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S5 Blog: Staying in F-1 Status Term by Term: Attendance, Full-Time Load and On-Site Sessions
Quick answer. Each term, stay full-time, attend every class and on-site session, keep your grades on track, and work only within the CPT on your I-20. Ask your DSO and us before changing any of these.
On-site sessions are required. Add the dates to your calendar as soon as they're published and tell your employer early. If you can't attend one, ask your school before the date.
Moved? Report your new address to your school within 10 days.
Passport expiring? Renew it early and send the school a copy.
I-20 updates: the school reissues your I-20 when something changes. Check, sign and keep every version.
Records to keep: every I-20 (with CPT pages), your I-94, CPT agreements and offer letters, pay stubs, transcripts and attendance records. They matter if USCIS later reviews your F-1 history, for example on an H-1B petition.
Grades slipping? Talk to your academic advisor now. Academic dismissal ends your I-20 at the school.
Next step: before you skip, drop, move or change jobs, reply to our email first.
On-site sessions are required. Add the dates to your calendar as soon as they're published and tell your employer early. If you can't attend one, ask your school before the date.
Moved? Report your new address to your school within 10 days.
Passport expiring? Renew it early and send the school a copy.
I-20 updates: the school reissues your I-20 when something changes. Check, sign and keep every version.
Records to keep: every I-20 (with CPT pages), your I-94, CPT agreements and offer letters, pay stubs, transcripts and attendance records. They matter if USCIS later reviews your F-1 history, for example on an H-1B petition.
Grades slipping? Talk to your academic advisor now. Academic dismissal ends your I-20 at the school.
Next step: before you skip, drop, move or change jobs, reply to our email first.