Current Students

F-1 and J-1 Students:

Maintaining Lawful Student Visa Status
In  order to remain lawfully in the United States during your studies in F-1/J-1 status, you must adhere to the regulations that govern F-1 and J-1 students.

The following information will give you guidelines for maintaining lawful student visa status. Although CISS strives to provide the most up-to-date information, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) considers it the responsibility of the F-1 student to be sure that you do not do anything that violates the terms of your status. The U.S. government will not accept ignorance of the law for any violation. 

You are required by law to register for and complete a "full course of study" each fall and spring semester at Bentley University. Dropping below 12 credits without prior authorization by CISS is a violation of your F-1 status.

Full time for undergraduate students is at least 12 credits and for graduate students at least 9 credits. 

In order to reduce your course load below full-time you must request authorization in advance from the CISS office. An International Student Advisor will guide you in completing the necessary paperwork. You must resume a full course of study in the semester immediately following your permitted period of reduced course load if you will not be completing your program in the reduced course-load semester.

The following are the only exceptions to the full-course-of-study requirement: 

• Illness or Medical Condition
• Initial Difficulty with English Language
• Initial Difficulty with Reading Requirements
• Unfamiliarity with American Teaching Methods
• Improper Course Level Placement
• To Complete Course of Study in Current Term

Summer - You are not required to register for courses during the summer semester and may remain in the US if you intend to register for a full course load during the subsequent fall semester. If you have particular questions about the summer semester, please drop by the CISS office to talk with an International Student Advisor.

You must complete all work and receive a final grade for any incomplete courses by the end of your final semester of study in order to maintain your F-1 Student Status.

US Immigration regulations state that your lawful F-1 status automatically ends sixty (60) days after you complete your program* unless you take some action to remain lawfully in the US. Therefore, it is very important for you to be aware of the official date of completion of your program of study as indicated on your Form I-20.

*Important The sixty-day grace period described above is not available to students who do not complete their program of study (e.g. are suspended or withdraw from Bentley, or otherwise do not complete their program objective as stated on their Form I-20.)