USCIS Minimum Course Load Requirements for F-1 Students
All Active F-1 international students must be enrolled in at least nine (9) fully
in-person or in-person/partially online courses (hybrid) as part of their 12-unit
minimum, full-time course load in order to enter and stay in the U.S.
Please review the FAQ’s below regarding this requirement:
How many in-person classes am I required to take if I have an active I-20? International students on an active I-20 are required to enroll in at least 9 units
in person.
After enrolling in 9 units in-person, may I take more online classes if I choose? Yes, once you have reached 12 units (with at least 9 in person), you may enroll in
more online classes if you’d like.
If this is my final semester, can my final class be taken online? No, you will need to be in at least 1 in person class if authorized for final semester
Reduced Course Load (RCL).
Do Hybrid (Partially online) classes count as “In-Person”? Yes, hybrid courses (partially online), or any classes with at least one in person
meeting requirement, will count as in-person.
What defines an online class? Online classes are defined as courses that are 100% online, no physical attendance
is required for class meetings, exams, labs, etc.
How many online classes am I permitted to take? You are limited to no more than one online class or 3 units which can count toward
your full time (12 unit) requirement. You are permitted to take more online classes
once this requirement has been met.
Am I allowed to take online classes from my home country if I am a current international
student? Yes, however your current I-20 will not remain in active status. If you choose to
re-enter the U.S. later you will need a new I-20.
If Summer is my first semester, how many units have to be in-person? Summer first semester students must have at least 3 units in person. The rest can
be taken online.
If I am finishing my program this summer, can I take my final classes online? No, you will need to be in at least 1 in person class if Summer is your final term.
If I am taking, Summer classes, and it is not my first or final semester, may I take
my classes online? Yes, continuing students may take online classes in the Summer and are not required
to take any in-person.
If this is my final semester, can my final class be taken online? No, you will need to be in at least 1 in person class if authorized for final semester
Reduced Course Load (RCL). If you are not authorized for an RCL, you will need to
enroll in 9 units in person (12 units minimum total).
Admissions Requirements
I-20s and F-1 Visas
Do I need to show financial support evidence to be admitted even though I will be
enrolling in online courses from my home country? No. You only need to provide financial support evidence if you plan to study in person
at DVC. Financial support evidence is required to receive an I-20, which you need
to apply for an F-1 visa. Please contact your college’s International Student Office
if you have questions or concerns.
I have been admitted but do not plan to enter the U.S. and want to study online from
home. Do I need to apply for an F-1 visa? No. You only need to apply for an F-1 visa if you plan to study in the U.S.
I have already paid the SEVIS fee. Do I need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again if my
I-20 program start dates are updated? No. You will not need to pay the fee again if your I-20 was updated with a new program
start date. (However, if you received a new I-20 with a different SEVIS ID, then you
will need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again)
If I was admitted for spring and took courses online from my country, yet I am still
unable to travel to the U.S. for fall, am I allowed to continue taking courses online
and defer my in-person enrollment until spring? Yes.
If I've been admitted and received an I-20 for fall, may I defer to spring? Yes, an updated I-20 will be issued with a new program start date. Please email your
college’s international student office to request a Deferring Enrollment Form and
updated I-20. If you must defer for more than one semester, please contact your International
Student Office for details about deferral requirements.
If I’ve been issued an F-1 visa for fall, yet defer to spring, do I need a new visa? You do not need a new visa if your current visa is valid past the date of your (future)
entry into the U.S. Please check the visa expiration date on your visa. However, you
will need an updated I-20 with a new program start date. Please email your college’s
international student office to request an updated I-20.
If I was admitted for fall but would like to defer enrollment to spring, do I need
to prepare updated financial support documentation? If you have already been issued an I-20 for fall yet have not obtained a visa, it
is strongly recommended that you prepare updated financial support documentation for
the visa appointment.
May I defer enrollment for more than one (1) semester? Yes, however, you must request a Deferring Enrollment Form and: -Submit a new application for admission. -Pay another application fee. -Provide updated financial support evidence (e.g., bank statement). -Provide updated English language proficiency documentation (if your test score is
more than two years old from the start date of your program of study).
Will I be able to travel to the U.S.? Travel to the U.S is dependent upon your ability to obtain an F-1 visa. Please click here to view visa appointment wait times in your country/region. It is also recommended
that you confirm this information with your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
Should I take a printed I-20 in carry-on luggage on flight(s) to the U.S.? Yes.
