J-1 FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT

Full-time enrollment is essential to maintain your J-1 student visa status.

To maintain your legal J-1 status in the U.S., you must be enrolled full-time each fall and spring semester. You do not have to enroll full-time for summer sessions unless you begin your program of study at WKU during the summer

Full-time enrollment requirements includes:

• Undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester.
• Graduate students must enroll in at least 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester.
• Professional students such as PhD students should follow full-time enrollment requirements as determined by their academic program.

Dropping below full-time enrollment without authorization from ISO is a serious violation of your J-1 status!

Read about full-time exceptions and procedures>>

Online Enrollment

Federal regulations for J-1 student enrollment state that online courses cannot count towards your full-time enrollment requirement. You should enroll full-time in courses that require in-person attendance. Online courses may be taken only in addition to a full-time course load of face-to-face course. Please note that if you are a sponsored student, your sponsor may have additional rules or requirements regarding online enrollment.

Incomplete Courses

Incomplete courses from a previous semester may not count towards your full-time enrollment for a current semester. Additionally, you may not use incomplete courses to extend your program. For J-1 status purposes, your program will be considered completed at the end of your final semester, even if you have an incomplete course.

• Links for J-1 Students

• Applying for a Visa

• Employment
  1. Academic Training
  2. On-Campus Employment
• Enrollment
  1. Full-Time Enrollment
  2. Full-Time Enrollment Exceptions
  3. Complete Withdrawal and Leaves of Absence
• Maintaining Status
  1. Maintaining Status
  2. SEVIS Violations
• Dependents of J-1 Students
• After Completion of Program
• Local Address
• SEVIS Fee
• J-1 SEVIS Transfer from WKU
• Travel Outside of the U.S.