F-1 Visa
The
F-1
visa (also referred to as a "student visa") is for nonimmigrants
to enter the United States primarily for the purpose of
full-time study.
Obtaining an F-1 visa begins with our office. Once you have completed your
on-boarding request and have received your certificate of eligibility (I-20),
you will use the I-20 to
apply for a visa and schedule your appointment/interview at a U.S. embassy
or consulate abroad.
Here you can additional
F-1 student resources
.
Please feel free to contact us at
isss-students@mail.wvu.edu if you have any questions.
Obtaining and Maintaining F-1 Status | US Immigration Regulations for F-1 Students
At the U.S. border, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) should assign status according to your visa category - in this case "F-1." After being admitted to the U.S. in F-1 status by CBP, the student is then eligible to stay in the U.S. for “duration of status” (D/S on the Form I-94). Duration of status (or to be “in status”) means the time during which the student is in compliance with F-1 regulations. Upon completion of studies, the student has an additional 60-day grace period to depart the U.S.
Students in F-1 status are responsible for learning, understanding, and complying with U.S. federal laws and regulations governing the F-1 visa and F-1 status. Failure to abide by U.S. federal regulations may lead to serious immigration consequences, including required departure from the U.S. Summaries for many of the rules and regulations for F-1 students can also be found on the third page of the Form I-20. Here you can find additional information about maintaining your F-1 status .
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Important Documents for Maintaining your F-1 Status
Passport
Your passport must be valid at all times. Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place, such as a bank safe-deposit box or somewhere where it won’t be damaged. Report a lost or s tolen passport to the police because your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace your passport, contact your country’s consulate in the U.S. for further instructions. It is recommended that you keep 6 months validity remaining on your passport at all times or begin the process to renew the passport if within the 6 months remaining time period.
Visa (foil)
The visa is the foil (sometimes called a sticker or stamp) that the U.S. consular officer placed on a page in your passport. The visa permits you to apply for admission into the U.S. as an F-1 student, and does not need to remain valid while you are in the U.S. However, the next time you travel abroad, you must obtain a new F-1 visa before returning to the U.S. Visas can only be obtained outside of the U.S. at a U.S. consulate. Note: Neither citizens of Bermuda nor Canada are required to have a visa.
Form I-20 or "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status"
Issued by WVU ISSS, this document allows you to apply for an F-1 visa if you are outside the U.S, apply for F-1 status within the U.S., enter and reenter the U.S. in F-1 status, and prove your eligibility for various F-1 benefits. The I-20 indicates the institution in which you are permitted to study, your program of study, and the dates of eligibility. Each student has a unique ("SEVIS") ID number, which is printed on the top left corner of your I-20.
I-94 (Arrival/Departure Form)
Online Form I-94 : The issuance of I-94 arrival/departure record cards is now electronic for air and sea travelers. Once a student enters the U.S, a paper I-94 card will not be issued at the point of entry (for air and sea travelers). Students will have to access the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website to print out the paper copy of their I-94 card for their records. The Form I-94 is required for processing social security cards and Driver Licenses. To obtain your I-94, you can visit CBP's I-94 website , click on "get most recent I-94," enter your passport information, and print.More information concerning the Form I-94 can be found on the CBP website.
Paper Form I-94 : If you have a paper Form I-94, regulations require that those individuals holding non-immigrant (temporary) status turn their I-94 arrival/departure record card when leaving the U.S. only if you have an I-94 that was attached in your passport. Failure to do that will result in the departure not being recorded properly in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) system and the individual being regarded as overstaying his/her authorized stay. This can have serious consequences on future entry into the U.S. -
Enroll Full-time
A international student in F-1 status must remain enrolled full-time for each required semester to maintain their status. Required semesters are defined as the student's first semester (including summer), any fall/spring semester, and their last semester (including summer) that you continue to enroll for degree-pursuant purposes. Full-time enrollment is defined as 12 credit hours for undergraduate and 9 credit hours for graduate.
Please Note:
• A grade of "W" (for withdrawal) does not count towards full-time enrollment.
• Neither the "Winter Intercession" nor the "Maymester" count towards full-time enrollment.
