Maintaining Status

"Status" is doing what you are authorized to do while you are in the United States based on the immigration category on which you entered.

The following statements are general rules to follow to maintain your F-1 status.

Carry evidence of [immigration] status at all times. We recommend carrying copies of your passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019 and your most recent I-94. You can get your most recent I-94 at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home.

Pursue a full course of study while at Kansas State University during each Fall and Spring semester except during official school breaks, or unless approved under a specific exception, in advance, by your international advisor. Summer enrollment is only required if it is the first or last semester of enrollment at K-State. Always visit with an ISSS advisor BEFORE dropping courses if it takes you below the required minimum number of credit hours.

Report a change of address to the ISSS Office within 10 days of the change, so that SEVIS can be updated. Please enter the new address in KSIS. J-1 students must also email isss@ksu.edu with the new address.

Do not work off campus without authorization and do not work on campus for more than 20 hours per week while school is in session.

Get a travel signature on your current I-20 if you are traveling outside the country. The ISSS Office normally requires (2-3) business day to process travel signature requests, however the time frame is subject to change. ISSS will always send out an email on the isc-listserv when these processing times are changed.

Be aware of the end date listed on your I-20. If you will not complete your program before the end date listed, you must request an extension with the ISSS Office BEFORE your document expires.

After you successfully complete your degree, F-1 students have a 60 day grace period to stay in the U.S. It is your responsibility to inform the ISSS Office of your plans (i.e. continuing studies, applying for work authorization, returning home, etc.)

Always read emails from the ISSS Office. We will only email your K-State email account concerning any potential issues or problems with your immigration status.

Failure to maintain status means that the F-1 student has violated a requirement of the regulation governing the F-1 visa category. Some examples of failure to maintain status include dropping from full-time to part-time enrollment without prior approval from the ISSS Office, attending a school other than the one a student is authorized to attend, failure to apply for a timely transfer or I-20 extension, unauthorized employment and failure to report a change of address.

If a student fails to maintain status, the student would be reported to the U.S. immigration authorities, via SEVIS, and he or she would be out of status. The student may apply to USCIS for reinstatement if the violation resulted from circumstances beyond his or her control. Reinstatements are intended to be a rare benefit for exceptional cases. The student may not apply for reinstatement under any circumstances if he or she is out of status longer than five months. If immigration does not reinstate the student, he or she may not appeal that decision.