Exception to the Full Time
Enrollment Requirement
There are very few exceptions to the full time course load rule.
Those exceptions include academic difficulty, medical condition, and completion of study,
and there are strict criteria for each. In every instance, you must obtain PRIOR authorization from OIP.
To obtain authorization, students must submit a COMPLETED Reduced Course Load (RCL) form signed by student鈥檚 academic advisor to an OIP F-1 advisor during drop in hours.
Only once you receive this authorization from OIP can you then drop the course. An F-1 student who drops below a full course of study without the prior approval of the Office of International Programs (OIP) will be considered out of status and must be reported in SEVIS as having dropped below a full-time course load without authorization.
- Academic Difficulty
- Medical Condition
- Completion of Course of Study
- Thesis/Project/Recital/Oral Defense/Exam
Academic Difficulty
The student must first obtain permission from OIP before dropping below a full-time course load for academic reasons, which are limited to the three choices listed below. Students need to submit a signed and completed RCL (by both the student and by the student's academic advisor), and then obtain approval by OIP before the course can be dropped. If the drop is approved, the student must then be registered for at least six units.Federal Immigration Regulations Define Academic Difficulty As:
- initial difficulty with English Language or reading requirements (First semester in the U.S. only); or
- unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods (First semester in the U.S. only); or
- improper course placement (Must provide written proof from Academic Advisor explaining how student was misadvised. The written proof must be printed on the department letterhead and sign by the Academic Advisor)
A student authorized to drop below a full course of study for academic difficulty while pursuing a course of study at a particular program level may still be authorized for a reduced course load due to an illness or medical condition, should such a condition arise (see next section).
Download RCL due to Academic Difficulty form
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Medical Condition
OIP may authorize a reduced course load (or if necessary, no course load) due to a student's temporary illness or medical condition for a period of time not to exceed a total of 12 months while the student is pursuing a course of study at a particular program level. In order to authorize a reduced course load based on a medical condition, the student must provide current medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist to OIP to substantiate the illness or medical condition. OIP must authorize the drop below full-time for each new semester.Requests for RCL-Medical Condition will only be considered if the request is submitted BEFORE the end of the semester in which the student wishes to be part-time. Requests for RCL-Medical Condition will only be considered if the request is submitted BEFORE the end of the semester in which the student wishes to be part-time. In addition, the letter from your doctor must include a brief but detailed description of your medical condition/illness and the doctor must also recommend that you either enroll in either 0 units or in a part-time course of study
A student previously authorized to drop below a full course of study due to illness or medical condition for a total of 12 months may not be authorized by OIP to reduce his or her course load on subsequent occasions while pursuing a course of study at the same program level.
A student may be authorized to reduce course load for a reason of illness or medical condition on more than one occasion while pursuing a course of study as long as the total period of the authorization does not exceed 12 months.
Download RCL due to Medical Condition form
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Completion of Course of Study
OIP may authorize a reduced course load if the student is in his or her final semester and if fewer courses than a full-time course load are needed to complete the course of study. If the reduction is authorized, the student must then be registered for those units needed to complete the course of study.In addition, the student must have also filed an "application for graduation" with either the Registrar's Office (for undergraduate students) or with the Graduate School (for undergraduate students), depending upon the student's level of study. These forms verify a student's intention to graduate in that semester.
A note of warning: Students should be absolutely certain that they will be graduating in the current semester before choosing to register for less than a full-time course load. Failure to graduate after dropping below a full-time course load will result in the student being out-of-status, and the loss of F-1 benefits. Remember, you can only have one "final" or "last" semester!
Download RCL due to Completion of Course of Study form
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Thesis/Project/Recital/Oral Defense/Exam
Graduate students who register for thesis, project, or other course rubrics (such as comprehensive oral/written exams) are eligible to be certified as full-time even though the number of credits will be below the normal full-time course load.An F-1 student who drops below a full course of study for reasons other than the ones described above will be out of status, and that information will have to be reported to the federal immigration authorities via the SEVIS system.
F-1 students who fall out of status may be eligible for reinstatement, provided they meet the eligibility requirements as described in U.S. federal regulations, or may have to depart the United States for their home country and re-enter on a new I-20.
Download RCL due to Thesis/Project/Recital/Oral Defense/Exam form
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An F-1 student who drops below a full course of study for reasons other than the ones described above will be out of status,
and that information will have to be reported to the federal immigration authorities via the SEVIS system.
F-1 students who fall out of status may be eligible for reinstatement, provided they meet the eligibility requirements as described in U.S. federal regulations, or may have to depart the United States for their home country and re-enter on a new I-20.
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F-1 students who fall out of status may be eligible for reinstatement, provided they meet the eligibility requirements as described in U.S. federal regulations, or may have to depart the United States for their home country and re-enter on a new I-20.
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