Rules for Maintaining a Full-Time Course Load
Federal regulations require that students in F-1 and J-1 status be registered for a full-time course load each Fall and Spring semester until graduation. Failure to be registered as a full-time student is a violation of your non-immigrant status, will result in the loss of F-1 or J-1 benefits (including employment eligibility both on and off campus), and may subject you to federal immigration sanctions.
What constitutes a full-time course load varies according to academic level:
Academic
Level Minimum |
Full
Time Course Load: |
Exchange
Students: |
12
credits per semester |
Undergraduates: |
12
credits per semester |
Graduate
Master's Level 1: |
12
credits per semester |
Graduate
Master's Level 2 (completion of at least 24 credits): |
9
credits per semester |
Graduate Master's students
who need only thesis or project to complete their program:
*1 credit or more per semester, certified full-time by department.
Graduate PhD students: 9 credits per semester
Graduate PhD students admitted to candidacy or who are doing pre-dissertation or dissertation research: *1 credit per semester of dissertation research or other course required by the department that can be certified as full-time.
*students with GA, TA, Or RA funding who have completed all course work requirements are required to register for 9 credits.
There are some very limited exceptions to the full course of study rule. These reasons include: academic difficulty, medical condition, or completion of study, and there are strict criteria for each. All of these exceptions require documentation and must be approved in advance by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services before you drop courses that reduce your schedule to less than full-time. For complete details, see http://isss.binghamton.edu/imm/reasonforlesscourse.htm
Special Note for Graduate Students: Graduate students (both master's and PhD) who register for thesis, project, pre-dissertation, dissertation or other course rubrics that are eligible to be certified as full time even though the number of credits will be below the normal full-time course load do not need special permission from the ISSS for a reduced course load. Instead, such students should submit the Graduate School's "Certification of Full-Time Status for Students Not Receiving Tuition Scholarships" form each semester to their department for filing with the Graduate School. This form may be downloaded at: http://gradschool.binghamton.edu/documents/FTCForm.pdf
Course "700" for graduate students, also known as "Continuous Registration"
Graduate international students who are in the United States and are close to completing their graduation requirements are strongly advised not to register for 700 or continuous registration. Such a course cannot be certified as full time, and could result in your being in violation of your F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status. Instead, be sure to consult with your department for an alternative course choice that can be certified as full-time.
August 2003