F-1 Students

• You can request permission to reduce to part-time enrollment during your first semester of studies if any of the following reasons apply:
  • Initial challenges with studying in English
  • Improper course placement (you registered for a course that appeared to be the appropriate level for you but was too advanced)
  • Issues with reading requirements
  • Difficulty adjusting to U.S. teaching methods
• You are only allowed to be granted a reduced course load in this category once per degree level

• If you are experiencing a medical condition that prevents you from being able to study full-time, you can request a reduced course load that would allow you to withdraw from one, some, or all of your courses.
• You must provide the ISSO a written letter from a licensed medical doctor, clinical psychologist, or doctor of osteopathy that recommends a reduced course load for medical reasons.
• You are eligible for up to three semesters of a reduced course load due to medical reasons. However, you need to make a separate request for each semester and provide an updated letter from your licensed clinician.
• Do NOT withdraw from any courses until you have authorization from the ISSO.

• If you are in your final semester, you are not required to study full-time if you need less than a full course load to complete your program requirements.
  • Example: if you only have two classes left to complete your program, you only need to register for those two classes.

Submit a Reduced Course Load request through the ISSO Portal.

Students may take a leave of absence for various reasons, including:

• Required withdrawal for academic reasons
• Medical leave of absence
• Voluntary leave of absence (for personal or family reasons, home country military service, or other similar reasons)
• Study abroad leave of absence
  • If you are an undergraduate student taking a Clark or non-Clark study abroad LOA (also called a foreign leave), you may be able to continue to maintain your F-1 status as long as both of the below are true:
    • You are participating in a Clark University-recognized study abroad or away program or if your LOA has been approved by the director of study abroad and away, and
    • You have obtained approval from the ISSO prior to departure from Clark.

In some cases, if you leave the U.S. and remain outside for more than five months, you are no longer maintaining your F-1 status and will need to have a new SEVIS record and I-20 issued in order for you to re-enter the U.S. It is important for you to contact the ISSO to discuss how your leave of absence may impact your F-1 status and your option for Curricular or Optional Practical Training.

If you need to take a leave of absence (LOA), you must first notify the Dean of Students Office.

You must then submit your leave of absence request through the ISSO Portal. If you have questions about how taking a leave of absence will impact your studies and F-1 status, please first email the ISSO.

If you are a graduate student, you must first discuss your leave of absence (LOA) with your academic department/school.

After you’ve informed your department/school of your plans, you must submit a Leave of Absence request through the ISSO Portal. If you have questions about how taking a Leave of Absence will impact your studies and F-1 status, please first email the ISSO.

When you are ready to return to Clark after a leave of absence (LOA), please notify the ISSO approximately three to six months before your intended return. The ISSO will determine whether you need a new I-20 visa document or whether you can use the most recent one that was issued to you. You cannot return to the U.S. with your previous I-20 unless you receive written confirmation from the ISSO that you may do so.f

• If you are an undergraduate student, you need to contact the Dean of Students Office to start the re-enrollment process. If you are returning from an approved leave for a study abroad program, this step is not necessary.
• Graduate students will need to contact their department/school to request to be readmitted.

While on your leave of absence, you will not have access to the ISSO portal.  After your department/school/Dean of Student’s Office has re-enrolled you in Clark’s records, you will receive an email inviting you to log into the ISSO portal again.  You will be asked to fill in your new ISSO profile and provide updated financial documents to cover at least one year of full-time tuition, required fees, and living expenses.  This information is listed in the Estimated Costs in the ISSO Portal.

You will also need to provide confirmation that you have been approved to return from leave from either the Dean of Students Office (UG) or your department/school (graduate or non-matriculated.)

As mentioned in the section on maintaining your F-1 student status, you must always have a valid I-20. Under certain specific circumstances, the ISSO can process an F-1 program extension and issue you a new Form I-20 with a new end date. Program extensions must be done before your current I-20 expires.

It is important for you to know when your I-20 expires. The “Program End Date” is printed on Page 1 of your I-20.  It is your responsibility to request a program extension if you will not finish your program by the date indicated on your I-20.

