Maintaining Status

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arrival and Sevis reporting

COURSE ENROLLMENT & CIP CODES

Record Keeping

employment

Program completion and departure

Duration of status updates

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ARRIVAL AND REPORTING

Students may enter the United States no more than 30 days before the program of study begins.

SEVIS requires students to contact their Designated School Official (DSO) to meet reporting requirements within 10 days of arrival into the country. At Sewanee, we use an online form, and you are emailed a link at the beginning of every semester. To complete the online form, you must log into Gmail using your Sewanee ID. You must provide your current phone number and physical address in the U.S., as well as upload images of your immigration documents to the online form. The uploaded images can be scans or high quality digital photos from your camera, smart phone, computer's internal webcam, or tablet. If you don't have a way to create scans of your documents, the Office of Global Citizenship has a computer/scanner in our office that you can use during office hours.

In addition to reporting at the beginning of every semester, international students are required to notify the DSO if they want to make any of the following changes:

• Extend or shorten their Program End Date
• Change their Program of Study (Major/Minor)
• Drop below full-time enrollment
• Change their level of education (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral)
• Change their local address
• Secure on-campus employment
• Enroll in a course at another SEVP-approved university
• Apply for Curricular Practical Training
• Transfer to new university or take a leave of absence
• Change your major, program, or degree level.

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course enrollment

International students must maintain full-time enrollment during the fall and spring semesters.

• Undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each semester during the fall and spring.
• Graduate students must enroll in at least 9 credit hours during the fall and spring.
• Summer registration is optional, unless you begin or end your studies during the summer.
• Students must enroll in courses that meet on-campus. If students wish to enroll in online or hybrid courses, they can only enroll in one of these courses each semester.

Students must maintain a sufficient GPA and forward progress toward program completion in order to remain in good standing at Sewanee. If students are placed on academic or disciplinary suspension, their I-20 will be terminated; they will fall out of status; and they will be required to return to their home country immediately. Below are a list of Sewanee majors and CIP codes for SEVIS. Those with an asterisk (*) are STEM eligible.

Undergraduate Majors (* = STEM Eligible)	CIP Codes
American Studies	05.0102
Anthropology	45.0201
Art	50.0702
Art History	50.0703
Asian Studies	05.0103
Biochemistry*	26.0202
Biology*	26.0101
Chemistry*	40.0501
Classical Languages	16.1200
Computer Science*	11.0701
Creative Writing	23.1302
Economics	45.0601
English	23.0101
Environment and Sustainability*	30.3301
Environmental Arts and Humanities*	03.0103
Finance	52.0801
French and French Studies	16.0901
Geology*	40.0601
German and German Studies	16.0501
Greek	16.1202
History	54.0101
Interdisciplinary Self-Designed	30.9999
International and Global Studies	30.2001
Latin	16.1203
Mathematics*	27.0101
Medieval Studies	30.1301
Music	50.0901
Natural Resources and Environment*	03.0101
Neuroscience*	26.1501
Philosophy	38.0101
Physics*	40.0801
Politics	45.1001
Psychology	42.0101
Religious Studies	38.0201
Russian	16.0402
Spanish	16.0905
Theatre	50.0501
Women's and Gender Studies	05.0207

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Record Keeping

Do not let your I-20 or passport expire. If you cannot complete your studies by the expiration date on your I-20 or DS-2019, you must request an extension of your document before it expires. Similarly, students should ensure that their passports are valid for six months in the future at all times. Contact your home country consulate or embassy for information on extending the validity of your passport.

International students should place their original documents (passport, visa, I-20/DS-2019) in a safe, secure place, and they should have copies of their documents readily available. If you receive a new I-20, you must keep the original copy of any I-20s you were issued in the past.

If you plan to travel outside of the United States, you need to ensure that the travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 is less than one year old. It is your responsibility to request a new signature once the older one is expired.

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Employment

"Employment" is any type of work performed, or services provided, in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, lodging, or for any other benefit. The U.S. government has a wide definition of 'employment', so it is very important to understand the work authorization options for your visa and have any necessary approvals/documentation before you begin work. If international students work without authorization, they can fall out of status and risk deportation from the United States.

on-campus employment

Students who are maintaining F-1/J-1 status are eligible to work on campus while they remain students at the University. International students are permitted to work on campus no more than 20 hours/week during the fall and spring semesters. Students may work 40 hours/week during university breaks (e.g. summer, winter, fall, and spring). International students are not permitted to work off-campus.

