F-1 Enrollment Requirements

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a Broadcast Message and Additional FAQ’s on April 26, 2021 clarifying enrollment and employment options for continuing F-1 students for the 2021-22 academic year. This guidance is based upon the March 9, 2020 Broadcast Message.

The SEVP Guidance defines two types of students – students who were in Active F-1 status on March 9, 2020 (“continuing students”) and students who began their F-1 status after March 9, 2020 (“initial students”). The requirements for continuing and initial students are slightly different. Any student who began their F-1 status after March 9, 2020 is considered an “initial” student, even if you have enrolled for several semesters since you gained F-1 status.

If you are a continuing F-1 student for the 2021-22 academic year, the following guidelines pertain to you:

• Enrollment Requirements:
  • You may enroll in a course of study that is fully online, hybrid or fully face-to-face.
  • You may enroll within the U.S. or abroad. However, the majority of UTD courses will be offered face-to-face so you may not be able to maintain a full-course load online.
  • You should enroll full time unless you are eligible for a reduced course load authorization from the ISSO (for example, due to graduation, CPT, medical or academic reasons).
• Visa & Travel:
  • If you were in F-1 status, left the U.S. and pursued fully online study, you may travel to the U.S. to engage in a fully online, hybrid or face-to-face course of study.
  • If you were in F-1 status prior to March 9, 2020 and your previous visa has expired, you are eligible to apply for a new F-1 visa to enter the U.S. for fully online or hybrid study.
• Employment:
  • You may continue to work on CPT remotely.
  • You may continue to work on Post-Completion and STEM OPT remotely; however you may only apply within the U.S.

If you are an initial F-1 student for the 2021-22 academic year, the following guidelines pertain to you. Note, only students who have entered the U.S. in F-1 status are subject to enrollment requirements.

• Enrollment Requirements:
  • You must enroll full-time (9 credit hours for graduate students and 12 credit hours for undergraduates)
  • You must enroll in at least one course with in-person components, and you should be prepared to participate in the in-person components. You should be able to travel to the campus to meet the in-person course requirements, even if you are not residing in Dallas.
  • You should retain evidence that demonstrates your engagement with the in-person course components, should DHS ask you for verification.
• Visa & Travel:
  • If you were issued an initial attendance I-20 after March 9, 2020, you will not be eligible for an F-1 visa to enroll fully online.
  • You should have verification of enrollment that includes at least one course with in- person components (HyFlex, hybrid or face-to-face courses) for the visa interview and upon arrival at U.S. port of entry.
• I-20 Issuance:
  • If you have not yet entered the U.S., make sure your I-20 has a future program start date. Your I-20 start date should reflect when you will enter the U.S. If you began your studies virtually, then the date you started classes will be earlier than your I-20 program start date.

F-1 Virtual Start

You may have seen information about F-1 Virtual Start. Virtual Start is only available for new students who have not yet begun their F-1 status. If you have already entered the U.S. in F-1 status or been approved by USCIS for F-1 status, then Virtual Start is not an option for you.

F-1 Enrollment Requirements

For detailed information about enrollment requirements, please see the ISSO webpage on enrollment.