Current International Students

Full-Time Enrollment

As an international student, you are required to maintain a full course load (12 credits for undergraduate students and 9 credits for graduate students) during the academic year (Fall and Spring) to comply with immigration regulations. There are a few exceptions to this regulatory requirement.

Exceptions to Full-Time Enrollment

If you are planning to drop below full-time, you must notify CISS to discuss your options and the immigration consequences of this BEFORE you take any action. CISS must approve your reduced course load IN ADVANCE.  Depending on your academic and/or medical situation, the process for authorization for a reduced course load may vary.  Authorization to drop below full-time is approved on a semester-by-semester basis. 

It is highly recommended that you meet with your CISS Advisor to learn more about being enrolled in less than a full course load. 

1.) Academic Circumstances

You may apply for an academic reduced course load if you are experiencing:

• Initial difficulties with the English language and/or initial difficulty with reading requirements
• Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods
• Improper course level placement

If you believe that you are experiencing any of these issues, you must complete a “Reduced Course Load Request” in the CISS Portal and get approval from your Academic Advisor in the request. 

Note: An academic reduced course load is only available during the first semester of study in the U.S. and may only be authorized once per academic program.

2.) Medical Circumstances

You may apply for a medical reduced course load if you have a temporary medical condition or illness that would require you to enroll in a less-than-full-time course load, or no courses at all. There are both academic and immigration policies and procedures that you will need to follow.  A medical reduced course load (RCL) begins when CISS approves the RCL request submitted in the CISS Portal.  It is approved on a semester-by-semester basis, and it is limited to a total maximum of 12 months.

If You Plan to Remain in the U.S.

If you have a medical condition that requires you to drop below full-time, and you would like to remain in the U.S. to take some courses or to seek medical treatment, you must:

• Work with the Office of Accessibility Services to determine if you are eligible for accommodations.

• Once a determination is made by the Office of Accessibility Services, you must work with CISS to request a reduced course load so that you can maintain your immigration status.

  • Complete a “Reduced Course Load Request” in the CISS Portal
    • Upload medical documentation issued within the past 30 days from a licensed medical doctor (MD), psychiatrist, doctor of osteopathy (DO), licensed psychologist, or clinical psychologist (Ph.D. or PsyD.)
    • The documentation must specify if it is recommended that you enroll in a part-time course load or in no courses, as well as the time period for the recommended reduced course load.
    • CISS accepts letters from medical professionals located outside the United States, but the letter must be in English or accompanied by an official translation.
    • CISS does not accept student translations.
    • CISS will accept documentation from a qualifying healthcare professional from the Bentley Health Center or the Bentley Counseling Center if provided.

If the request for a reduced course load for medical reasons is approved by CISS, you will receive a new Form I-20 with a notation authorizing the reduced course load

NOTE: F-1 regulations permit students eligible for a reduced course load to drop down to zero credits if recommended by a qualified medical professional, but the student must take an official leave of absence from Bentley.  The student would not be eligible for on-campus housing. 

International students taking a leave of absence from the University must follow the policies and procedures outlined in the Changes in Enrollment Status page of the Bentley website. 

If You Plan to Leave the U.S.

If you plan to drop all of your courses and leave the U.S., Student Accessibility Services does not need to be involved in the approval process, and you will need to take a leave of absence from the University.

• CISS will terminate your SEVIS record, and you will need to leave the U.S. within 15 days of your effective leave date

NOTE: International students taking a leave of absence from the University must follow the policies and procedures outlined in the Changes in Enrollment Status page of the Bentley website and the Leave of Absence section of the CISS website.

3.) Final Semester 

You may be enrolled in less than a full-course load if you are in your final semester and you have completed all the requirements for your degree.  

You must:

• Make sure to confirm that the program end date listed on your Form I-20 reflects the correct program end date, indicating that you are in your final term.
• If you have only one course remaining in your final semester, it must be an in-person course.

No authorization is required for this situation.

4.) Annual Vacation

You are considered to be in status during your annual or summer vacation if the following conditions are met:

• Enrollment during the summer is not required by your program
• You were in valid immigration status during the previous semester, and you intend to register for the next semester

Attendance and Course Registration Policies

Attendance policies are determined by Academic Services. Please see the Academic Catalog for detailed information on attendance policies at Bentley. Attendance policy violations, or failure to register in courses on time, may have serious consequences for your F-1 visa status.  If you have any questions about the attendance policy, course registration timeline, or other questions, contact Academic Services. CISS can help with questions about how academic policies or violations affect your visa status.

