Office of International Programs

 New students need to visit the Apply For Visa page in order to obtain F-1 status.

Students who are currently in the US on an F-1 visa and wish to transfer to or from App State should visit the Transfer page.

F-1 students must do the following to maintain their legal immigration status: 

• Maintain full-time enrollment 

  • 12 credits for undergraduates 

  • 9 credit for graduates

  • 18 clock hours for AppELS

    • Exceptions: 
      • Students may be enrolled in less than full-time during their final semester. 
      • To request an exception for special circumstances such as medical issues, lanugage difficulties, or other, contact issso@appstate.edu to discuss a Reduced Course Load. 
    • Holds: ISSSO puts a hold on the account of international students to prevent students from dropping below this minimum.  To discuss this hold, contact issso@appstate.edu 
    • Academic Probation: Students must make normal academic progress toward completing their degree; if a student is on Academic Probation for consecutive semesters, they jeopardize their F-1 student status.

• Maintain an accurate and up to date I-20

  • Students should review their I-20 every semester to ensure all information is accurate

  • Program End Date

    • If a student plans to complete their program earlier than indicated on the I-20 Program End Date, contact issso@appstate.edu 

    • If a student requires additional time to complete their program, they must apply for a Program Extension before their current program End Date.   See that application once it has been started at issso.appstate.edu

  • Major

    • If a student changes or adds a major or minor, contact issso@appstate.edu  

  • Institution and Level

    • If a student wishes to transfer to another university, they must complete a Transfer Out Application

    • If a student wishes to continue at App State in a different degree level (for example, change from Bachelor’s to Master’s), contact issso@appstate.edu  

• Maintain AppalNet account 

  • Students must update their AppalNet  within 10 days with any changes of the following: 

    • Local address or Residence Hall address

    • Phone Number

• Work with proper authorization

  • Students may work on-campus up to 20 hours/week during the academic semester

  • To work off-campus, students require prior authorization. 

  • For more information on employment details, see the Working, Internships, Practicum, Student Teaching page. 

• Travel with proper documentation

  • If a student plans to travel outside the US, they should review the Travel and Transportation page.

• Read your @appstate.edu e-mail every day.