define a full course of study at an SEVP-certified kindergarten to grade 12 school differently than at an SEVP-certified college or university.

To help better understand the definition of a full course of study, below is a breakdown according to status and program of study.

Full course of study requirements for F-1 and M-1 students at K-12 schools

  • F-1 students at a private academic school or public academic high school (grades 9-12) must meet the minimum number of hours per week their school determines is necessary for normal progress toward graduation or completion of the program of study.
  • M-1 students at a vocational or other non-academic high school must meet the minimum number of hours per week that their school determines is necessary for normal progress toward graduation or completion of the program of study.

If you are an F-1 or M-1 student at a K-12 school and do not know how many hours per week fulfill your school’s requirement for normal progress toward graduation or completion of the program of study, talk to your DSO. Your DSO will know how many hours of class you need to attend each week and can tell you if your class schedule meets the requirement.

Full course of study requirements for post-secondary programs

 

 

 

 

Related Tags: Status

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