Hybrid and Online Course Policy

Undergraduate Students:

All undergraduate courses are taught in person. Undergraduate courses are not available in a hybrid modality. All international undergraduate students are expected to attend in-person classes on Bentley's campus. When and if offered, you may count only one 100% online /hybrid course towards your full course of study requirement.

Graduate Students:

Graduate student courses are offered in a hybrid format.  All international graduate students are expected to attend most classes in person. This means that you can take a full course load in person, or you can take a full course load with a mix of in-person and online courses, BUT only one course (3 credits) will count towards the full-time requirement.

You must attend the majority of your classes in person. We recommend that you track your in-person attendance in hybrid courses. You can do so by asking your professors to sign an Attendance Verification Form.

Incomplete Courses

You must complete all work and receive a final grade for any incomplete courses by the end of your final semester of study. If your graduation/degree completion date changes for any reason, you must contact the CISS to modify your Form I-20 to reflect the change.  Refer to the section below on Graduating Late/Early.

Graduating Early or Late

If you are completing your degree requirements before or after the program end date listed on page 1 of your Form I-20, you must follow the steps below to request a modification of your degree program end date:

Step 1:  Schedule an appointment with Academic Services to confirm your academic plan.

Step 2: Check the program end date on your Form I-20

• If the Form I-20 program end date needs to be EXTENDED past the date currently listed:
  • Work with an Academic Advisor to complete the Academic Services Certification Form
  • Obtain proof of financial support for the additional time period (bank statement/Sponsor letter, etc.).  If there are questions about dollar amounts and adequate proof of funding, contact GA_CISS@bentley.edu.
• If the Form I-20 program end date needs to be SHORTENED to a date before the date currently listed:
  • Apply for Program Completion in Workday to notify Bentley’s Registrar of your plans.

Step 3: Go to the CISS Portal, Control Center, and submit the I-20 End Date Modification: Extend Request.

Grace Period

Immigration regulations allow you to remain in the U.S. for a grace period of up to 60 days following the completion of your degree program to "prepare for departure." You may use the grace period to make travel plans to depart the U.S., pack up your personal belongings, take care of final items before departure, or travel within the U.S.

U.S. Government regulations require all international students in F-1 or J-1 status to report their current local address and permanent address to SEVIS. You can update your addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses directly in Workday.

Local U.S. Off-Campus Address

• All international students in F or J visa status are required to report to the local U.S. address where they physically live.
• Your Current Address cannot be an address outside the U.S. or a Post Office (P.O.) box.
• If you move to a new physical address in the U.S., you are required to update your local address in Workday within 10 days.

CISS will be automatically notified of this update in Workday, and will report to SEVIS.  You do not need to take any additional action to update your address.

On-Campus Address

If you are living on-campus, your on-campus address will be automatically added to Workday but you should rwview the in formation in your Workday record to verify that it is correct and update your address if you move off-campus. 

Leaves of Absence or withdrawals from Bentley may have implications for your visa status.  Your F-1 status is tied to your studies in the U.S. When you take a Leave of Absence (LOA), in most cases, you will not be permitted to remain in the U.S. Once the Office of Student Affairs approves your LOA, the Center for International Students and Scholars (CISS) will terminate your SEVIS immigration record. International students taking a leave of absence from the University must follow the policies and procedures outlined in the Changes in Enrollment Status page of the Bentley website.

We recommend that you depart the U.S. as soon as possible, and no more than 15 days from when you stop attending classes. If you choose to transfer to another U.S. school during your LOA, CISS will transfer your SEVIS record to the new school, and you may remain in the country to study with that school’s Form I-20. SEVIS transfers must be initiated before your SEVIS record is terminated. 

Please email us at GA_CISS@bentley.edu as soon as possible if you plan to enroll in another U.S. school during your leave of absence from Bentley University. 

Work Authorization

Any Bentley-authorized work (CPT/OPT/on campus) will end when your SEVIS record is terminated or released. A LOA restarts the clock for your one-year in-status requirement for CPT and OPT employment authorization. If you do not return for a full academic year after your LOA, you will likely be ineligible for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Returning from a Leave of Absence

F-1 students may be readmitted at the start of a Fall or Spring term. Before you return to Bentley, you must be officially readmitted to the University.  You must complete a Return/Readmit Form and submit it to the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. Please refer to the “Leave of Absence” section of the Student Affairs website for further information. 

