F-1 Status: Rights, Responsibilities, and SEVIS Compliance

As an F-1 student, you must be registered full-time and attend the school listed on your I-20 while the school is in session. Summer enrollment is optional for most degree programs at the University of Indianapolis.

Full-time enrollment requirements:

• Undergraduate students: Minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
• Graduate students: Typically, at least 9 credit hours per semester, or registration for Master’s Thesis or Doctoral Research. Requirements may vary depending on your program and the university’s policies. Always confirm with your Designated School Official (DSO) to ensure you maintain lawful F-1 status.

Important: Of your required full-time credits, only one course may be online or hybrid. All other courses must be fully in-person to comply with F-1 visa regulations.

A Reduced Course Load (RCL) is a special authorization that allows an F-1 international student to drop below full-time enrollment with prior approval from the Principal Designated School Official (PDSO). This authorization is granted only for specific reasons allowed by United States immigration regulations and must be officially reported in SEVIS.

Dropping a course that results in falling below full-time enrollment without PRIOR approval from your Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) is an automatic violation of your F-1 immigration status.

• RCL requests cannot be approved after you drop a class.
• Approval, once granted, is valid for one academic term only and must be documented in SEVIS by your PDSO/DSO.
• You are not considered approved until it appears on your updated I-20.

Reminder about online courses: Even with an approved Reduced Course Load (RCL), F-1 students are still restricted in how many online or hybrid courses they can count toward immigration-required enrollment.

Approved Reasons for a Reduced Course Load (RCL)

You may only receive RCL authorization for one of the following official reasons:

• Academic Difficulty (only allowed in your first semester)
  • Initial difficulty with the English language
  • Initial difficulty with reading requirements
  • Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods
  • Improper course level placement (e.g., first-year student placed in a 400-level course)
  • Only allowed once per degree level (per federal immigration regulations). These academic RCL reasons are only permitted in the first semester of enrollment (except improper course placement, which can occur later if justified).
• Medical Condition
  • A documented illness or medical condition
  • Must be supported by a licensed physician's letter on official letterhead
  • Can be approved for up to 12 months total per degree level, but must be approved one semester at a time with updated medical documentation. So, it's not a one-time event — it's one per semester, with proper documentation, up to the 12-month limit.
• Completion of Program
  • Final semester and you need fewer than full-time credits to graduate
  • Graduate students who have completed coursework and are engaged only in thesis/dissertation research
  • Only granted once, and only in the last term of study.

How to Request a Reduced Course Load

1. Speak with your Academic Advisor and complete the RCL form.
2. Submit the form to your Principal Designated School Official (PDSO).
3. Wait for approval and an updated I-20 before adjusting your schedule.
4. Maintain email communication — do not make changes until approved.

F-1 students who are planning to transfer their SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school must contact the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement to begin the official transfer-out process.

To request a SEVIS transfer:

• Email internationalservices@uindy.edu to notify us of your intent to transfer.
• You will be required to submit a Transfer-Out Form and your admission letter from your new institution.
• Once your request is reviewed and your SEVIS release date is confirmed, your new school will be able to issue a new Form I-20.

Remember: Do not leave your SEVIS record behind! Your SEVIS record belongs to you and must be formally released to your new school to remain in status. 

Additional university offices may require notification to finalize your departure from UIndy. Full transfer-out instructions will be provided by your Principal Designated School Official (PDSO) after you contact our office.

After completing your academic program, you may be eligible for one of the following options:

• Begin a new program of study at UIndy or transfer your SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school to pursue a higher degree, certificate, or academic program.
• Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if you are eligible and wish to gain practical experience related to your field of study.
• Prepare to depart the United States within your 60-day grace period.

Grace Period Reminder: If you complete your program before the end date listed on your Form I-20, your 60-day grace period begins from the date of completion.

Remaining in the United States beyond the 60-day grace period without transferring to a new academic program or applying for OPT is a violation of F-1 status. This may lead to:

• Loss of legal status
• Possible deportation proceedings, and/or
• Future denial of entry to the United States

• You are required by immigration regulation to report changes in your address to a Designated School Official (DSO) in the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement within 10 days of the change.
• You must notify a Designated School Official (DSO) in the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement  if you change your major, your degree level, or source of funding, so you can be issued an accurate I-20.
• You must notify a Designated School Official (DSO) in the Christel DeHaan Center for Global Engagement if you change your United States phone number or personal email address. These details are connected to your SEVIS record and must be updated in our system to ensure you remain in compliance.