Academic Advising | Messiah, a private Christian University in PA

Advising International Students on an F-1 Visa

A Note for Academic Advisors

The primary category of international students that Messiah University accepts is students who are citizens of a country other than the U.S. and have been admitted entry into the United States on an F-1 Visa. These students have particular precautions that they need to take in order to remain in compliance with their visas.

Advising Issues that Impact F-1 Students:

Change of Major

If an F-1 international student changes a major or adds a major they must inform the MISP (Multicultural and International Student Programs) Office and/or their DSO (Designated School Official), as the student needs to obtain a new I-20 to reflect their current degree programs.

Extension of Program

A student who is unable to complete his or her studies by their "program end date" indicated on their Form I-20 must make their DSO aware. A delay caused by academic probation or suspension is not an acceptable reason for extension.

Full-Time Enrollment

F-1 international students are required to study full-time each term by enrolling in and completing a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester. There are some scenarios in which a student can apply for a "Reduced Course Load" to become a part-time student if there are extenuating medical circumstances or if they are in the last semester of their course of study.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT):

F-1 international students who wish to do an internship or practicum MUST apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT). CPT is granted for an internship or practicum that is directly related to the student’s degree program. This includes student teaching, nursing clinicals, paid and unpaid internships. If a student has questions about CPT, they should contact their DSO at the MISP Office.

Online Courses

F-1 international students are required to take most of their classes in a traditional classroom setting. Only 3 online credits hours per semester or term will be counted towards full-time enrollment. Students who are taking overload courses may take more than 3 credits hours of online classes. If a student only needs one course to complete his or her degree program, that course cannot be taken online.

Commonly Used Terms:

I-20

An I-20 is a Certificate of Eligibility for Non-immigrant (F-1) Student Status, issued by Messiah University and other approved institutions. The form contains information such as student’s major, program start and end dates and student’s financial information.

F-1 Visa

An F-1 visa is an entry permit issued by a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad for students who wish to enter the U.S. for the purpose of pursuing full-time studies.

DSO

The acronym DSO stands for Designated School Official. A DSO is a regular employee of the college approved by the Department of Homeland Security to access SEVIS. A DSO is responsible for issuing Form I-20s; approving reduced course loads, CPT internship experiences and other work authorizations; and reporting and updating student's information in SEVIS. A DSO is also the one who can endorse a student's Form I-20 for travel.

Maintaining Status

"Maintaining status" means that students are complying with immigration regulations pertaining to their F-1 student status. Students are considered to be “in status” or maintaining status if they are complying with the regulations. If they are in violation of their status they are considered to be “out of status” and therefore, ineligible for certain benefits of their status.

SEVIS

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is a web-based automated system that maintains current information on non-immigrant students and scholars. Schools must report information on students and scholars in SEVIS, which is accessible by the U.S. government.