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Underload /Concurrent Enrollment
International students who are admitted to the United States in F-1 status are required by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain the terms and conditions of their nonimmigrant status. Failure to do so can result in deportation. One of the requirements for maintaining F-1 status is to pursue a "full course of study" every semester, not including the summer break. A “full course of study” is considered full-time study, which at Texas State University is defined as 9 credit hours for graduate and non-degree graduate students and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.
At Texas State, CATS is programmed to help our F-1 students maintain lawful status by preventing them from enrolling for less than full-time. There are, however, specific authorized exceptions to the full-course-of-study rule in which case DHS considers F-1 students to be maintaining status even if they are not enrolled full-time. A course load that falls below the full-time requirement, i.e. an underload, requires approval from a DHS Designated School Official (DSO). F-1 students must first complete this form and return it to the International Office to request an override in CATS. After the International Office has entered the override, the student is responsible for completing their registration or drop procedures on CATS.
DHS makes an allowance for two primary sets of circumstances in which international students may drop below full-time hours and still maintain legal status. Most situations involve dropping below full time hours after having enrolled in a full course of study. The International Office is required to report to the DHS students who drop below full-time hours for the reasons specified in #1 and #2 below.
- Health Reasons
If a doctor or licensed counselor is willing to recommend that you drop below full-time hours for health reasons, then you may do so for up to a cumulative total of 12 months and still be considered in status.
Procedure for Medical underload
(a) Complete the Underload Request Form
(b) Complete the Medical Underload Doctor's Recommendations
- Academic Reasons
- Initial difficulty with the English language and/or reading requirements or
- Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods or the US educational system
- Improper course placement (This means that after enrolling in the course, you discover that you do not have the proper background for the course. Failing grades (Fs) in the course can be considered evidence of improper course placement.)
Procedure for Academic underload
(a) Complete the Underload Request Form
Authorization for a reduced course load based on an academic reason listed above may be used only once during your degree program. If you use an academic reason more than once, you will violate the terms of your F-1 status and must apply for reinstatement to DHS or leave the U.S. and reenter using a new I-20.
Besides the two primary types of circumstances mentioned above, there are several other circumstances in which international students can be below hours yet still be considered full time and still maintain legal status. These cases often occur when you are unable to initially register for full-time hours. The International Office is not required to report students who are below full-time hours for reasons #1 through #5 below to the DHS.You are concurrently enrolling in the Texas State Intensive English Program for a combined total of hours that amounts to a full course of study.
- You are concurrently enrolling (download Concurrent Enrolling Form) in the Texas State Intensive English Program for a combined total of hours that amounts to a full course of study.
- You are concurrently enrolling (download Concurrent Enrolling Form) at another school (ACC, for example) for a combined total of credit hours that amounts to a full course of study. Evidence of completion of the coursework will be required.
- You are a graduate student who has completed all required coursework, and are completing a thesis or comprehensive exams. Please note: you must continue to maintain normal progress when completing your thesis or exams.
- You are completing your final semester and need fewer courses to compete your course of study.
- You are participating in full-time authorized practical training (Curricular Practical Training or Optional Practical Training).
Please note: If the above descriptions of types of circumstances do not clearly address your situation, you may need to make an appointment through the International Office reception desk to speak with an IO advisor about your options.
Please note: If you enroll in a correspondence course
You must complete the course or you will loose your F-1 status