Full Course Load Requirements for International Students
Federal regulations require that students in F-1 and J-1 status be registered for
a full-time course load for the duration* of each fall and spring semester. International
students are not required to meet any enrollment requirements during the summer semester
if it is not their first semester in the US. Students who begin study in the US in
a summer semester must be enrolled full-time during that summer semester as their
first semester in the US. Failure to be registered as a full-time student is a violation
of the F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status and can result in the loss of F-1 or J-1 benefits
(including employment eligibility both on and off-campus), the loss of immigration
status, and may require the student to depart the United States or risk arrest and
deportation.
NOTE: Because international students must maintain full-time enrollment for the duration of the semester, withdrawing from a class resulting in active enrollment below full-time is a violation of the student's immigration status even though they still appear full-time in the UW record with a grade.
Academic Level Minimum Full-time Course Load Requirements
- Exchange Students (Undergraduate) 12 credits per semester; at least 9.0 credits must be main/on-campus
- Exchange Students (Graduate) 9 credits per semester; at least 6.0 credits must be main/on-campus
- Undergraduate Students (Bachelor's Level) 12 credits per semester; at least 9.0 credits must be main/on-campus
- Graduate Master's Level 9 credits per semester; at least 6.0 credits must be main/on-campus
- Graduate PhD Students 9 credits per semester; at least 6.0 credits must be main/on-campus
Counting Distance/Online Courses Toward Full-time Course Load Requirements
Students may count up to three credits per semester of distance or online courses
as part of their full-time enrollment. Students can take additional distance/online
courses if they choose to do so, but they will not count as part of the full-time
course load.
Concurrent Enrollment at Another School
An F-1 student may be concurrently enrolled in two different schools at the same time,
as long as the total enrollment for both schools equals a full-time course of study.
The majority (at least 50%) of their coursework each semester must be enrolled at
the school that issued the Form I-20 for the student. Students on UW-issued documents
who take any course(s) from a school other than UW must submit a Concurrent Enrollment Agreement form to ISS and if the credits will count as part of their full-time enrollment, they
must also submit proof of enrollment to ISS as described on the CEA form.
Exceptions to Full-time Course Load Requirements
There are some very limited exceptions to the full-time course requirement including:
initial difficulties with the English language or reading; unfamiliarity with American
teaching methods; inappropriate course placement; and a documented medical or mental
health situation that prevents full-time study.
All exceptions require documentation and must be approved in advance by International Students and Scholars (ISS) before the start of the semester, or before a student drops/withdraws from courses that reduce their enrollment to less than full-time. ISS must note the approval in the student's electronic immigration SEVIS record prior to the student dropping below full-time on the UW record. Failure to receive approval from ISS before falling below full-time enrollment will put a student's immigration status in jeopardy.
Undergraduate or graduate students in their final semester prior to official graduation, and graduate students who are finishing all required coursework listed on the program of study (with the exception of the final thesis or dissertation) are allowed to enroll less-than full-time in their final semester. Students who believe that they will graduate at the end of the current semester should consult with ISS staff to discuss their situation and see if it meets the requirements for part-time status in last semester. ISS staff will work with students to collect the required documentation for their particular situation.
Other Visa Types and Enrollment Requirements
The requirements discussed above apply to students on the F-1 and J-1 student visas.
Students on other visa types may have different enrollment requirements/limits. Questions
about enrollment requirements or limits can be directed to ISS staff. Note: It is
common to have dependents of F-1 visa holders register for classes at UW. These students
usually hold an F-2 visa and are limited in their enrollment and employment opportunities.
F-2 visa holders can be degree-seeking and can earn their degree at UW while in F-2
status. F-2 visa holders can NOT enroll full-time at UW or in combination with enrollment
at another institution. F-2 visa holders can NOT be employed in the US. This includes
UW graduate assistantships. F-2 visa holders who want to enroll full-time or be able
to receive a graduate assistantship or other student employment while attending classes
should contact ISS to discuss changing their status to F-1.
Direct all enrollment questions to ISS staff at uwglobal@uwyo.edu or 307-766-5193.
On-Campus Employment
International students on the F-1 and J-1 student visa are allowed to work no more
than 20 hours per week total during the fall and spring semesters. These students
are allowed to work more than 20 hours per week during the official spring, summer,
and winter breaks. F-1 and J-1 student visa holders may be allowed to work more than
the allowed hours if they have an approved internship or other type of additional
work authorization.
If an F-1 or J-1 visa holder works more than 20 hours in any one week, their immigration record must be TERMINATED and they must depart the US. They may be able to re-enter the US to regain status and return to UW, but this can be risky. Because of the seriousness of this rule, campus employers and supervisors must be aware of these regulations and are asked to assist international students in making sure they do not exceed the employment hours limits. Supervisors should be careful not to ask international student employees to stay late or cover shifts that would put them over their work limits.
F-1 visa holders do not need any documentation from ISS to be hired on campus. J-1 student visa holders must submit a completed J-1 Student Work Authorization form to ISS and receive a permission letter before they can be hired on campus.
Internships and Off-Campus Research
F-1 student visa holders with the opportunity for off-campus internship, paid or unpaid,
should review the information for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and download
the CPT application form on the ISS Current Student Resources page.
General CPT Requirements:
- Internship must be directly related to the student’s MAJOR area of study and be an integral part of their established curriculum
- Student must received academic credit for the internship (exceptions for Pharmacy, Law, and other programs with accreditation conflicts)
- Internships may start prior to the date of the semester, but must end by the last day of finals of the academic semester so that a grade can be assigned on time
- Student must review the CPT Workshop Slides on the ISS Current Student Resources page prior to completing the required application forms
- CPT application forms must be completed and signed by the student, the employer, and the supervising UW faculty or advisor
J-1 student visa holders have a similar opportunity for off-campus internship called Academic Training. J-1 student vise holders should contact ISS for information.
Graduate Students who must participate in thesis or dissertation research off-campus may be required to receive CPT or Academic Training approval before they can participate in that research. Students should contact ISS prior to beginning off-campus research for more information.
Severe Economic Hardship Work Authorization
Severe Economic Hardship is work authorization approved by the US Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS) that allows off-campus employment if jobs on campus are
either unavailable or insufficient, and a student is facing hardship that is caused
by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. Authorization is granted
by USCIS for periods of up to one year at a time, and may be renewed. Students interested
in applying for Severe Economic Hardship work authorization should schedule an appointment
with the ISS staff to review eligibility requirement and application process.
For more detailed information: Student Employment Resources
Applying for a Social Security Letter
All students who are employed in the US must apply for a social security letter. This
includes those on graduate assistantships. Students working on campus must receive
an employer letter from the department in which they work. This letter cannot be written
by UW Human Resources.
The SSN application process for students can be found on our Social Security Number Information page.
SSN employer letter: Employers must use this template and it MUST be on department letterhead. REPLACE the red lettering at the top of the template with your department logo, etc.
