During your stay in the U.S. in F-1 status, you are subject to many complex immigration laws and regulations that relate to your legal status. The Office of International Admissions will assist you in answering your questions about your immigration status, but it is your responsibility to know and abide by the law in order to maintain valid legal status. It is to your benefit to make sure to maintain legal status throughout the duration of your stay in the U.S.

As a non-immigrant international student, you must:

1. Possess a passport that is valid at all times.
   
2. Attend the school/institution you were authorized to attend.
   
3. Be registered full-time for each academic semester as defined by USCIS. NOTE: You are not required to be registered for classes during the summer unless you have been admitted to PBCC for the summer term or completing degree by end of summer term.
   
4. Maintain good academic standing as per PBCC policy  and make normal progress towards completing your degree
   
5. Follow appropriate procedures to notify USCIS if you transfer schools or if you change from one educational level to another. Transfer procedure must be completed within 15 days from start of term.
   
6. File for a Program Extension in a timely manner if you must remain in the U.S. longer than the time estimated for completion of your program as stated on your I-20.
   
7. Check your documents to be sure they are in order before leaving the U.S., even for a brief trip, and be sure to have the proper documents to re-enter the U.S.
   
8. Limit on-campus employment or any authorized off-campus employment to a total of 20 hours per week during the academic semester.
   
9. Obtain proper authorization before engaging in any off-campus employment whether the employment is paid or non-paid. (Working without proper authorization constitutes illegal employment, an offense that can lead to deportation.)
   
10. Refrain from any on-campus employment if/while you are out-of-status.
    
11. File for a Reinstatement in a timely manner if you have fallen out-of-status.
    
12. Report promptly any change of address by updating your Panthernet record. Make sure you update the local and permanent addresses.

For further clarifications about any of the above, or if you wish to make sure you are maintaining legal status in accordance with your visa classification, please contact the Office of International Admissions.