• A grade of "I" (for incomplete) counts towards your full-time enrollment; however, an incomplete in a prior semester cannot count towards full-time enrollment during a later semester.
| Reduced Course Load (RCL)
Pursuing a "full course of study" (enrolling full-time) is one of the cornerstones of maintaining your status. A student must continue to pursue that full course of study throughout each semester in order to maintain status and be in good standing.
If you are eligible to drop below full time, you must first request permission to do so and have been notified by a Designated School Official ("DSO") within ISSS that you have received authorization prior to enrolling in less than a full course of study or prior to dropping any courses during the semester. Dropping below a full course of study without the prior approval of a DSO in the ISSS office will be considered a violation of status.
There are four main eligibility categories under which you may reduce your course load: academic, graduate thesis/dissertation, final semester, and medical.
Academic
Students that have academic difficulties, including: improper course level placement, initial difficulty with the English language, initial difficulty with reading requirements, or unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods, may request an RCL. If an RCL is approved for academic difficulties, the student must register for at least 6 credit hours (both graduate and undergraduate). This type of RCL may be only granted once per program level (i.e. Associates, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate).
Graudate Thesis/Dissertation
Graduate students that have completed all coursework and are in the final stage of their thesis or dissertation and will continue to be registered for research hours until the completion of their thesis or dissertation may request an RCL.
Final Semester
Students who are in their final semester (including summer) may be eligible to request an RCL if they do not need to enroll in a full course of study to complete their degree/program requirements. If an RCL is approved for the final term, the student may register for the number of credit hours recommended by the academic advisor. Note that final program requirements must meet all in-person course provisions [see Online Classes (Distance Education) Limits below for more information] and the course(s) may not be for administrative purposes only. Note that the request for a reduced course load in a final semester should be made before the beginning of the semester for which you are requesting it. If the request to drop below full-time occurs during the semester, it must be authorized before dropping any courses.
Medical
Students who have an illness or medical condition may be eligible for an RCL. If an RCL is approved for an illness or medical condition, the student may register for the recommended credit hours (up to and including withdrawing from the semester) by the medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (DO), Licensed Psychologist, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Although recommendation by the academic advisor is not required, it is the intention of this office to keep the academic advisor in the loop to the student’s plans. This type of RCL may be only granted for up to an aggregate of 12 months per program level (i.e. Associates, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate). Please note that the student must submit a medical RCL form explaining the need for the reduced course load by the MD, DO, Licensed Psychologist, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist to our office for approval.
To obtain authorization to drop below a full course of study for academic or medical reasons, you must complete a request for a Reduced Course Load.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• If seeking to drop a course then add a course that will place you at full-time again, it is best practice to add the course first to ensure there are no issues before dropping a course.
• Some university scholarships may require full-time enrollment. Be sure to speak to the appropriate office managing your scholarship(s) for more information on how it may be impacted by dropping below full-time.
• Do not drop any of your courses to be below full-time until you receive notification from ISSS that a request has been authorized.
• If you have dropped any courses in error or prior to authorization and cannot add the course or another course in STAR, e-mail registrar@mail.wvu.edu immediately, indicating the error, asking to be added back into the dropped courses. Permission to be added back is not guaranteed.
• E-mail isss-students@mail.wvu.edu immediately if you have dropped below full time without authorization and cannot fix the error so that we can further advise.
• RCL requests for academic reasons require a student to be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours (or half the clock hours for IEP).
• If you do not enroll full-time or drop below full-time without prior authorization and you are unable to add courses to return to full-time enrollment, you will be considered out of status and your I-20 (SEVIS record) may be terminated, requiring your immediate departure from the U.S. To regain F-1 status, you would be required to request a new I-20, pay the SEVIS fee again, travel abroad, possibly obtain a new F-1 visa, and re-enter the U.S. on the new I-20.
| Online Classes (Distance Education) Limits
It is best practice to enroll in all in-person courses if possible to maintain full-time regulatory requirements for F-1 status. If you do need to enroll in online/hyflex courses, no more than the equivalent of one on-line/hyflex education class (up to 3 credits) per semester may count towards the full course of study requirement. After this full course of study requirement and online limit are met, you may add additional online courses as needed.
• Undergraduate students - full-time enrollment is 12 credit hours of which at least 9 credits must be in-person.