Once you have been officially approved for return from your LOA, the CISS will contact you to guide you through the immigration process. You will need to complete a “Return From Leave of Absence -I-20 Document Submission” Form in the CISS Portal and upload copies of your passport ID page and proof of financial support. The CISS will process the Form and create a new Form I-20 for you.

• Students who have been out of the country for an extended period are encouraged to seek guidance on the visa application process from their local U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
• Students with an unexpired F-1 visa in their passport (even under a different SEVIS number) may not need a new F-1 visa.
• Students with an expired F-1 visa will need to use their new Form I-20 to apply for a new F-1 visa.
• Students who have been studying in the U.S. at another school as an F-1 student during their LOA must complete a Bentley Transfer-In Form with their current school and return it to Bentley CISS. 

CISS will then create a new Form I-20 for you, which you may need to use to obtain a new F-1 visa, depending on your particular circumstances.

Please contact GA_CISS@bentley.edu for further details once you have received notice that you have been officially approved to be readmitted.

If you are an international student in F-1 status and have been accepted to another U.S. school, you may be eligible to transfer your Student and Exchange Visitor Immigration System (SEVIS) record to the new school. Once your SEVIS record has been released from Bentley University, the new school will be able to create a new Form I-20 for you. 

SEVIS Record Transfer Eligibility
To be eligible for a SEVIS record transfer, you must be a student:

• Actively enrolled student at Bentley
• Authorized for OPT/STEM OPT
• Within your 60-day grace period post-graduation or on OPT/STEM OPT
• Maintaining status by adhering to the rules and regulations of F-1 status
• Admitted to a new degree program at a SEVP-certified school that begins within 5 months of the end date listed on your Bentley Form I-20 or, in the case of OPT/STEM OPT, the date of your transfer.

If you have not yet graduated from Bentley and are taking a leave of absence or finishing your degree at another school, you must also complete a Leave of Absence/Withdrawal form to notify the university of your plans. 

You will not be eligible for a SEVIS record transfer if:

• Your new program does not have a program start date within 5 months of your previous program end date or, in the case of OPT/STEM OPT, your transfer release date.
• At the time of your new program start, you will have spent more than 5 months outside of the U.S.*
• You are on OPT/STEM OPT but have accumulated 90 days (+60 for STEM OPT) of unemployment.
  *Over five months spent outside of the U.S. (non-study abroad) invalidates your Form I-20 and requires that you obtain a new Form I-20 and F-1 visa for re-entry to the U.S.

SEVIS Record Transfer Procedures
To request a transfer of your SEVIS record, log into the CISS Portal, navigate to the Control Center, and submit the "SEVIS Record Transfer Request." You will need to provide the following information and documents:

• A copy of your official acceptance letter from your new school
• The SEVIS school code for your new school
• An exact SEVIS record release date (at least 5 days from the date that you submit the form)
• A SEVIS transfer validation form from the new school (if applicable)

Choosing Your SEVIS Record Release Date
In choosing your SEVIS record release date, you should consider:

• Travel Plans: If you plan to travel after your SEVIS record release date, you must have the new Form I-20 from your new school to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status. Your Bentley Form I-20 will no longer be valid.
• Work Authorization: If you have been authorized for employment while at Bentley, your employment authorization will end on your transfer release date. Any Curricular (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), or STEM OPT granted while at Bentley will be canceled.
• Grace Periods: If you are in your 60-day grace period following graduation or completion of OPT/STEM OPT, your SEVIS record release date must be within 60 days. If you are withdrawing or taking a leave of absence from Bentley, you must have your SEVIS record released immediately (within a maximum of 15 days). Failure to transfer your SEVIS record promptly may result in violating your F-1 status and/or ineligibility to transfer.

Please note that once your transfer release date has passed, Bentley CISS will no longer have access to your SEVIS record, and your Bentley Form I-20 will be deactivated. If you have questions about your SEVIS record or need to be issued a new Form I-20, you will need to contact the school that has received your transferred SEVIS record.

For detailed information on employment options for international students, go to the CISS "Employment" page.

On-Campus Employment: F-1 students may work up to 20 hours per week on campus while school is in session, and full-time during major school breaks.

