SEVIS Registration Reporting

At the beginning of each term, the DSO (international advisor) is required by law to verify class registration electronically to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through SEVIS to confirm that all international students are maintaining a full course load and following the online course enrollment policy.

Course Load Requirements

International students in F-1 and J-1 status must register for and complete a full course load each spring and fall semester. For continuing students (enrolled in spring semester) summer full-time enrollment is 3 credit hours and is optional unless it is your last semester. Final semester course(s) cannot be taken all online. The fall, spring and summer enrollment start and end dates are defined on the Academic Calendar.

Students who drop below a full course-load without immigration advisor approval will be reported to SEVIS. If this occurs, your SEVIS record will be terminated and you will lose your F-1 or J-1 status, including employment eligibility and benefits. For immigration purposes, full-time enrollment (during fall and spring semester) is defined as:

• Undergraduate students: 12 credit hours (4 courses)
• Graduate students: 9 credit hours (3 courses)
• Graduate students with a graduate assistantship(GA, RA, TA): 6 credit hours (2 courses)

All students are still required to maintain a full course of study unless a Reduced Course Load has been authorized by their DSO. 

Undergraduate students

Interested in taking additional courses at a local community college in addition to your SIUE enrollment?  For additional information click here.

You must receive authorization from your DSO before you enroll in courses at the community college. Financial documentation is not needed for the community college as your Form I-20 will remain with SIUE.

Please complete the following steps:

1. Meet with your academic advisor to plan your SIUE course schedule including courses to take at a community college.
2. Enroll in summer (optional) and fall SIUE courses.
3. Apply and be admitted as a visiting student at a local community college.
4. Complete and submit the Concurrent Enrollment Request Form.
5. Allow 2-3 business days to receive your concurrent enrollment letter. It will be sent to you via email.
6. Provide the concurrent enrollment letter to the community college admissions office.
7. At the end of the semester after grades are posted request a transcript to be sent back to SIUE. Electronic transcripts may be submitted through various electronic transcript services and can also be sent to etranscripts@siue.edu directly from the institution.

For additional questions about transferring credits back to SIUE email transfercredit@siue.edu.

 UNIV 500

In order to maintain your immigration status, you cannot be enrolled only in UNIV 500 to meet full course of study, as this enrollment is only used for administrative purposes and is not given for credit.  If you have applied for OPT,  and choose to enroll in UNIV 500 you will incur a Health Service charge as well as the administrative fee for each semester you are only enrolled in UNIV 500. Please see additional information regarding UNIV 500 here.

There are limited circumstances in which a reduced course load is okay. Visit Reducing Your Course Load for information.