The ISSO can extend your I-20 only if your program completion is delayed due to compelling academic or medical reasons. If the delay in your completion is due to any of the following areas, you may be eligible to apply for a program extension:

• Change or add a new major
• Change in thesis or dissertation research topics
• Unexpected thesis or dissertation research problems
• A documented medical illness
• Delays due to previously approved leaves of absence (semesters outside the U.S. due to family or other reasons)
• Other documented academic or medical reasons

You are not eligible for a program extension in order to take additional courses that are not required for you to complete your program of study.

You must request an F-1 transfer and the transfer must take place no later than 60 days after completing your Clark program. If you are on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or the STEM OPT extension, the transfer must take place no later than 60 days after stopping employment or after the expiration of your Employment Authorization (EAD) card, whichever comes first.

If you plan to start studying at another school without completing your Clark program, talk to an ISSO adviser about your options.

It is important for you to request a program extension as early as possible so that you have time to gather all of the necessary documents. Please submit your request for a Program Extension at least one month before your current program end date, which is the expiration of your I-20. The ISSO cannot process a program extension after your I-20 has expired.

• You are currently in valid F-1 status and are completing a Clark program of study (or are completing post-completion Optional Practical Training based on your Clark program).
• You have been admitted to a new program at Clark and the new program will start in the next available semester following completion of studies. Example: A student who completes their bachelor’s degree in June and will begin their master’s degree in the fall semester.
• You should submit your request for a Change of Level early. To ensure that the ISSO has enough time to process your Change of Education Level request, you must submit your request no later than 45 days after your program end date. The ISSO cannot approve a request and issue a new I-20 for the new program after the last day of the 60-day Grace Period.
• Submit your Change of Education Level request through the ISSO Portal.

If you decide to attend another school in the U.S. while you hold F-1 status through Clark (including any time on OPT), you must contact the ISSO to have your F-1 SEVIS record transferred to your new school. Once your new school receives your SEVIS record, they can issue a new Form I-20 for your new program.

• You must be maintaining valid F-1 status
• You must be admitted to a full-time program at another SEVIS-approved institution in the U.S.
• Classes at your new school must begin no later than five months after your last day of classes at Clark (or the last day of employment if you are on OPT or STEM OPT)

Students should apply for a transfer as soon as they are certain that they are going to attend the new school. Do not wait until the end of your grace period, as the ISSO needs time to process your request.

• Students who are completing their Clark program — the transfer must take place no later than 60 days after completing your Clark program.
• Students on OPT or STEM OPT — the transfer must take place no later than 60 days after stopping employment or after the expiration of your Employment Authorization (EAD) card, whichever comes first.
• If you plan to start studying at another school without completing your Clark program, talk to an ISSO adviser about your options.

• Once admitted to another SEVIS-approved institution, you will receive instructions from your new school about the transfer process. In many cases, your new school may give you an F-1 transfer request form that will need to be completed by the ISSO.
• Once you are certain you will attend the new school, submit a Transfer-Out request through the ISSO Portal. To complete the Transfer-Out request, you will need:
  • A copy of your admission letter to your new school.
  • Any F-1 transfer-in forms that your new school may need the ISSO to complete the transfer process, if applicable.
  • Your requested transfer release date.
    • In most cases, the “transfer out” or SEVIS release date will be the day after you complete your program of study at Clark or the day after your EAD card expires if you are on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT.
    • Important: If you are on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT, your OPT authorization ends immediately once your record is transferred to your new school.
  • You must also tell the ISSO the school’s name and SEVP school code of the school you are attending as part of your Transfer-Out request.
    • Different schools can have more than one SEVP school code, depending on whether they have more than one campus or academic location.
    • If you are unsure about your new school’s SEVP school code, ask an international student advisor at your new school.
  • Once the ISSO approves your request, your SEVIS record will be transferred to your new school on your “transfer release date.” Your new school will receive your SEVIS record on the release date and will be able to produce a new Form I-20 for “Transfer Pending.”
  • Once your record is transferred to your new school, you will need to send all immigration-related questions to the international student office at your new institution, including questions on travel, arrival, and employment as they will have authority over your SEVIS record.

• Dependents in F-2 status cannot work.
• F-2 spouses may study, but only on a part-time basis.
• F-2 children can attend elementary or secondary school.
  • Children lose F-2 eligibility once they reach 21.