• Graduate students - full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours of which at least 6 credits must be in-person.
• IEP/ELP (formerly AMP) - may not enroll in any online/hyflex courses
If you have requested and been approved for an RCL, only one online/hyflex course (up to 3 credits) may count towards your required enrollment. If you were approved for a final term RCL and only need to take one course, that course cannot be online/hyflex. You must either enroll in an additional in-person course or enroll in the equivalent in-person version of the course.
| Request to Withdraw or Take a Leave of Absence from the Semester
To withdraw from the entire semester, you must:
1. Email both isss-students@mail.wvu.edu and copy ("cc") the registrar@mail.wvu.edu that you wish to completely withdraw from the semester. Note that refund requests are processed through Student Accounts. Be sure to inquire with their office at WVU Hub to discuss the possibility or eligibility for any refund of payment already made toward tuition, fees, or other university billed expenses. For graduate students, please be sure to coordinate with your department about any assistantship requirements before departing and what requirements you may need to meet before returning.
2. Depart the U.S. within 15 days of your request and send us a PDF copy of your I-94 travel history (click "view travel history") to evidence your departure from the U.S. We will email you confirmation that your SEVIS record & I-20 is terminated for "authorized early withdrawal."
Resuming Your Studies at WVU
• When you intend to return to the U.S. to resume your studies, we recommend contacting International Admissions ( internationaladmissions@mail.wvu.edu) at least 2 months prior to see whether you need to be readmitted into your academic program.
• Reactivate your International Student Portal profile. After reactivation, you may request a new I-20 with a new SEVIS number.
• After obtaining your new I-20, pay the SEVIS fee at fmjfee.com.
• If your F-1 visa is no longer valid, apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad. Please direct any questions about visa validity to the US embassy/consulate abroad.
• Complete SEVIS Check-in upon your return to Morgantown.
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Extending Your I-20 Program End Date
Your I-20 must remain valid at all times. If you are not able to complete your program (or degree) by the program end date listed on your I-20 or you need additional time, you must request an I-20 extension before the I-20 program end date. Al lowing your I-20 to expire before you complete your academic program may be a violation of your F-1 status. Please be advised that ISSS cannot extend your I-20 after your program end date.
If there is a chance that you may fail a course or may not meet graduation requirements in the same semester of your I-20 program end date, we strongly advise placing an I-20 extension request as a precaution to give you additional time to complete your degree requirements. If the I-20 extension is not needed, ISSS can assist with withdrawing your request.
Please keep in mind that I-20 extensions are not automatic and are only for students who have compelling academic reasons and are making satisfactory progress towards degree completion. ISSS reviews the information obtained from the I-20 extension request along with the recommendation from your academic advisor to make the final determination as to whether there is a compelling enough reason to extend an I-20.
Although ISSS does its best to remind you about I-20 program end date, it is ultimately your responsibility to understand when your program end date is approaching and request an I-20 extension request and/or communicate the need for an extension to ISSS. -
Report any address changes to ISSS within 10 days
U.S. federal regulations require all F-1 students to report a change of address within 10 days (of the address change) to an international student advisor in ISSS. You may do so through a Contact Information Update request .
The U.S. federal government requires international students to report directly to ISSS. ISSS is required to provide this and other data to the federal government electronically. No other university office is authorized by the federal government to process this data.
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Report changes to your academic program to ISSS
| Change of Major
For changes or updates in major(s), please ensure that this change is reflected in your academic records first by speaking with your academic advisor in your college/major before placing the request. To update your I-20 to properly reflect your new major(s), submit an Add or Change a Major request. We will verify your new major information with your academic records.
| Change of Education Level (COEL)
To change education levels (e.g. Bachelor’s degree to Master’s degree or a even a second Bachelor's degree after completing the first) while remaining at WVU, a new I-20 with the new educational program noted needs to be issued after the student has been admitted.
A CHANGE OF EDUCATIONAL LEVEL MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 60 DAY GRACE PERIOD ALOTTED AFTER THE PROGRAM END DATE IS REACHED ON THE CURRENT I-20.
If graduating early, your I-20 will be shortened to reflect your new program end date and your 60 day grace period will begin after that date.
