Contact the OISS immediately if there are any changes in your personal or academic situation or items that need to be updated on your I-20 or DS-2019, such as:

• change of name or citizenship
• change of school, major, or degree level
• withdrawal or termination due to academic or medical reasons
• departure for research or study abroad
• withdrawal for a personal leave of absence
• transfer to another institution in the U.S.
• changes in registration, such as wanting to take an on-line class or enroll at another university
  

Following are the steps every F-1 and J-1 student must follow in order to maintain status:

1. Make sure that your immigration documents are valid and unexpired.

• A passport valid at least six months into the future
• An I-94 card marked "F-1 D/S" or "J-1 D/S"
• An unexpired I-20 (for F-1 students) or DS-2019 (for J-1 students) that has been stamped by an immigration inspector or activated by an OISS advisor
• A valid F-1 or J-1 visa ( for re-entry to the U.S. only)

2. Register for and complete a full course load of 12 credits every semester.

• Undergraduate students must complete at least 12 credits every semester; graduate students are ordinarily required to complete 12 credits in order to be considered full-time.
• All students are required to make normal, full-time progress toward degree completion and to complete within specified time periods. Extensions other than for medical or other unavoidable academic reasons are not permitted.
• If you need to register on a part-time basis, obtain OISS approval BEFORE your registration is finalized. Consult Part-Time Enrollment Approval for more information.

3. Do not begin off-campus employment without written authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the OISS.

• Full-time students in F-1 or J-1 status may accept on-campus employment of no more than 20 hours per week during the school year, or full-time during vacation periods.
• Most forms of off-campus employment require government authorization through USCIS, processing time is 2-3 months.

4. Update the addresses in your NYU record within 10 days of a move.

• F-1 and J-1 students must maintain a local U.S. address and an international address in their NYU record.
  
  Local Address Update:
  Report local address updates on-line through Albert via NYU HOME
  (Stern graduate students use ais.stern.nyu.edu).
  
  International Address Update:
  Your international address may be stored in the permanent or foreign address field in your NYU record. If your international address is stored in the permanent address field, report the address change to your Registrar. The main NYU Registrar's Office is located at 25 West 4th Street. The following schools must use their school's unique Registrar's Office: Stern Graduate, Law, Dental, and Medical. Updates to the "foreign" address field should be sent directly to: oiss.records.update@nyu.edu.

5. Apply for an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019 before your document expires if you need more time to complete your program.

• Apply for an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019 at least 30 days prior to the expiration of your document. An extension request submitted after your I-20 or DS-2019 has expired cannot be processed. Failure to complete your program of study on time or to obtain a timely program extension constitutes a reportable violation of immigration status.

Maintaining status in the United States is your individual responsibility. Keep current about the latest changes in immmigration regulations by subscribing to the OISS's newsletter listserv, Dateline/OISS. If you are not receiving Dateline/OISS, send an e-mail with your name and NYU Student ID number to intl.students.scholars@nyu.edu