Distance Education Courses for F-1 Students
Online Courses for F-1 Students
What is Considered an Online Course?
According to federal regulations, an online course is a class taken online or through distance learning which “does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination, or other purposes integral to completion of the class.” (Source: U.S. Code of Federal Regulation: [8 CFR § 214.2 (f)(6)(i)(G)])
How Many Can I Take Per Semester?
“For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken online or through distance education and does not require the student’s physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class.” (Source: U.S. Code of Federal Regulation: [8 CFR § 214.2 (f)(6)(i)(G)])
What Does This Mean?
Important: This regulation pertains only to F-1 international students physically present in the United States.
For F-1 students studying at SUNY Plattsburgh, a full-time course load is required only during the fall and spring semesters.
During the fall and spring semesters, an F-1 student is limited to only one online or distance education course that can be counted towards a full-time course load, whether it is a SUNY Plattsburgh course or a course offered by another school.
There is no requirement that students be enrolled during summer or winter sessions, which are optional, unless they plan to graduate in summer or winter term. If a student plans to graduate in a summer or winter term, they should contact GEO several months before they plan to graduate to ensure that their summer or winter class schedule will meet U.S. immigration in-person and online credit requirements. Students who graduate in a summer or winter term are required to take a certain number of in-person credits.
If a student starts a program in summer or winter term, they must take at least 12 credits if they are an undergraduate student or 9 credits if they are a graduate student and 9 of the credits must be in-person for undergraduate students or 6 credits must be in-person for graduate students.
What if I Want to Take More Than One Online Course?
Taking more than one online course is fine, but students with an F-1 visa MUST make sure they are also taking at least 9 credits worth of classes that include meeting physically on campus.
If I am in My Last Semester of Study & Only Need One Course to Graduate, Can I Take a Distance Education Course?
No. Immigration regulations strictly prohibit students in their last semester of study from taking ONLY an online course.