Updates from International Programs and Services
As you may know, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) temporary rule changes for F-1 nonimmigrant students. It is important to note that these rule changes only apply to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9, 2020, and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status. Therefore, students who began their studies after this date are subject to standard USCIS rules and regulations.
Graduate students must enroll in 9 credits, and 6 of these credits must be in traditional, on-campus courses. F-1 students can count 3 online credits toward their full-time enrollment requirements during fall and spring semesters.
Undergraduate students must enroll in 12 credits, and 9 of these credits must be in traditional on-campus courses. F-1 students can count 3 online credits toward their full-time enrollment requirements during fall and spring semesters.
International students must enroll in the proper CO-OP course during their CPT semester to meet the full-time enrollment requirement from USCIS. IPS staff highly recommend that students do not take additional online courses during CPT. Students should consult with the IPS staff before making this decision. All guidelines for maintaining immigration status while studying at Michigan Tech can be found on the IPS website. Please encourage students to visit this page for more information.
The IPS staff are dedicated to helping international students and scholars understand and comply with government requirements during their time at Michigan Tech and beyond. If you have questions or concerns about working with international students, contact IPS staff at ips@mtu.edu or by calling 906-487-2160.