F-1 Student Enrollment, Travel, and Work Rules

1.  How many credit hours must an F-1 student take?

F1 Students are required to be enrolled for a full course of study every semester.

• Undergraduate students must take at least 12 credits.
• Graduate students without an assistantship must take at least 9 credits.
• Graduate students with an assistantship can take 6 credits if their assistantship meets full-time equivalency requirements as defined by the Registrar. Students must work with the department offering the assistantship to ensure that these requirements are met.
• INTO Mason Academic English students must take 18 clock hours per week in person.
• INTO Mason Pathways students must follow the schedule assigned to them by INTO Mason but have at least the same credit requirements as their degree level counterparts (9 for Graduate, 12 for Undergraduate).

2. Are there any exceptions to the full course of study requirements above?

See Exceptions to full-time course enrollment above for information on summer term, graduating term, and doctoral student flexibilities. 

In addition to the exceptions mentioned above, in some situations, an academic or medical reduced course load can be approved so that a student can maintain status with less than the credit hour requirements stated in Question 1 above. Students should not drop courses before discussing eligibility for reduced course load with an OIPS advisor. See F-1 & J-1 Forms and Requests – International Programs and Services for more information and step-by-step instructions. Specifically see these sections:

• Reduced Course Load (RCL) for Academic Reasons: Can only be approved in the first semester of study and cannot be considered again until the first semester of a student’s next education level.
• Reduced Course Load for an Illness or Medical Condition: In most cases, must be recommended by George Mason’s Office of Disability Services.
• Reduced Course Load for Last Semester: Can only be approved for students who have successfully applied for graduation

General Employment Rules

3. Can I apply for OPT outside of the U.S?

USCIS instructions on the I-765 application state that you must be in the U.S. to apply for OPT. OIPS does not monitor your physical location at the time that you submit your OPT application. We are providing this information to you so that you know official USCIS rules.

4. Do I have to be aware of any work restrictions in addition to F1 visa status rules?

Yes. You should consult with your employer and their trusted tax experts about any rules regarding labor laws, tax implications, employer reporting requirements, and other issues that you may need to be aware of before you decide where you work, physically or remotely, especially if you are considering work while you are outside of the U.S.

5. How do I apply for OPT or CPT?

The employment section of these FAQS are intended to provide you with information on work flexibilities based on SEVP’s current guidance. To apply for OPT or CPT, you must still follow OIPS procedures on how to determine eligibility and complete application steps that will include information and documentation from you, your academic department, and your training organization or employer. Students should visit the F-1 & J-1 Forms and Requests page and scroll down to the individual sections on CPT and OPT for detailed information.

Entering the U.S.

The information below should apply to all F-1 Students at all U.S. airports. However, please keep in mind that every Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) unit has its own set of procedures, which may vary slightly from the process stated below.

6. What happens when I go through Customs at the airport?

The Customs officer will ask to see your documents (valid I-20, F-1 visa, and passport). The airport official might ask about your plans in the U.S. Be truthful about your studies and plans in the U.S. If the information that you provide and your documents match the information in the SEVIS system, it is highly likely that you will not have a problem entering the U.S.

7. Will I need to show proof of vaccination when I enter the U.S? 

The United States government has announced that beginning May 12, 2023, vaccination requirements for international travelers are no longer required. See Update to Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for nonimmigrant travel for official information.

8. Will I need to take a COVID-19 test when I enter the U.S?

Effective June 12, 2022, the U.S. Government is no longer requiring international air passengers to show proof of COVID Testing. Vaccination Requirements are still in effect. See Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Immigrants: Travel to and from the United States for official information. Keep in mind that rules are subject to change. Check the link above frequently for updates.

9. What do I need to know if I am traveling to the U.S

In addition to following current vaccine and testing requirements, make sure that you have the required or recommended documents listed below when you enter the U.S. and read the following sections for more specific information based on your situation.

