Aerial photograph of the Immaculate Conception Chapel

F-1 Immigration Regulations

This is summary of basic F-1 guidelines. You can find more detailed explanations in the sections listed on the left.

Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months. Contact your home country's embassy in the U.S. for information about renewing your passport validity.

Keep your local address updated. Keep your local residential address current by filling out an [ADDRESS CHANGE FORM]. F-1 students must ensure that their U.S. telephone number(s) and local U.S. and permanent home country addresses are always accurate in UD’s records. DHS requires all non-immigrants to update their address within 10 days of any change.

Maintain full-time enrollment. You must be full-time each semester. See "Full-time study" for specific minimum requirements.

Get ISSS approval before a withdrawal from the University of Dayton. If for some reason you must withdraw from your program or drop below full-time, you are required to have approval from

Attend the school noted on your I-20. You must have a current, valid I-20 from the school you are attending. If you transfer from another school to the University of Dayton, the transfer process must be completed before the semester begins.

Keep your I-20 valid at all times. Submit an application for Extension of Program if the completion date on your I-20 will expire within the next 30 days and you need more time to complete your program of study. The completion date can be found in Box #5 on the I-20 form. You must also request a new I-20 if you change your major or your degree level, e.g. Ph.D. to Master's.

Get a travel endorsement. Before your departure from the U.S., request a signature for re-entry from ISSS. The signature is valid for one year.

Get proper employment permission. For on-campus employment, limit employment to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Employment on-campus may be full-time in the summer and vacation periods. No special work permit is required. For off-campus employment, do not work off-campus without permission. Work permission for F-1 students must be approved through ISSS and the USCIS.