Maintaining Your Full-Time Course Load Requirements
In order to maintain your F-1 status, you need to be registered for a full-time course registration. Each level and the number of credits required are below.
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English as a Second Language:17 credit hours
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Undergraduate/Bachelor Level: 12 credit hours and at least 9 of those are in-person or traditional courses, not online
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Graduate/Master/Doctoral Level: 8 credit hours and only one course can be online
There are some cases where a student does not require a full-time course load. Some cases include final semester before graduation, thesis/dissertation coursework, or medical issues. Review our the RCL Guide to learn more, but make sure to apply for an RCL BEFORE falling below full-time registration because it can affect your immigration status negatively. Questions? Check the ISSS advising times listed below. | 
