Maintaining International Student Status

The university is required to comply with the following policies for F-1 international students.

1. F-1 students are individually responsible for maintaining their F-1 status.
2. Initial F-1 students may enter the United States up to thirty (30) days prior to the program start date listed on the Form I-20 and should report to Strayer University in person at least one week before the start of the term.
3. Students transferring their F-1 status after completing a degree from a U.S. institution to Strayer University must complete the admissions process within sixty (60) days of program completion or expiration of OPT from their previous institution.
4. All transfer students should receive their Strayer SEVIS Forms I-20 no later than fifteen (15) days after the beginning of the quarter. Students may request the continued attendance Form I-20 by contacting the campus.
5. F-1 students may enroll in a maximum of one online course per quarter as applied towards full-time enrollment. In addition, undergraduate students must enroll in two on-ground classes per quarter and graduate students must enroll in one on-ground class per quarter. Independent study and hybrid courses for F-1 students must meet each week at the campus to qualify as an on-ground class.
6. Full-time enrollment equals 13.5 credit hours (undergraduate) and 9.0 credit hours (graduate) per quarter.
7. All F-1 students requesting an authorized break must be in status and enrolled full time for three consecutive quarters (may include summer) at Strayer. Summer term is not a guaranteed break.
8. F-1 students must maintain a valid SEVIS Form I-20, including updating personal and academic changes such as requests for a program extension or changes of degree.
9. F-1 students must report a legal name change or any changes of domestic or foreign address information, phone, or email to Strayer within ten (10) days of the change.
10. Per USCIS rules and regulations, F-1 students whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate) for more than two consecutive terms must depart the United States or apply for F-1 reinstatement at another SEVP approved school.
11. Students in F-1 status are not permitted to accept off-campus employment without proper work authorization. Students may obtain additional information about work authorization from the DHS website, Study in the States, available online at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/.
12. Students on optional practical training (OPT) must report changes in employment and student contact information to their SEVP portal within ten (10) days of the change. Students must contact the campus to request an updated Form I-20 listing the new employer.
13. Per USCIS rules and regulations, students in F-1 status must depart the United States within sixty (60) days of the last date of their last term after program completion unless they applied for OPT or earned acceptance into a different degree program. Students wishing to participate in their commencement ceremony must receive approval from the USCIS to change their status to B-2 (temporary visitor) if the commencement ceremony is more than sixty (60) days from the last day of their last term. 

Strayer University is required under USCIS regulations to report the enrollment activity of F-1 students in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The university is obligated to terminate the status of students who fail to adhere to the above guidelines, and these students must promptly leave the United States. If these students think they have an adequate reason to apply for reinstatement, they must contact their International Student Coach as soon as possible. Students will be barred from enrollment until they provide evidence of full compliance with USCIS regulations.

In addition, the university encourages all international students to enroll in a group health insurance plan.

The university is responsible for reporting compliance with USCIS regulations concerning a student’s application for or maintaining the current status of an F-1 visa. Students may wish to seek outside legal counsel or the DHS website, Study in the States, if they have questions regarding their nonimmigrant status.