Maintaining Your Visa Status

When you get a visa, you must follow a set of requirements. Those who follow the requirements maintain status and ensure their ability to remain in the United States. Those who do not follow the requirements are considered out of status, and could be required to leave the United States and might not be readmitted to the country.

If you fall out of status for reasons beyond your control, you may be eligible to apply for a reinstatement of status. Contact the Office of International Services to learn if that is an option for you, or if you have questions about the rules of your visa.

Upon Arrival to SLU

After arriving in St. Louis, F-1 and J-1 visa holders should stop by the Office of International Services to be registered in SEVIS, the national database for international visitors. Please bring your visa paperwork, passport and local address.
F-1 students arriving in time for orientation will complete their check-in as part of International Student Orientation.

During Your Study at SLU

Inform OIS when you move so we can update your address in the SEVIS database.
Maintain a valid passport at all times.
Do what you’re here to do: Students must take a full-time course load. Faculty and research scholars on J-1, H-1B or TN visas must engage in the teaching, research or employment described in their visa documents.
Follow the requirements for employment. Notify us two weeks before you plan to travel out of the United States; we must sign your I-20 or DS-2019 form before you leave the country.
Obey all state and federal laws.

Full-Time Status

All international students are required to enroll in a full course load during the academic year with only a few exceptions. A full course load for:

Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours per semester
Graduate students: Six credit hours per semester or as determined by the program
Academic English and Pathway students: As determined by your academic program

Students enrolled full time for a fall or spring term are not required to take classes during the summer. If you arrive for a summer term, you will be required to enroll full time for that summer. If you are enrolled in an Academic English or Pathway program, your academic program might require you to take summer classes.

International students are permitted to count only one online course (three credits) per semester toward the required number of credits to be enrolled as a full-time student. (A student may be enrolled in more than one online course, but only one course counts toward the full-time course load.)

Dropping below a full-time status can only be authorized by the Office of International Services under the following conditions:

Medical Issues

You must provide current medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy or a licensed clinical psychologist. You may be authorized to be less-than-full-time for medical reasons for no more than an aggregate of 12 months in any degree program.

Academic Difficulties

This includes initial difficulty with the English language or reading requirements, unfamiliarity with American teaching methods or improper course level placement. Students under this condition must still carry at least a half-time course load (for undergraduates, at least six hours per semester). After dropping below full-time, you must resume a full course load in the next available semester to maintain student status. A student previously authorized for this reason is not eligible for a second authorization.

Final Semester Before Completing a Program

If you do not need a full-time course load to complete the program in the final semester, you must receive approval from your international advisor at the beginning of the semester. Simply being enrolled in courses is not sufficient to maintain your status. In addition, you must attend most classes. University professors will notify our office if you miss more than a few classes.

Ending Your Studies

If you will not graduate or complete your program by the end date on your I-20 or DS-2019, request an extension before the end date.
Notify us if you are transferring to a different school or program.
Complete required tax forms, even if you do not have income.

Transferring to a New University

Your SEVIS record is maintained by the University. If you plan to transfer schools, you must follow the steps below to transfer your SEVIS record and maintain your status. The transfer process is different for new, current and graduated students.

Newly Arrived Students

If you received an I-20 from Saint Louis University and used it to enter the U.S., but plan to attend another U.S. university, you will need to submit a “Newly Arrived Student, Transfer Out” request.

You must request your transfer before the start of classes, or you SEVIS record will be terminated before transfer to comply with U.S. regulations.

Follow these steps to request a transfer as a newly arrived student:

Go to the International Student Portal through your mySLU account at auth.slu.edu.
Select “③ Student Request Center.”
Select “Newly Arrived Student, Transfer Out.”
Complete the form and upload the appropriate documents.
Submit.
Graduate students only: pay your $2,500 enrollment fee.
You will receive an email to schedule an in-person or online interview with our office to confirm intent to transfer.
Work with your DSO at the new institution after submission.

Your I-20 should be only used to apply for an F-1 Visa and travel to the United States if you fully intend to enroll at Saint Louis University. If you arrive in the U.S. with plans to attend another college or university, Saint Louis University may not be able to transfer your record in time for you to successfully enroll at another university. You may have no choice but to return to your home country to obtain a visa that matches your new institution.

OIS begins processing SEVIS initial transfers after the 5th day of the semester in the order they are received.

Current Students

If you are attending Saint Louis University but plan to transfer to another university to complete your degree, you will need to submit a “Transfer Out” request.

You must request your transfer before the start of classes, and the transfer date must be after the last day of classes for the semester. If you request a transfer in the middle of the semester, your SEVIS record will be terminated before transfer to comply with U.S. regulations.

Follow these steps to request a transfer as a current student:

Complete a Form 39 Request for Program/Institutional Withdrawal with the registrar.
Go to the International Student Portal through your mySLU account at auth.slu.edu.
Select “③ Student Request Center.”
Select “Transfer Out.”
Complete the form and upload the appropriate documents.
Submit.
Work with your DSO at the new institution after submission.

Graduated Students

If you have graduated from Saint Louis University and plan to attend a new university for your next degree, you will need to submit a “Transfer Out” request.

Follow these steps to request a transfer as a graduated student:

Go to the International Student Portal through your mySLU account at auth.slu.edu.
Select “④ Control Center.”
Select “Transfer Out.”
Complete the form and upload the appropriate documents.
Submit.
Work with your DSO at the new institution after submission.

Your OPT benefit will end on the date of transfer. If you are employed on OPT, choose a transfer release date that is after your employment end date but before the start of your new school’s semester.

Our office only accepts requests for transfer through the International Student Portal, not by phone or email. We do not complete transfer out forms for other institutions.

We cannot give a time estimate for transfer. Our office does not offer expedited processing, and transfer requests will be processed in the order they are received. You can confirm your SEVIS transfer by going to your International Student Portal, your status will say DEACTIVATED.

Other Requirements

Report any dependents (spouse or children) to the Office of International Services.
Each individual with J-1 and J-2 visa status must prove insurance coverage. (Saint Louis University has an arrangement with Lockton Companies if you need to buy insurance.)