Required:

• Passport that is valid 6 months into the future
• Valid unexpired F-1 visa
• I-20 with appropriate signatures. Students can receive an I-20 that is sent electronically from the school but must print and sign the paper copy.
  • New Students:
    • You need a printed I-20 that matches your electronic SEVIS record.
    • The I-20 must have the school signature and your signature on Page 1.
    • You cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the Program Start Date on your I-20.
  • Returning Students/OPT Students:
    • You need a printed I-20 that matches your electronic SEVIS record.
    • The I-20 must have the school signature and your signature on Page 1 and a school travel signature on Page 2, Travel Endorsement. The signature on the Travel Endorsement section must be less than 12 months old if you are currently enrolled and less than 6 months old if you are on post-completion OPT.

Recommended:

• Copy of  SEVP Policy Guidance: Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20
• Copy of your course registration in https://patriotweb.gmu.edu/

More information is available at https://oips.gmu.edu/travel-and-re-entry/

10. What are the rules about I-20s? What I-20 do I need to show to the Customs official at the airport?

You need to show a printed hard copy of your most recent I-20, which must match your current SEVIS record. Your name should be signed by hand in ink with a blue or black pen. The school official signature can be an electronic signature. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has confirmed in SEVP Policy Guidance: Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20 that school officials will be allowed to continue providing electronic signatures and sending students the I-20 electronically. This policy should remain in effect even after the end of COVID -19. SEVP has worked with government partners such as Customs and Border Patrol on this policy. Therefore, the airport is still allowing students to enter the U.S. with an I-20 that has a school official’s electronic signature.

11. Can I enter the U.S. with a valid F-1 visa even if I have been outside of the U.S. for more than five months?

Many students have been successful entering the U.S. with an F-1 visa that has not expired even if they have been outside of the U.S. for more than 5 months. However, it is best to check with the U.S. Embassy about any required updates to your F-1 visa before entering the U.S.

12. Do I need to show the Customs official at the airport all my I-20s?

You should show the Customs official the most recent I-20 issued to you by OIPS. The I-20 should match the information in the SEVIS system. You should keep copies of all your I-20s/DS-2019s for your records, but you do not need to show all of them to the Customs official.

13. My F1 visa is still valid. I studied in the U.S. previously and was issued a new I-20 with a new SEVIS number. Therefore, the SEVIS number on my F1 visa page is not the same as the one of my current I-20. What should I tell the Customs official at the airport?

Your entry needs to be recorded on your current SEVIS record and current matching I-20. Show the official your most recent I-20. Tell the official that your F1 visa has a different SEVIS number but is still valid and that you were issued a new I-20 with a new SEVIS number. The official should record your entry under new SEVIS number, not the previous SEVIS number on your F1 visa.

14. If I have any problems at the airport, how can I contact OIPS?

The best way to contact OIPS is to call the main office line at 703-993-2970 during normal office hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 5:00 p.m. At any other time, call the George Mason University Campus Police at 703-993-2810. You can provide this information to the Customs official if necessary. The Campus Police will then contact OIPS if you need urgent help.

I-94 Correction Information

15. What is an I-94?

An I-94 is an electronic record of your arrival and departure from the U.S. You can print out a copy of your I-94 here. Click on the blue Get Most Recent I-94 box and enter your information. Then, click on Next to see and print your I-94. It is a good idea to have a copy of your most recent I-94 after each entry into the U.S. and check it to make sure the information is correct. If you are traveling to the U.S. for the first time, you will need the I-94 to complete F-1 and J-1 check-in with OIPS after your entry.

16. What should I look at on my I-94?

Check to make sure that the following information is correct:

• The Most Recent Date of Entry
• The Class of Admission

 17. What can I do if my I-94 is not correct?

You can contact the Deferred Inspection section of the airport to try to correct your information. Often, you will need to go to the Deferred Inspection site in person. However, depending on which airport you entered, you might be able to correct the information by telephone or email. Check here for a list of Deferred Inspection sites and their contact information.

The Deferred Inspection Information for Dulles Airport is below: