Maintaining Status

F-3 Students

Part-Time Border Commuter

Certain Canadian citizens may study at UND as Part-time Border Commuter Students.

Canadian and Mexican citizens who study part time in the United States but who live in their home country and commute to classes in the U.S. To be qualified as a part-time border commuter student, a student must:

• Be a Canadian or Mexican citizen
• Be registered as a border commuter student
• Attend a U.S. college or university located within 75 miles of the border
• Pursue a “full course of study” (i.e. be pursuing an academic goal) but be pursuing it part time
• Maintain actual residence and place of abode in the country of citizenship and commute through a land border port-of-entry to the U.S. for study.

Required Documents for Entry into the United States

• Form I-20-Issued for the current semester onlyPassport or equivalent identification (birth certificate and driver’s license)Proof of Payment of SEVIS fee (I-901)
• I-94 card (issued upon first entry into the U.S. in student status)
• Additional Documents for Entry (may be requested)
• Proof of registration or other proof of admission to the university
• Proof of financial support (the statements used to issue the I-20)

Requirements for Maintaining Status

F-3 status students must be enrolled on a part time basis only:

• Undergraduate students:
  • Fewer than 12 credits Fall and spring semesters
  • Fewer than 9 credits during summer
• Graduate Students:
  • Fewer than 9 credits any term

Academic Progress

• Maintain minimum academic eligibility requirements for enrollment in the University

  • Undergraduate Students: 2.0 minimum GPA

  • Graduate Students: 3.0 minimum GPA

• Maintain department standards for continuation in the program

Employment Eligibility

Employment within the United States (either on campus or off campus) is not allowed during the program of study.

Maintain Valid I-20

You must request a new I-20 for the next semester prior to the completion of the current term. Please allow 2-5 business days for the International Center to process your request.

If you will not be attending classes during the following semester, you should notify the International Student Advisor.

Address Requirements

You must keep the International Student Advisor informed of any changes in your Canadian address:

• Email the International Student Advisor OR
• Complete Change of Address Form

Make sure that you keep your address current on Campus Connection

Changing from F-3 to F-1 Status

If you will be moving from part time commuter status to full time attendance, you must notify the International Student Advisor. You will need to complete paperwork to become an F-1 status student.

J-1 Status

This information is for J-1 exchange visitors in the student categories only.

In order to maintain J-1 status, students must:

1. Pursue a full course of study

Fall and Spring Requirements

• Undergraduate Students: 12 credits
• Graduate Students without assistantship: 9 credits
• Graduate Students with assistantship: 6 credits
• Students participating in exchange programs may have additional enrollment requirements set by their individual institutions.

Eligibility for a Reduced Course Load

In a few rare cases, reduced enrollment may be authorized. You must receive written authorization from the International Student Advisor and from your academic advisor before you drop below full time. If you fail to do this, you will be out of status. Please allow 2-5 business days for the International Center to process your Reduced Course Load request.

2. Make normal progress toward completing program objective

• You must maintain the minimum grade point average (GPA) as indicated in the UND Academic Catalog:
  • Undergraduate Students: 2.0 GPA
  • Graduate Students: 3.0 GPA
• Individual programs or departments may have higher requirements for remaining in the program.

Program End Date

• The program end date listed on your form DS-2019 is the last day you are eligible to pursue your program of study. This date is determined by the university estimate of how long your particular program should take.
• Programs may be extended for legitimate academic or medical reasons. You must file for an extension with the International Student Advisor before the end date listed on your form DS-2019. Please allow 2-5 business days for the International Center to process your request.

3. Keep form DS-2019 valid

• The program end date listed in Item 3 of your form DS-2019 is the last day you are eligible to pursue your program of study. This date is determined by the university estimate of how long your particular program should take or by the agreed upon length of your exchange program.
• Programs may be extended for legitimate academic or medical reasons. You must file for an extension with the International Student Advisor before the end date listed on your form DS-2019. Please allow 2-5 business days for the International Center to process your extension request.

Changing Educational Level or Program of Study

• Only degree seeking students are eligible to apply for a change of level within the U.S. Non-degree students may not change level
• J-1 students may only move to a higher educational level
• All changes of degree level will require a new form DS-2019.
• Process:
  • Complete all university requirements for applying for admission to the new program
  • Submit new financial certification
  • Notify the International Student Advisor as soon as you know that you are planning to move to a new degree program. Please allow 2-5 business days for the International Center to process your update.

Changing Major

Undergraduate students who change their major will need a new DS-2019 to show the correct major. Follow this process:

• Change your major with the appropriate school or college on campus.
• Verify that the change appears correctly in your Campus Connection Record.
• contact an International Student Advisor to revise your DS-2019.

Changes in Financial Situation

If your source of financial support changes significantly, you should contact an International Student Advisor to revise the financial information on your DS-2019.

Transferring Schools

• If you will be moving to a new U.S. school, then you will need to arrange to have your SEVIS record transferred to the new school. The new school will not be able to issue you a new DS-2019 until your SEVIS record is released from UND.
• Contact the International Student Advisor at UND early in the process to discuss eligibility for a transfer and the transfer process. Please allow 2-5 business days for the International Center to process your transfer request.

4. Report address changes

• If you move, you must report your change of address to the International Student Advisor within 10 days of the change.
• First change your address first in Campus Connection.
• Second, notify the International Student Advisor that your address has changed.

5. Maintain minimum health insurance requirements

The U.S. Department of State requires J-1 exchange visitors to maintain health insurance that meets minimum requirements for the duration of the exchange visitor program.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

• Medical Benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness
• Repatriation of Remains in the amount of $7500
• Expenses Associated with Medicto Evacuation to the Exchange Visitor's home country in the amount of $10,000
• Deductible that does not exceed $500 per accident or illness

The NDUS International Student Health Insurance policy meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of State.

6. Keep passport valid

You are required to keep a valid passport at all times. If your passport will be expiring within the next 6 months, you should contact the nearest embassy or consulate for your country to determine the requirements for renewing your passport.

7. Follow employment eligibility requirements

• You may work on-campus a maximum of 20 hours per week with written authorization from an International Student Advisor.
• Off-campus employment is limited to certain circumstances for which you have received special permission.

8. Communicate with the International Center about dependent needs

M-1

In order to maintain M-1 status, students must:

1. Pursue a “full course of study” at the University of North Dakota for the duration of your program. In accordance with U.S. Federal Regulations, “full course of study” is defined as:
   1. Minimum 18 clock hours of attendance per week if dominant part of the course of study is classroom hours
   2. Minimum 22 clock hours of attendance per week if dominant part of the course of study is shop or laboratory work (8 C.F.R. 214.2(m)(9)(iii))
2. Not change major field of study or educational objective. In order to change your major, you will have to apply for a different student status, such as F-1.
3. Make normal progress towards completing the course of study. You must meet the minimum academic requirements of your department.
4. Leave the U.S. 30 days after program completion or within 1 year of your arrival in the U.S. (whichever occurs first).
5. File for a timely extension of your I-20 (15-60 days before the date stamped on your initial I-94) if you will require more than 12 months to complete your program.
6. Keep a valid passport at all times.
7. Report a change of address to your International Student Advisor within ten days of the change. You may notify the International Student Advisor of address changes via email.
8. Update the signature on your I-20 after 6 months.
9. Not engage in any employment for the duration of your program of study. M-1 status students are prohibited from engaging in employment.