Regaining Valid Status

Termination

  1. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain his/her student status by remaining compliant with immigration and university regulations.
  2. All F-1 International students who violate their student status may have their SEVIS record terminated by ISSC.
  3. In most cases, termination requires a student to depart the United States immediately.
  4. The grounds for termination of a SEVIS record include but are not limited to:
  • Unauthorized employment
  • Unauthorized withdrawal from classes
  • Unauthorized drop below full course of study
  • Expulsion and suspension
  • Failure to enroll in classes
  • Over-enrollment in online and hybrid courses
  • Not maintaining status
  • Failure to report OPT employment
  • Accrual of 90 days of unemployment while on OPT
  1. Effects of termination:
  • Upon termination, all F-1 benefits, such as employment (on-campus and off-campus) will cease immediately.
  • SEVIS records of F-2 dependents sponsored will also be terminated, and they must depart the U.S. within 15 days of the termination event
  • If you are out of the country for less than 5 months, you can request, through your Wildcat Mail (Weber email), for your SEVIS record to be reactivated, up to 60 days prior to the start of the semester.
  • You may not use your current F-1 visa to enter the United States until your SEVIS record has been re-activated. Once the record has been returned to active status, you may apply for your visa and/or return to the United States.
  • You must return to the United States within 5 months, in order to keep your immigration status and begin classes by the next available session.
  • If you do not return to the United States within 5 months, you will be required to apply for a new I-20 and F-1 visa.
  • If you are terminated, the required two semesters necessary for CPT and OPT must be satisfied again.

Reinstatement

  1. A student who has failed to maintain status must be reinstated to lawful F-1 status, at the discretion of USCIS, but only under the limited conditions specified in 8 CFR 214.2(f)(16). 
  2. If an F-1 student violates status, all F-2 dependents of that individual automatically lose their status as well. Consequently, F-2 dependents must be included on a reinstatement application. 
  3. Students must meet with an ISSC advisor to determine eligibility.