Student should allow for at least 15 business days for ISSS to process the change of educational level and should make the request as soon as they have received acknowledgement from international admissions that they have been accepted into their new program.
A change of educational level cannot be made after the 60 day grace period and completion of your I-20/SEVIS record. If a request is made after the 60 day grace period, you will need to complete onboarding requirements for a new I-20 and SEVIS record while paying a new SEVIS fee and must depart the U.S. and return 30 days prior to the start of your new program in order to activate your record.
To apply for a change of education level I-20, login to the Student Request portal , go to the "Requests and Documents" tab, select the Change Educational Level icon, complete all required fields and upload all required documents, and submit the request to ISSS. In the request, the student will need to provide:
• complete information for all fields required
• valid passport
• admission e-mail for the new program
• financial proof to cover the cost of attendance for the program for the equivalent of one academic year
- Continuing evidence of financial ability to meet expenses for the cost of attendance of the first academic year is required: (ex. official bank statement) Undergraduate, IEP, & Exchange Student - estimated cost of attendance | Graduate & Professional Student - estimated cost of attendance
- If you have dependent(s), you must provide additional funding in the amount of $6,171 for each dependent (spouse or child) per year.
- Please note evidence must be a liquid asset & less than six (6) months old
- Once we have reviewed your completed request, we will email you about your newly updated I-20 and how it can be ac cessed electronically . -
Abide by employment regulations
F-1 student status permits you to work on campus for no more than 20 hours/week while school is in session and full-time during university breaks (winter, spring, summer). These 20 hours include the work you do for an assistantship (if you have one).
*Working more than 20 hours per week on-campus is considered a violation of status leading to termination of your SEVIS record.
You are not permitted to work off-campus without prior authorization. Off-campus employment is allowed with prior permission from ISSS (and usually an application to USCIS) during and/or after the completion of your studies. These off-campus employment types are CPT/OPT .
Off-campus economic hardship application to USCIS is for unforeseen and dire financial circumstances. Approval by USCIS is not guarantee d and requires a detailed application process to USCIS with application fee. It requires the help of a DSO (Designated School Official) in the ISSS office who will need to first discuss with you your eligibility. Application for off-campus employment for severe economic hardship is also not immediate and could take several months or more for USCIS to adjudicate. Please contact isss-students@mail.wvu.edu if you need to discuss your eligibility.
*Working off-campus without prior authorization or participating in CPT/OPT prior to being authorized is considered a violation of status likely leading to termination of your SEVIS record.
For more information about on and off campus employment, payroll processing, and frequently asked questions about employment, please visit our student employment webpage.
Additional Information Concerning Worker's Rights | Know Your Rights (Wilberforce Pamphlet) from the Department of State -
Obtain a travel signature prior to departing the U.S. for your return to WVU
When preparing to travel abroad, and in addition to obtaining a travel endorsement from ISSS, it is important to ensure you have the required documents for entry to another country and re-entry to the U.S.
Entry requirements to other countries are typically available on the website of their embassy. Depending on the country to be visited and the student’s nationality, there may be the need to apply for a visitor’s visa.
In order to return to the U.S., a student in F-1 status must have:
• a valid passport - Check your passport expiration date. Make sure it will not expire sooner than six months from your re-entry date. If your passport expires in less than six months, it is crucial that you renew your passport in the U.S. through a consulate or embassy before traveling, or renew it while you’re back in your country of citizenship (if home for a long enough period).
• a valid U.S visa - Check your visa expiration date. If the F-1 visa foil in your passport will expire before your intended re-entry date to the U.S., you’ll need to obtain a new visa to re-enter the U.S. Please see ISSS if you need a new I-20.
• a current/valid I-20 with a travel endorsement from a DSO on the 2nd page of your I-20 - Carry your most recent original I-20 that is signed by an ISSS Staff member (DSO) for the most recent semester.
• verification of enrollment - a copy of enrolled courses (highly recommended)
• proof of I-901 SEVIS fee payment - You can find this at fmjfee.com .
• Financial Verification - Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses (highly recommended)
• been out of the U.S. for less than 5 months (please consult with ISSS for exceptions to this regulation during the pandemic).