'On campus employment' is work that is paid for directly by Sewanee or an approved, close educational affiliate, and it does not usually need Office of Global Citizenship approval. For immigration purposes, 'on campus employment' is quite narrowly defined. 'On campus employment' includes:

• Work done on campus and paid for by the University directly
• Work done at an off campus location that is paid for by the University directly (such as research at Sewanee facility in a different city)
• Work done on school premises that provides direct service to students (such as working in the bookstore or McClurg)
• Work performed on or off campus at an approved, close educational affiliate of the University may also be accepted. You must meet with the Office of Global Citizenship before accepting this kind of employment.

Before beginning work of any kind, international students must complete the Employment Authorization Form and apply for a social security card. Visit our Social Security Page for more information about applying for a Social Security Card.

unpaid internships and volunteering

Students may work as volunteers or unpaid interns without additional authorization, where this practice does not violate U.S. labor law. Refusing or delaying payment to make a position "unpaid" is considered a violation of your F-1 or J-1 student status.

Unpaid internships are a very specific type of opportunity in labor law that is of benefit to the intern and not necessarily the company. With bona fide unpaid internships, neither an international or domestic student would get paid. If you are changing anything about the opportunity to “make” it an unpaid internship, or if you will eventually get paid for doing the same job, then it is most likely not a bona fide unpaid internship and you would need approved work authorization to do it. If it is truly an unpaid internship, you do not need work authorization for it. It is recommended that you keep thorough documentation, such as a copy of the original position posting and/or a letter from the organization, showing that the position is a true unpaid internship or volunteer opportunity. See the Department of Labor Unpaid Internship Factsheet for more information.

Any potential unpaid work for a Sewanee faculty member or department must also meet the unpaid work criteria stipulated on the Department of Labor fact sheet listed above. If you are offered an unpaid research opportunity at Sewanee, you must check with the Department Chair to confirm: 1) Whether or not it is a bona fide unpaid internship opportunity, and 2) Whether or not the proposed unpaid employment would violate labor law.

A student who receives a grant, stipend or scholarship is not considered to be employed under that award, even if service, research, or other requirements are a condition of the award being made.

off-CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT

F-1 international students are only able to work off-campus with USCIS approval. After they have been enrolled for one academic year, students may apply for Curricular Practical Training or Severe Economic Hardship Employment.

Curricular Practical Training allows students to work off-campus through internships related to their course of study. Students must complete the Curricular Practical Training packet and submit it to the DSO or PDSO.

Severe Economic Hardship Employment is only available to students in extreme situations which have caused severe economic hardship. These may include:

• A loss of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault on the part of the student
• Substantial fluctuations in the value of currency or exchange rate
• Inordinate increases in tuition and /or living costs
• Unexpected changes in the financial condition of the student's source of support, medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected expenses.
  Source: [8 C.F.R. 214.2(f)(9)(ii)(C)-(D) and (F)]

You are eligible to apply for employment based on severe economic hardship if:

• You have been in F-1 status for one full academic year
• You are in good academic standing and are taking a full course load
• Employment will not interfere with your studies
• Other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient
• You can demonstrate that the employment is necessary to avoid severe economic hardship due to unforeseen economic circumstances beyond your control

If you believe you are eligible to apply, you must request a new I-20 with Severe Economic Hardship recommendation from the Office of Global Citizenship. If you are awarded a new I-20, you will then submit a completed I-765, along with your new I-20 and an application fee of $410 to USCIS. In rare cases, USCIS will waive the application fee. 

finding a job

On-campus jobs, internships, and research fellowships can be found through your department, by networking with professors and friends, and through HandShake. Review the jobs closely to see which opportunities are considered 'on campus' for immigration purposes, and which are off campus and will require CPT authorization.

Before applying for any job, we highly recommend utilizing the resources at the Career Center. The staff there can help students with job searching, creating resumes and cover letters, interviewing skills, applying to graduate school, and much more!

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Important Update Regarding Duration of Status (D/S)

On July 17, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a new rule that will change how the United States determines the length of stay for F-1 and J-1 international students and scholars.

This new rule ends the longstanding “Duration of Status” (D/S) policy and replaces it with a defined period of admission called an Admit-Until Date (AUD) on an individual’s I-94 record.

The new rule takes effect on September 15, 2026.

Read the full DHS rule here.

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What Is Changing?

Under the current system, F-1 students are generally admitted to the United States for Duration of Status (D/S), meaning they may remain in the country as long as they maintain valid F-1 or J-1status and continue to follow the requirements of their program.

