These are the basic F-1 regulations as stated in the United States Code of Federal Regulations. Further elaboration of these regulations is provided on the pages of this website.
Violations of these rules have serious consequences. In particular, violations of the rules regarding full-time attendance and employment can even impact your chances of completing your degree, See Consequences of Failing to Maintain Status.
- Enroll in Authorized School - You must have a valid I-20 issued by Pomona College.
- Maintain full-time enrollment and make normal progress toward your degree – Full-time enrollment at Pomona College is generally 4 course credits per semester. By earning 4 course credits per semester, you will graduate in 4 years. However, since Federal regulations require that you register for, attend and complete a minimum of 3 course credits each academic term, you have some flexibility as to when you will graduate. See the following exceptions:
- A Reduced Course Load (RCL) - enrollment in fewer than 3 course credits per semester - can be approved by the ISA for documented medical reasons and limited academic reasons. See Reduced Course Load.
- Last semester exceptions – Enrollment in less than 3 course credits is permitted during your final semester as long as the class to be taken is required for your degree AND requires classroom attendance. Enrollment in only thesis preparation during your final term is not permitted if there is no requirement for weekly classroom attendance. If you are going to enroll in fewer than 3 credits during your final term, email iss@pomona.edu before the term begins as to what class(es) you’ll be taking. See sections on Completing Program in 7 Semesters and Enrolling During 8th Semester.
- Taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) can adversely impact your F-1 status. In addition to discussing such an action with your Academic Adviser and the Dean of Student, consult with iss@pomona.edu for possible status implications. See Taking a Leave of Absence. See Your Program Plan and Enrollment Choices for more information about full-time enrollment.
- Comply with employment and practical training regulations - You are not permitted to work more than 20 hours per week on campus during an academic term. You are not permitted to work on campus after graduation. See On-Campus Employment.
All off campus work (whether paid or unpaid) or active participation in a conference, particularly if funded by the college, must be authorized either by the ISA by notation on a new I-20 or by the government by issuance of an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). See sections on Internships - Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training.
Off-Campus Employment Authorization based on Economic Hardship - If your family experiences a severe economic hardship - loss of employment, severe family illness, etc - and you are not able to apply for Financial Aid, you might be able to apply for a work permit for Economic Hardship from the Federal government. Contact iss@pomona.edu for details. - Get a “travel signature” on your I-20 before departing the U.S. for a temporary absence. Send your ISA an email requesting a travel signature anytime in the weeks before you are going to leave. Your passport and F-1 visa must be valid to re-enter the U.S. See Travel Abroad and In U.S.
In addition, see section on Travel for the one exception to the requirement of having a valid F-1 visa when traveling to Mexico, Canada or an adjacent Caribbean island (except Cuba). - Keep your passport valid - Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months into the future at all times. If your passport is about to expire, take steps to renew it while you are home on vacation or contact your embassy or consulate in the United States for instructions to extend the validity or to get a new passport.
Note: If you are issued a new passport, but your valid F-1 visa is in your expired passport, carry both passports when traveling in and out of the U.S. Your F-1 visa does not expire even if your passport does. - Report all address changes to the ISA - Your physical address must be current in SEVIS at all times. At the beginning of each term you must check in at iss@pomona.edu to report your residence hall and room number. If you move to a different hall or even a different room, you must report the change to iss@pomona.edu within 10 days of moving.
If you live off-campus, you must report address changes within 10 days of moving. Email iss@pomona.edu. Changing your address in the Registrar’s office is not sufficient to keep your SEVIS record current. - Request a new I-20 from the ISA if you change your major - Merely changing your major with the Registrar will not keep you SEVIS record current.
- Comply with departure grace periods – F-1 students are allowed a 60-day Grace Period following the end of their program or the end of Optional Practical Training to prepare for departure from the U.S. You are not permitted to exit the U.S. and return using your F-1 visa during those 60 days, even if that visa is still valid. Only students who have applied for Optional Practical Training are permitted to exit and return during the departure Grace Period using the Pomona College I-20. See Optional Practical Training – Traveling Abroad.
If you plan to enroll in another full-time program of study immediately after your bachelor’s degree or after OPT, you can have your SEVIS record transferred to the new school if you make the request before the end of your Grace Period. Send your new acceptance letter and any transfer release forms from your new school along with the new school's SEVIS school code to the ISA and request that your SEVIS record be released to the new school. You have to get a new I-20 from the new school for the new program within your 60-day grace period. You must begin the new program within 5 months of your program end date.
If the break between your bachelor's degree and your new program is more than 5 months, your SEVIS record will be completed and a brand new SEVIS record will be created by your new school.
Other Matters
You are responsible for keeping ALL I-20’s issued to you. Do not throw them away. Store them in a secure manner.