Enrollment | Center for Global Engagement

Full-time Enrollment for Immigration Purposes

Federal regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i) define full-time enrollment for international students in F-1 status. Federal regulations at 22 CFR 62 define full-time enrollment for international students in J-1 status. The university’s Graduate Bulletin and the Graduate School define full-time enrollment for those areas of the regulation that defer to university enrollment requirements. There is no waiver or exception available for the in-person course enrollment requirements defined in the above regulations.

Undergraduate Enrollment (Bachelors)

Semester	Enrollment Hours
Fall & Spring:	12 hours minimum with at least 9 credits of in-person (not online, remote or virtual) classes out of the 12-credit minimum enrollment. J-1 non-degree exchange students enroll pursuant to the terms of the university agreement or sponsor requirements.
Summer:	Continuing FSU students(students who are not beginning a new FSU degree in the summer or graduating from FSU in the summer): Summer is the annual vacation and immigration regulations do not require enrollment. A continuing FSU student may enroll in all online classes during the summer, part-time coursework or no courses. Some academic programs, scholarships or departments may have additional summer enrollment requirements. New students (including students transferring to FSU from another U.S. institution or from CIES, students transferring from the FSU Republic of Panama campus, students starting a new F-1 status, and students beginning a new FSU degree program in the summer): Beginning Summer A/C: 12 credits with at least 9 credits of in-person (not online, remote or virtual) classes out of the 12-credit minimum enrollment. Beginning Summer B: 6 credits with at least 3 credits of in-person (not online, remote or virtual) classes out of the 6-credit minimum enrollment. J-1 non-degree exchange students enroll pursuant to the terms of the university agreement or sponsor requirements.
Final Semester:	Immigration regulations allow students to enroll in a reduced course load in their final term. A graduating student may enroll in only the number of credits required for completion of the degree, provided at least one credit hour of that enrollment is in-person (not online, remote or virtual). For immigration purposes, enrollment in a final term cannot be 0 credits only and cannot be fully online. If enrolling in a 0-credit course in the final semester, a student must also enroll in at least one in-person course. Scholarships, grants, internships, undergraduate research experiences or home government student loans may require half-time or full-time enrollment in a final term and may further restrict online enrollment. Required Form/I-20 Update: Graduating students must complete and submit the Final Term Form in Nole Start (submit no later than 2 weeks into the final semester). The CGE will shorten the I-20 to reflect the correct program completion date if the I-20 shows a completion date beyond the current semester.

Graduate Enrollment (Masters, Specialist, Law, Doctoral)

Semester	Enrollment Hours
Fall & Spring:	9 credit hours minimum with at least 6 credits of in-person (not online, remote or virtual) classes out of the 9-credit minimum enrollment. An academic program, department, scholarship, grant, internship, home government student loan, exchange agreement, or sponsoring agency may require more credit hours than the minimum listed above and may further restrict online enrollment. Students with limited scholarship funding may need to carefully plan coursework to fit within the time frame allotted or limits imposed by their scholarship. Additional information for J-1 students: According to the U.S. State Department Guidance Directive dated June 8, 2023, hybrid or tech-enhanced courses that are at least 51% in-person can be considered in-person for immigration purposes. Non-degree exchange students enroll pursuant to the terms of the university agreement or sponsor requirements.
Summer:	Continuing FSU students (students who are not beginning a new FSU degree in the summer or graduating in the summer): Summer is the annual vacation and no enrollment is required for immigration purposes. (FSU requires enrollment for students with graduate assistantships. Students working on their thesis or dissertation should consult with their graduate coordinator about FSU continuous enrollment requirements.) A continuing FSU student may enroll in all online classes during the summer, part-time coursework, or no courses. New F-1 students (including students transferring to FSU from another U.S. institution or from CIES, students starting a new F-1 status, and students beginning a new FSU degree program in the summer): Beginning Summer A/C: 9 credits with at least 6 credits of in-person (not online or virtual) classes out of the 9-credit minimum enrollment. Beginning Summer B: 6 credits with at least 3 credits of in-person (not online or virtual) classes out of the 6-credit minimum enrollment. An academic program, department, scholarship, grant, internship, home government student loan, exchange agreement, or sponsoring agency may require more credit hours than the minimum listed above and may further restrict online enrollment. Students with limited scholarship funding may need to carefully plan coursework to fit within the time frame allotted or limits imposed by their scholarship.
Final Semester:	Immigration regulations allow students to enroll in a reduced course load in their final term. A graduating student may enroll in only the number of credits required for completion of the degree, provided at least one credit hour of that enrollment is in-person (not online, remote or virtual). However, a graduate assistantship, program, grant, internship, home government student loan or scholarship may require additional enrollment and may further restrict online enrollment. For immigration purposes, enrollment in a final term cannot consist of 0 credits only. Students completing a thesis or dissertation must register for at least the university minimum enrollment requirement of two credit hours of thesis or dissertation. Students enrolled in a program that includes a 0-credit requirement must complete the requirement (e.g. comprehensive exam, project defense) in the last semester in which they are enrolled in courses required for completion of the degree. Students who do not complete the 0-credit requirement in the final term of course work may be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training while completing the final requirement (e.g. exam or project defense) or may complete the requirement from their home country. A student in this situation should talk to their CGE advisor. Online enrollment: A student may not have a schedule that is fully online. If a student has only online course requirements remaining, they must enroll in an additional in-person course, preferably at the graduate level. Required Form/I-20 Update: Graduating students must complete and submit the Final Term Form in Nole Start (submit no later than 2 weeks into final semester). The CGE will shorten the I-20 to reflect the correct program completion date if the I-20 shows a completion date beyond the current semester.