Beginning September 15, 2026, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitor will instead receive a specific Admit-Until Date (AUD) on their electronic I-94 record.

Your AUD will generally correspond to the length of your program of study, plus a 30-day grace period.

If you need to remain in the United States beyond your AUD, you may need to apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for an Extension of Stay (EOS) or take other appropriate immigration action.

Important: Your I-20 or DS-2019 program end date and your I-94 Admit-Until Date are not necessarily the same. The I-94 will include the additional 30-day grace period.

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What to Know

Your admission period will have a specific end date. If you enter the United States on or after September 15, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will issue you an electronic I-94 with a specific Admit-Until Date (AUD).

You will generally be admitted for the length of your I-20 program of study or four years, whichever is shorter.

F-1 students will continue to have a grace period following completion of their academic program. However, that grace period will be shortened from 60 calendar days to 30 calendar days.

Under the new rule, the 30-day grace period will be included in your I-94 Admit-Until Date.

This period allows an F-1 student to remain lawfully in the United States after completing an academic program while preparing for departure or taking other permitted immigration steps.

What About Students Already in the United States?

If you enter the United States before September 15, 2026, you should generally receive an electronic I-94 showing D/S (Duration of Status) rather than a fixed Admit-Until Date.

Students entering the United States on or after September 15, 2026 will receive an I-94 with a fixed Admit-Until Date.

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Changes to Programs and Degrees

The new rule also establishes restrictions on certain changes to an F-1 student's educational program.

Undergraduate Students

F-1 undergraduate students cannot change their major or transfer to another U.S. institution during their first year of study. At our school, you may continue to take courses that count toward your intended major, but you cannot formally declare a new major until you have completed your first two semesters at Sewanee.

Graduate Students

F-1 graduate students will face additional restrictions. Graduate students will not be permitted to change their major, change education levels, or transfer to another U.S. institution while maintaining F-1 status in a graduate program. 

Second Degrees

Under the new rule, students who have already completed a degree while in F-1 status cannot be admitted to or complete another U.S. degree at the same or a lower educational level.

This does not mean that you are prohibited from pursuing a double major.

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D/S and Optional Practical Training (OPT)

The new rule also affects students applying for OPT. Students who will file their OPT applications within six months of September 15, 2026 will not need to file an Extension of Stay (EOS), solely in order to apply for OPT.

If you are completing your academic program during the 2026-2027 academic year and submit your OPT application on or before March 18, 2027, you will not need to apply separately for an Extension of Stay (EOS) from USCIS in connection with your OPT application. Do note transition rule only applies if you have entered the US before September 15, 2026, and not re-enter the US after September 15, 2026.

If you do not file your OPT application by that date, you will need to file an Extension of Stay along with an OPT application.

If you are planning to apply for OPT, please begin the process early and consult your International Student & Scholar Advisor regarding your individual situation.

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International Travel During the Transition

One of the most important considerations during the transition to the new rule is the potential effect of international travel on your F-1 or J-1 status.

The timing of your travel and re-entry into the United States may determine whether you are admitted under the previous D/S system or the new fixed Admit-Until Date system.

Please review the travel scenarios below carefully before making international travel plans.

If you are planning international travel around or after September 15, 2026, please contact your International Student & Scholar Advisor before making your plans.

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What Should You Do Now?

Current F-1 students

• Continue maintaining your F-1 status and following the requirements of your visa.

• Keep your immigration documents (I-20, passport, visa, I-94) current and accessible.

• Pay close attention to your I-94 after any future entry into the United States.

• Contact your International Student & Scholar Advisor before making significant changes to your academic program.

• If you are planning international travel around the September 15 effective date, seek guidance from your International Student & Scholar Advisor before traveling.

Students planning to graduate and apply for OPT

• Begin planning for your OPT application well in advance.

• Be aware of the March 18, 2027 date if you are graduating during the 2026–27 academic year.

• Do not wait until the last possible date to begin the OPT process.

• Consult with your International Student and Scholar Advisor regarding your individual circumstances.

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Questions?

U.S. immigration regulations can be complex, and the impact of this rule may vary depending on your individual circumstances. If you have questions about how these changes may affect your F-1 status, academic program, OPT, travel plans, transfer to another institution, or future study, please contact your International Student and Scholar Advisor before taking action.

Please do not rely solely on information from social media, friends, or other students when making decisions about your immigration status.