Off-Campus Employment: All off-campus employment requires employment authorization in the form of Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). There are specific rules regarding when and how you can apply for these types of authorizations. The CISS offers information sessions on these types of work authorizations throughout the academic year. Please go to the "Employment" tab at the top of this page for detailed information on eligibility and processes.

Working off-campus without prior authorization is a violation of your immigration status and could result in termination of your visa status, bars against re-entering the U.S., and serious consequences for future visa applications.

The primary purpose of the J-1 visa status is to establish an exchange relationship between the visitors' home country and the United States. The Form DS-2019 is the document that allows an individual to obtain J-1 status in the United States.

J-1 Exchange Visitors at Bentley include exchange students (studying for a semester or academic year based on an exchange agreement between Bentley and your home university), degree-seeking students (studying in the U.S. for the entirety of their degree), and J-1 scholars (including short and long-term research scholars and post-doctoral fellows).

Full-Time Enrollment

International students are required to maintain a full course load (12 credits for undergraduate students and 9 credits for graduate students) during the academic year (Fall and Spring) to comply with immigration regulations.

Attendance and Course Registration Policies

Attendance policies are determined by Academic Services. Please see the Academic Catalog for detailed information on attendance policies at Bentley. Attendance policy violations or failure to register in courses on time may have serious consequences for your J-1 visa status.  If you have any questions about the attendance policy, course registration timeline, or other questions, contact Academic Services. CISS can help with questions about how academic policies or violations affect visa status.

Hybrid and Online Course Policy

Undergraduate Students:

All undergraduate courses are taught in person. Undergraduate courses are not available in a hybrid modality. Accordingly, all international undergraduate students will be expected to attend in-person classes on Bentley's campus. When and if offered, international undergraduate students can count only one 100% online /hybrid course towards their full course of study requirement.

Graduate Students:

Graduate student courses are offered in a hybrid format.  All international graduate students are expected to attend most classes in-person. This means that a student can take a full course load in person, or a student can take a full course load with a mix of in-person and online course BUT only one course (3 credits) will count towards the full-time requirement.

Graduate students must attend the majority of their class sessions in person. We recommend that graduate students track their in-person attendance in hybrid courses. Students can do so by asking their professors to sign an Attendance Verification Form.

Completing Your Program Early or Late

 If you may be completing your program before or after the program end date listed on page 1 of your Form DS-2019:

• Speak with your Academic/Faculty Advisor for approval
• Contact CISS for modification of your Form DS-2019

Grace Period

Immigration regulations allow you to remain in the U.S. for a grace period of up to 30 days following completion of your program to "prepare for departure." You may use the grace period to make travel plans to depart the U.S., pack up your personal belongings, take care of final items before departure, or travel within the U.S. 

You are not permitted to leave the U.S. and re-enter the country in J-1 status, transfer to a new program, or extend your program during your grace period.

U.S. Government regulations require all international students in J-1 status to report their current local address and permanent address to SEVIS. You can update your addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses directly in Workday.

Local U.S. Off-Campus Address

• All international students in F or J visa status are required to report to the local U.S. address where they physically live.
• Your Current Address cannot be an address outside the U.S. or a Post Office (P.O.) box.
• If you move to a new physical address in the U.S., you are required to update your local address in Workday within 10 days.

CISS will be automatically notified of this update in Workday and will report to SEVIS.  You do not need to take any additional action to update your address.

On-Campus Address

If you are living on campus, yor on-campus address will be automatically added to Workday but you should review the information in your Workday record to verify that it is correct and update your address if you move off-campus. 

For detailed information on employment options for international students, go to the "Employment" page.  All employment authorization for J-1 students, both on and off campus, requires an employment authorization letter from the CISS. 

On-Campus Employment: J-1 students may work up to 20 hours per week on campus while school is in session, and full-time during major school breaks. To apply for on-campus work authorization, go to the CISS portal and complete the “Student Employment Request (J-1).

Off-Campus Employment: All off-campus employment requires employment authorization.  There are specific rules regarding when and how students can apply for off-campus employment authorization. Please go to the "Employment" tab for detailed information about eligibility and processes. To apply for off-campus employment authorization, go to the CISS portal and complete the “Student Employment Request (J-1)."

Working off-campus without prior authorization is a violation of your immigration status and could result in termination of your visa status, bars against re-entering the U.S., and serious consequences for future visa applications.