Important Reminders to Maintain Your Immigration Status

Office of International Students and Scholars oiss@tulane.edu
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Greetings, international students! 

With classes starting next week, we wanted to send some important reminders about maintaining your immigration status. F-1 and J-1 students have a responsibility to take appropriate steps to maintain their status and avoid activities that may jeopardize their immigration standing. This email is to serve as a reminder of some of the common questions or issues international students have with maintaining their status. Review our webpage here for further guidance on maintaining your F-1 status or your J-1 status.

As new policies are announced that may affect your status, we will continue to update our Immigration Developments Under the Current Administration page.

Tips to Maintain Your Status

As we start the spring semester, here are some key reminders: 

  • If you traveled during Winter Break, check your I-94 when you re-enter to make sure the CBP officer entered your status information correctly. If anything is incorrect, notify OISS immediately.
  • Do not work off-campus without prior authorization (e.g. CPT, OPT, or Academic Training). Off-campus work can include internships, service learning, class projects, practicums, and more. Working off campus without prior approval can result in termination of your immigration status. Speak with your OISS advisor if you have questions about work authorization.
  • Be sure you enroll in enough credit hours. Immigration regulations require that:
    • Undergraduates must take a minimum of 12 credit hours
    • Graduate students must take a minimum of 9 credit hours (graduate students in dissertation or research, or working as TAs or RAs are exempt from these required credit hours but must have their status reflected in their academic record and register for the appropriate dissertation or research course)
    • Only one online class per semester may count towards your full course load. You may take additional online classes above and beyond your full-time enrollment.
  • If your physical address has changed from last semester (e.g. you have moved to a new apartment or a new residence hall), you must let OISS know so we can report the address change in SEVIS. Review our April 2025 announcement on renewed Address Reporting guidelines.
  • Contact OISS before making any major changes to your program, such as dropping below full-time status or changing programs.
  • Keep your passport in a safe place. As evidence of your immigration status, we recommend carrying a copy of your passport, a printout of your I-20/DS-2019, and a printout of your I-94. You should keep your actual passport in a secure location.
  • Avoid criminal activity, especially related to illegal drugs and drinking and driving. Any arrest, even if you are not convicted of a crime, can have serious immigration consequences. If you have been arrested, immediately contact the OISS and the Tulane Legal Assistance Program (TULAP) immigration attorney. 

If you have any questions about your requirements to maintain status, you can reach out to your International Student Advisor and ask! You can find your advisor's email or make an appointment here. 

- The OISS Team