International Student & Scholar Services
COVID-19 Temporary Enrollment Guidance
On April 26, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security has issued a broadcast message that international students in F-1 status may continue to follow the March 2020 guidance that will remain in effect for the 2021-2022 academic year. All students are still required to maintain a full course of study unless a Reduced Course Load has been authorized by their DSO. NOTE: This is temporary guidance and is subject to change.

Summer or Fall 2021 In-country Transfer Students (previously enrolled at another U.S. institution)
  • may take all online classes or blended/hybrid courses as long as they were on an active F-1 visa within the U.S. in March 2020

Initial “New” Students arriving in the United States for the first time in Summer or Fall 2021
  • must enroll in at least one face-to-face/hybrid course within their full course of study during their first semester in the United States. After their first semester enrolled in classes in the United States, they will be able to enroll in all online courses while the COVID-19 regulations are in effect.

Returning and Continuing Students within the United States 
  • can temporarily engage in courses that are all online or a combination of online and hybrid/face-to-face

Continuing Students outside the United States
  • can temporarily engage in all online classes in their home country while maintaining their F-1 status.
Credit Hour Requirements

International students in F-1 and J-1 status must register for and complete a full course load each semester (not including summer). Students who drop below a full course-load without international student advisor approval will be reported to SEVIS. If this occurs, your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will lose your F-1 or J-1 status, including employment eligibility and benefits. For immigration purposes, full-time enrollment (during fall and spring semester) is defined as:

  • Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours (4 courses)

  • Graduate students: 9 credit hours (3 courses)

  • Graduate students with a graduate assistantship: 6 credit hours (2 courses)

Summer enrollment is optional unless it is your first or last semester. Full-time summer enrollment is 3 credit hours and it cannot be an online course if it's your first or last semester (except while COVID-19 immigration guidance is in effect).

NOTE: In order to maintain your immigration status, you cannot be enrolled only in UNIV 500 to meet full course of study, as this enrollment is only used for administrative purposes and is not given for credit. If you have applied for OPT, and choose to enroll in UNIV 500 you will incur a Health Service charge as well as the administrative fee for each semester you are only enrolled in UNIV 500.

There are limited circumstances in which a reduced course load is okay. Visit Reducing Your Course Load for information.

Regularly updated enrollment requirements can be found on our website. If you have any questions about COVID-19 enrollment guidance, please email ISSS at isss@siue.edu.
Office of International Affairs
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Student Success Center, Room 0300
Phone: 618.650.3785
Email: isss@siue.edu