• Emergency contact information for ISSS - (304) 293-9456
Travel endorsements can be made via your Student Request Portal . Please login and go to the "Request and Documents" tab, select the "Travel Endorsement" icon, answer all questions, upload all required documents, and submit your request to ISSS.
Signatures can be provided electronically by a DSO and you can access your newly signed I-20 via your request portal. You will be notified once the endorsement is ready via your WVU MIX email with directions on how to access the I-20.
Please be sure to try to make this request prior to travelling and as soon as possible. Though a travel endorsement is not needed for exit from the U.S., it will be required by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon re-entry. If you already departed the U.S. and did not request the travel endorsement, please place the request as soon as possible prior to your return. An advisor will review the request and can provide the document electronically to you to access, print, and sign prior to your return from abroad.
Travel signatures are valid for one year (6 months if on OPT), but it is generally good practice to acquire an updated signature and have ISSS check your record prior to any travel or at least every 6 months prior to travel. -
Transferring Out your SEVIS Record to Another Institution to Continue Your Studies (for current WVU students only)*
(*Please Note that if you are seeking to transfer-in your SEVIS record to WVU from another institution, please see the ISSS New Student (On-boarding) webpage.
To Transfer-Out your SEVIS record from WVU to another SEVP approved school:
• Students must request a transfer-out of their SEVIS record (I-20) if planning to attend another institution.
• Please note: you must maintain your F-1 status at the school that holds your SEVIS record (WVU) until your transfer out is completed. For example, if you request to transfer out at any time during a required semester, you must remain enrolled full-time until the transfer is approved.
• You will then need to coordinate with your new school your full-time enrollment as well and their "Transfer-In" procedures for your SEVIS record. It is recommended that you contact the new school to keep them updated of your plans and alert them when the transfer out is completed.Please be in contact with a DSO at your new institution when placing a "Transfer Out" request. You will need them to provide you with information for questions within our transfer out request along with their contact information if ISSS should need to contact the DSO at your new school for any reason.
• To transfer your SEVIS record out of WVU, please login to the International Student Portal, go to the "Requests and Documents" tab, select the "Transfer Out" icon, complete all required fields and information for the new school and DSO at the new school (this is the "approver form" and information from your new school's DSO should be the only contact included. Be sure the e-mail address is correct so that the new school's DSO will receive the approver request), upload all required documents including proof of admission to the new school, and submit the request to ISSS.
• Please follow up with the approver (the new school's DSO) after submitting the request to let them know they will be receiving a form from our office to complete. We cannot complete your transfer out of your SEVIS record until the DSO at your new school completes the electronic approver form.
• Please allow at least 15 business days for processing and monitor your WVU MIX e-mail for updates. An international advisor at WVU will alert you once your SEVIS record has been transferred.
***Please note that you are responsible for all other requirements for transferring out of WVU including, but not limited to, contacting your academic department and being aware of policies regarding student accounts and dropping/withdrawing from courses.
If needing to order an official transcript for your transfer, please see: https://registrar.wvu.edu/academic-records/request-transcript -
Removal for Non-Payment from Courses/ Financial Holds
F-1 and J-1 students attest on the form I-20/DS-2019 that they have adequate finances to meet cost of attendance requirements for the university and their academic program. All WVU students are expected to pay their student account balance and any other fees by established deadlines in order to remain enrolled or to enroll in future semesters. U.S. federal regulations require that international students must be enrolled *full-time to maintain status and remain in the U.S. (*unless a Reduced Course Load has been approved or pending approval through the ISSS office).
Removal for Non-payment
If you are an F-1 student and have not: coordinated payment with the Mountaineer Hub by established billing deadlines; have not sought a remedy with the Mountaineer Hub for a balance owed by the published deadline; are removed from all of your classes by the Mountaineer Hub for non-payment; and have not been reinstated back into courses by the Mountaineer Hub and can no longer enroll full-time, you are then considered out of status for failing to maintain full-time enrollment.If removed from courses and not reinstated, you will receive notice of termination of your F-1 status and will then need to depart the U.S. immediately per federal regulations.In order to return to the U.S. after departure to resume your academic studies, you will need to onboard for a new I-20/DS-2019, ensure you can re-enroll full-time in the semester in which you choose to return, and coordinate your return by contacting isss-students@mail.wvu.edu.Students who are removed from courses will need to contact the WVU Hub and monitor communication from their office regarding strict deadlines for reinstatement and how you can be placed back into courses. If removed from courses, complete payment must be made or a payment plan arranged with the Mountaineer Hub. A promise to pay will not be sufficient.
