Revised on May 7, 2021
International Student and Scholar Services has confirmed updated guidance from the U.S. government regarding international students and distance learning for the 2021 - 2022 Academic Year.
All F-1 undergraduate students have to register for 12 credits total and graduate students need to register for 9 credits to maintain their F-1 status.
Please note the following rules and requirements:
- Current students who were enrolled March 9, 2020 or earlier:
Students who were enrolled in a U.S. academic program on March 9, 2020 and have continued to maintain F-1 visa status may study fully online while in the U.S. Also, if you are studying full time from your home country, ISSS may keep your SEVIS record active while you are gone, even if your total absence exceeds 5 months. - Current students who arrived after March 9, 2020:
Students who arrived in the U.S. to begin your program after March 9, 2020 were required to take at least one in-person or hybrid course during Fall 2020 as part of your full-time enrollment. In the 2021-2022 Academic Year, this requirement continues, and you must haveat least one in-person or hybrid course as part of your full time course load. Hybrid courses are NOT considered online. - New students for the 2021-2022 Academic Year:
Students who will travel to the U.S. to begin a program for the 2021-2022 Academic Year must have at least one in-person or hybrid course as part of your full-time enrollment. Hybrid courses are NOT considered online.
Special Situations:
- Former students returning to the U.S. on an initial attendance I-20: Students who were present and enrolled in a program of study on March 9, 2020 but have not maintained continuous F-1 status will need a new I-20 to return to the U.S. Since their I-20s are issued for initial attendance, they must enroll in at least one in-person or hybrid course if returning to the United States for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. If the former students plan to starttheir new programs online from their home country, they do not need an initial I-20.
- SEVIS Transfer Students: Students who are new to their program at NMSU for the 2021-2022 Academic Year, but were in the U.S. on March 9, 2020 studying at another institution and have continued their F-1 status through the SEVIS Transfer process may study fully online while in the U.S.
- Change of Education Level Students: Students who are new to their program at NMSU for the 2021-2022 Academic Year, but were in the U.S. on March 9, 2020 in a different NMSU program, and have continued their F-1 status through the Change of Education Level process may study fully online while in the U.S.
- Change of Visa Status Students: Students who are requesting a change of visa status to F-1 with an I-20 start date on the 2021-2022 Academic Year should enroll in at least one in-person or hybrid course as part of your full-time enrollment. While this situation is not directly addressed in the government guidance, we suggest you followthis, even if you were present and enrolled at a U.S. institution in another visa status on March 9, 2020.
- J-1 Visa Students: If you are in the U.S. on a J-1 student visa for study, we anticipate the same rules will apply as noted above. We are still awaiting official guidance from the Department of State on this matter, but in past semesters the Department of State has mirrored the guidance for F-1 students.