Semester

Enrollment Hours

Fall & Spring:

9 credit hours minimum with at least 6 credits of in-person (not online, remote or virtual) classes out of the 9-credit minimum enrollment.

An academic program, department, scholarship, grant, internship, home government student loan, exchange agreement, or sponsoring agency may require more credit hours than the minimum listed above and may further restrict online enrollment. Students with limited scholarship funding may need to carefully plan coursework to fit within the time frame allotted or limits imposed by their scholarship.

Additional information for J-1 students: According to the U.S. State Department Guidance Directive dated June 8, 2023, hybrid or tech-enhanced courses that are at least 51% in-person can be considered in-person for immigration purposes.

Non-degree exchange students enroll pursuant to the terms of the university agreement or sponsor requirements.

Summer:

Continuing FSU students (students who are not beginning a new FSU degree in the summer or graduating in the summer): Summer is the annual vacation and no enrollment is required for immigration purposes. (FSU requires enrollment for students with graduate assistantships. Students working on their thesis or dissertation should consult with their graduate coordinator about FSU continuous enrollment requirements.) A continuing FSU student may enroll in all online classes during the summer, part-time coursework, or no courses.

New F-1 students (including students transferring to FSU from another U.S. institution or from CIES, students starting a new F-1 status, and students beginning a new FSU degree program in the summer):

Beginning Summer A/C: 9 credits with at least 6 credits of in-person (not online or virtual) classes out of the 9-credit minimum enrollment.

Beginning Summer B: 6 credits with at least 3 credits of in-person (not online or virtual) classes out of the 6-credit minimum enrollment.

Final Semester:

Immigration regulations allow students to enroll in a reduced course load in their final term. A graduating student may enroll in only the number of credits required for completion of the degree, provided at least one credit hour of that enrollment is in-person (not online, remote or virtual). However, a graduate assistantship, program, grant, internship, home government student loan or scholarship may require additional enrollment and may further restrict online enrollment.

For immigration purposes, enrollment in a final term cannot consist of 0 credits only. Students completing a thesis or dissertation must register for at least the university minimum enrollment requirement of two credit hours of thesis or dissertation. Students enrolled in a program that includes a 0-credit requirement must complete the requirement (e.g. comprehensive exam, project defense) in the last semester in which they are enrolled in courses required for completion of the degree. Students who do not complete the 0-credit requirement in the final term of course work may be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training while completing the final requirement (e.g. exam or project defense) or may complete the requirement from their home country. A student in this situation should talk to their CGE advisor.

Online enrollment: A student may not have a schedule that is fully online. If a student has only online course requirements remaining, they must enroll in an additional in-person course, preferably at the graduate level.

Required Form/I-20 Update: Graduating students must complete and submit the Final Term Form in Nole Start (submit no later than 2 weeks into final semester). The CGE will shorten the I-20 to reflect the correct program completion date if the I-20 shows a completion date beyond the current semester.

Requesting a Reduced Course Load

Students in F-1 status must receive authorization from a CGE advisor before dropping below or withdrawing and falling below enrollment requirements requirements in Fall or Spring semesters or in Summer if it is their first semester in a new degree program or new F-1 status or their graduating semester.

Immigration regulations permit F-1 students to request authorization to reduce their course load below the levels stated above for the following reasons:

Initial difficulty with English language or reading requirements
Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
Improper course-level placement
Medical condition, with documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist.

Students apply for a reduced course load by completing one of the forms below and uploading it in Nole Start. Students should talk to their CGE advisor if they have questions.

Medical Reduced Course Load application
Academic Reduced Course Load application

Students in J-1 status must receive authorization for a reduced course load from the immigration sponsor listed in box 2 of their DS-2019 form. If the sponsor is not FSU, the Exchange Visitor Advisor at the CGE must also receive the sponsor’s authorization before signing a drop/add form.

Students in J-1 status may be eligible for a reduced course load authorization for only the following reasons:

A bona fide academic reason, as documented by the student’s academic advisor (such as improper course placement);
A medical reason as documented by a licensed U.S. physician or psychologist; or
Final term

Drop/Add & Withdrawals

Registered students may add or drop a course during the drop/add period (see the appropriate academic calendar for these dates) of classes but must maintain a full course load with the required number of in-person credit hours.

To drop or add a class after the drop/add period ends, contact your academic department for instructions. Talk to your CGE advisor before initiating a drop or withdrawal that would reduce your enrollment below full-time as defined above.

NOTE: You may still be required to pay for any classes you drop after the drop/add period ends.

If you wish to withdraw from ALL classes for the semester, please speak with your assigned international student advisor immediately. If your proposal to withdraw is due to a mental or physical health issue for which you have not sought assistance, please know that University Health Services and the Counseling & Psychological Services at FSU are available to students in need.