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Academic Requirements
All undergraduate F-1 students are required to enroll in no fewer than 12 credits per trimester. Out of these 9 must be completed on campus and only 3 online. Graduate students full time requirement is based on curriculum for the specific program they are enrolled in. There are three main instances in which F-1 students may legally fall below full-time student status. They are:
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Language difficulty (this can only be authorized for the student’s first trimester).
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Medical reasons (will be approved only with proper documentation from a Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist).
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Final trimester of study.
If any student would like to use one of these options, the International Student Advisor must be consulted for proper documentation in SEVIS. If fulltime credits per trimester (12 credits for undergraduate degrees) are not maintained, the student will fall out of status.
Part of maintaining your status as an F student is making normal academic progress to finish your program of study by the end date listed on your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” If an international student is found to not be making normal academic progress, he/she may be in danger to fall out of status or to not complete his/her program of studies. If the student’s program is delay because of low grades that may lead to school dismissal or probation the DSO would not be able to extend the program dates on the I-20.
General Requirements
All international students are expected to stay in close contact with the International Student Advisor. Notification of travel, dropping and adding courses, employment arrangements, and anything else that may affect an international student’s status must be communicated to the International Student Advisor.
Graduation and Post-Graduation
Student must meet with the International Advisor at the beginning of their last term to discuss reduce course load, plans after program completion, transfer to another university, change of status, and Optional Practical Training (OPT is a 12-month training program.) A 17-month Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) extension for OPT is available to graduates of the B.S. Biomedical Sciences or B.S. Health Sciences degrees only. For more information on this STEM extension, please contact the International Student Advisor.
Students with an active I-20 cannot attend school to pursue a degree while completing OPT. Students are allowed to take up to 6 credits of courses per trimester while on OPT as long as a degree is not being pursued. Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization expires the day an international student enrolls in a new academic program with an I-20 prior to the expiration of the OPT. Part-time classes may be taken for enrichment purposes only during OPT.
International Program Application Deadline
Fall Trimester: April 1
Spring Trimester: August 1
Summer Trimester: December 1
International Student Regulations
AdventHealth University is enriched by the diverse body of international students on campus. It is our goal to educate international students as to their responsibility as the recipient of an F-1 Visa from the United States Government. The following information will help explain how to stay in status. Failing to maintain status is serious and could result in removal (deportation). It is each student’s responsibility to make sure that all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rules and regulations pertaining to international students are observed.
The International Student Manager in the International Student Office is happy to assist our students with documentation, application for Practical Training, and other individual needs. The following regulations apply to currently enrolled international students only. AdventHealth University is currently accepting a limited number of applications from new international students requiring an F Visa. Contact the International Student Office for pre-screening criteria. Additionally, AdventHealth University does not admit international students on Probation or Provisional status. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.70 must be presented during admission review to be eligible to study at the University.
Keep in Touch
One of the most common difficulties encountered by international students is miscommunication. Abiding by the government regulations pertaining to F-1 students is the responsibility of each F-1 student, but the International Student Advisor is always willing to assist with questions. It is very important to keep in touch with the International Student Advisor, and you can do so by calling 407-303-9498.
Off-Campus Employment
Students with an F-1 visa are strictly prohibited from working off campus. Only three exceptions apply to this rule:
- Severe financial hardship - If an F-1 student has been enrolled at AdventHealth University for one full year and can exhibit severe financial hardship, he or she can appeal to the government for permission to work off campus for up to 20 hours per week.
- Clinical, practicum, internship requirements - If an F-1 student is required to complete hours of practice outside of school as part of their degree he/she must get authorization before the start date of the clinical, practicum or internship.
- Optional Practical Training (OPT) - This option is available to international students once they have graduated from a degree program and plan to work in the field related to their degree.
The International Student Advisor must be consulted for any of these off -campus employment options. If an F-1 student is found to be working off -campus without Practical training or economic hardship authorization, he or she will be terminated from Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) immediately and must exit the country as soon as possible. Any appeals for reinstatement will be automatically denied by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
On-Campus Employment
On-campus employment is defined as employment on the University’s premises. This would permit eligible F-1 students to work on campus for 20 hours per week or less. Working over 20 hours per week cannot be authorized. F-1 students who are maintaining their status by enrolling in no fewer than 12 credits per trimester may work beginning with their first term at the University. AdventHealth Orlando Campus is considered on-campus employment. An offer of employment is necessary to get a temporary social security number. Once the student has a job offer, please contact your International Student Advisor to get the information necessary to apply for the Social Security Card.
Traveling
“International Students are strongly advice not to travel at this time.”
F-1 students planning to travel out of the country during school breaks should contact the International Student Advisor no fewer than two (2) weeks before their departure date. The Advisor must sign the student’s I-20 before leaving the country to ensure a smooth return into the United States. The signature on the student’s I-20 is good for one year only.
The International Student Office will also give the F-1 student a letter stating that the student is in good standing with the University. Once the student has returned to the United States, he or she must make an appointment with the International Student Office to deliver copies of any new travel documents, such as, I-94’s, new passport or F-1 Visa.
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