Maintaining F-1 Visa Status
F-1 requirements
Please note that you are responsible for maintaining your F-1 status. Our office is here to guide you through the process.
Here’s what you need to do to maintain your F-1 status:
- Complete your mandatory check-in. Within five days of each time you arrive in the US, complete an arrival form in your Terra Dotta student portal. You will receive emails about this required step. When our office receives your arrival form, we will register you with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS). You will receive emails about this required step, so please pay attention to your email inbox.
- Make sure your I-94 form, I-20 form, and passport are valid, and keep them with you at all times.
- Obtain a travel signature each time you reenter the US. You will need to obtain a new travel signature in order to return to the country. See our additional travel guidance for F-1 students.
- Maintain full-time academic enrollment (minimum 12 credits for both the fall and spring semesters) and follow all academic requirements, including absence policy and credit balances. For more details, review the academic requirements below.
- Update your information and report any information changes within 10 days. If your major, name, citizenship or visa status has changed, update this information in Workday. To report changes to your program completion date or address, submit a request through the Terra Dotta student portal. Address and phone number changes must be updated in both Workday and Terra Dotta.
- Do not accept employment without obtaining work authorization. Employment without authorization is considered a violation of F-1 status. Learn more about employment options for F-1 students.
- Consult with us. We are prepared and ready to advise you on a variety of topics. If you want to take a leave of absence, transfer to another school, or make a significant change to your visa status, please contact us for further support.
For more information, read page three of your I-20 form or visit Study in the States.
Immigration documents
Your F-1 visa must be valid to enter or reenter the US. It is allowed to expire while you are in the country.
If you depart the US with an expired visa, you must renew your visa at a US consulate abroad before you return. You cannot renew your visa from within the US.
Please review your local consulate’s website to see which documents you must bring to your visa interview, as well as their visa process, as this may vary from country to country.
I-20 form
Information on your Form I-20 should be accurate at all times. If there are any material changes to the document, you must report them to us within 10 days. Such changes include changes to your biographical information on the immigration document, your program of study, your degree level, and program dates.
Program extensions
If you will not complete your degree program by the end date noted on your I-20, you must request a program extension prior to the listed end date on the I-20 form. Failure to request an extension may result in loss of F-1 status.
To request an extension, speak with your faculty advisor and the registrar, and submit an I-20 update form.
I-94 form
Your I-94 form is a record of your arrival into the US. It is generated by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
CBP assigns a specific number to your I-94 form, which includes your:
- full legal name
- date of birth
- passport number
- country of issuance
- US entry status (this should always be noted as “F-1”)
- status expiration date (this should always be noted as “D/S” (duration of status))
To confirm that your arrival status is accurately recorded, check your I-94 form every time you enter the US. Your status should always be noted as "F-1, D/S." If your I-94 record lists something other than “F-1, D/S”, please email us.
You can check your I-94 record online at any time via the Department of Homeland Security.
Academic requirements
Students on F-1 visas must remain enrolled full-time at RISD, which requires taking at least 12 credits per semester. If you are considering dropping a class, and doing so would drop you below 12 credits, contact us before you make your decision. We can help you maintain your visa compliance.
If you will be absent from a class, communicate with your instructor, receive permission for the absence, and make a plan to make up missed time. If you fail to communicate with your instructors or accrue excessive absences, you may be dropped from your course(s). Falling below a full course load may affect your F-1 status.
Leaves of absence
Students on an F-1 visa can take a leave of absence for up to one year (with an exception available for active military service-related leaves). You must return to RISD at the end of your leave or extend it for up to one additional year.
To start the leave of absence process, complete a leave of absence form online. You may submit a leave of absence form prior to the start of the semester and up to the course withdrawal deadline. International students must also submit a separate leave of absence request via the Terra Dotta student portal. Once all relevant offices approve your leave and it is processed by the registrar, we will terminate your SEVIS record. This will invalidate your I-20 form. Please review RISD’s leave of absence policy for more information.
If your leave request is processed before the start of the semester, you are not held financially responsible for any RISD charges during your leave. For more information, please review RISD’s refund schedule and contact Student Financial Services with further questions.
When you are reinstated to return to RISD, you will be issued a new I-20 form. To find out if you need a new visa, or if your unexpired visa will remain valid, we recommend you contact your US embassy or consulate. Please review RISD’s reinstatement process for more details.
Academic documents
If you need a copy of your transcript or your enrollment verification, you will need to request these documents from the registrar.