Financial Holds
If a financial hold on your WVU student account for a balance/payment owed or any other type of registration hold is preventing you from registering full-time for courses in a current or future semester, you risk termination of your F-1 status if you cannot remedy the situation by the university's strict add/drop deadline and enroll full-time in courses. If terminated for failing to enroll, you will need to onboard for a new I-20/DS-2019 , ensure you can re-enroll full-time in the semester in which you choose to return, and coordinate your return by contacting isss-students@mail.wvu.edu . For complete information about financial responsibilities, please visit the WVU Student Accounts Policy webpage . -
End of Program Departure Requirements and Options
Depart the U.S. within 60-day grace period
F-1 visa holders must depart the U.S. within 60 days of their I-20 expiration date or within 60 days upon completion of their degree program and new I-20 program end date if not utilizing one of the following options (which must be completed within the 60 day grace period): Changing Educational Levels (See above), Transferring to another U.S. institution in order to change educational level (See Transfer Out above), Applying for Post Completion Optional Practical Training, Speaking with an immigration attorney to change to another status that would allow you to stay in the U.S. for work and/or study.
Report departure date and reason to ISSS
Sometimes, and for a variety of reasons, students leave the university early or unexpectedly. Some of these reasons include early graduation, completion of practical training, leave of absence, suspension, or expulsion.U.S. federal regulations require F-1 students to inform ISSS if they plan to leave the university before the expiration date of their I-20 form as well as the reason for doing so. Please send us an email at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu . -
Important To Consider
• Strive to understand and tolerate a host country’s educational and cultural setting, including standards of conduct, law, respect for others, honesty and integrity.
• Respect the rights of self-determination of others.
• Observe the laws and respect for culture of the host country.
• Participate as fully as possible in the life of the host university and country.
• Seek to participate in joint and cooperative ventures of an educational, social or cultural nature with citizens and students of the host country and with other international students and scholars.
• Individually and in groups, act with respect for the rights of persons from other countries, cultures and subcultures, without abridging those rights even in pursuit of one’s own rights.
Academic Integrity
The American classroom culture and expectations are very different from most of the other countries. Plagiarism, (taking someone else’s ideas and claiming them to be your own) is considered "cheating" and can lead to suspension or expulsion, any of which would prevent you to enroll full-time. Using someone else’s ideas in written work may be permitted as long as you give the originator of the idea their due credit through proper citation. Please visit the link for WVU's Office of Academic Integrity for more information. To learn more about plagiarism and how to avoid it, visit the Plagiarism Avoidance Tutorial .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have any questions or need further clarification, please e-mail our office at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu.
Will removal from courses for nonpayment impact my F-1 status?F-1 and J-1 students attest on the form I-20/DS-2019 that they have adequate finances
to meet cost of attendance requirements for the university and their academic program.
All WVU students are expected to pay their student account balance and any other
fees by established deadlines in order to remain enrolled or to enroll in future
semesters. U.S. federal regulations require that international students must be
enrolled *full-time to maintain status and remain in the U.S. (*unless a Reduced
Course Load has been approved or pending approval through the ISSS office).
Any questions about payment need to be directed to the
WVU Hub.
How do financial holds impact my F-1 status?
If a financial hold on your WVU student account for a balance/payment owed or any other type of a registration hold is preventing you from registering full-time for courses in a current or future semester, you risk termination of your F-1 status if you cannot remedy the situation by the university's strict add/drop deadline and enroll full-time in courses. For complete information about financial responsibilities, please visit the WVU Student Accounts Policy webpage.
How early can I request an I-20 extension?
You should request an I-20 extension in the semester of your I-20 program end date.
What happens if I do not request an I-20 extension before the I-20 program end date?
If you allow your I-20 to expire and do not request an extension in a timely manner, you most likely will be required to depart the U.S. and will need to request a new I-20 with a new SEVIS number, pay a new SEVIS fee, and obtain a new visa (if your visa is no longer valid) prior to returning to the U.S. to finish your studies.