Are there any special entry requirements to the U.S.? As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show
proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight
to the United States.
No, effective January 2, 2023, the COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for students
taking in-person classes or who need to visit any campus facility. You can read more
about it here.
Is health insurance mandatory for international students? If you are inside the United States, health insurance is mandatory for all F-1 students.
You will be automatically enrolled into the mandatory health insurance for international
students.
If I stay in my home country, do I need to pay for health insurance? No.
How much is health insurance? The current cost of health insurance and coverage dates can be found on our website.
Is there any safety information I should be aware of before reporting to campus? Yes, please review the Student Safety Checklist for our colleges.
Will accommodation be easy to find in January? No, accommodation may be limited. Students are encouraged to secure housing as soon
as possible.
Is there any COVID-19 related requirement for Diablo Valley Homestay? Yes, all homestay students must be vaccinated and send Diablo Valley Homestay by email (info@diablovalleyhomestay.com) a copy of their proof of vaccination.
Will online courses be asynchronous (time zone does not matter)? Mostly, though each course section will have its own schedule. Students should carefully
check the scheduling notes for each course section to determine if a given section
of a course includes synchronous instruction. Here is a link to the course schedule search (searchable by college and semester).
How will students know which online courses have set class meetings when looking at
course descriptions?
Asynchronous courses (no set class meetings) will have “ONLINE” included in the meeting days/times column, and no days or times will be listed. Also, the comments section will not include references to any required orientations
or synchronous class sessions.
Synchronous courses (online courses that have set class meetings on specific days
using Zoom software and on California/Pacific Standard Time) will list the days and times of instruction OR there will be specific synchronous
meeting sessions listed in the comments section.
What are operating system requirements for taking online courses? Students can use any operating system (PC, Mac, Android, iOS) for taking online courses.
What are other technical requirements for taking online courses? It is recommended that students have access to a desktop or laptop with audio and
video capability and reliable Internet access. Students may use mobile phones, though
they will be expected to do extensive typing.
What video software will online courses use? All courses will use Zoom. Students should contact course instructors to ask if any social media such as YouTube
will be used that may not be accessible in their regions.
How will students access online courses? All online courses will be delivered through the online management system. Here is a helpful online learning link for students at DVC.
Do online courses have the same units (credits) as in-person courses? Yes.
Are the units for online courses accepted by 4-year universities and colleges? Yes.
Do I need to purchase textbooks for online courses? Yes, most online courses require the purchase of textbooks. Textbooks can be purchased
online from the college’s bookstore or through other vendors such as Amazon, etc.
Some courses require the purchase of an online ‘course pack,’ which includes access
to reading, exercises and quiz materials. Students can purchase online textbooks or
course packs using a credit card. However, many courses use open online resources
and do not require purchase of course materials. Those courses are designated as Zero
Textbook Cost (ZTC). DVC Book Center.
How do I get help over the summer (e.g., pre-arrival workshops, Canvas page, etc.)? Please contact the International Student Office. You may also wish to visit the DVC Counseling Center website.
How do I register for online courses? Registration can be done online through InSite from your home country. Priority registration dates and times are listed in InSite
under the Registration menu.
By when do I have to pay the tuition? Students should pay the tuition for their courses as soon as possible after the drop/add
deadline. However, if they need to pay in installments or wait to pay, they will not
be charged late payment fees. Students should note that, if they have a balance on
their account, a registration hold will be placed on their account. This hold will
block them from being able to register for the following semester. Once the tuition
has been paid, this hold will be automatically removed from their account.
Will I be allowed to attend the first few classes/sessions of online courses before
deciding whether to continue in or drop a course? Yes, you may attend online courses for several classes. You are allowed to drop an
online course at no charge as long as you do so by the drop deadline listed on your
course schedule. If you do not drop by the drop deadline, you will be responsible
for paying for the class even if you do not attend. Please refer to the Academic Calendar*
*Short-term class add/drop dates, refund dates and pass/no-pass dates are calculated
individually by class based on the specific number of meeting days; therefore, these
dates are not included in this calendar. Add/drop and refund dates are printed on
the class roster. Check with the instructor. You may also go to Insite, “Registration”
“My Class Schedule” for drop and refund dates. The dates are listed under the “Last
Date to Drop” column.
Will students be able to receive online tutoring? Yes, free online tutoring is available to all students through any Canvas course.
How much time per week can students expect to spend for an online course? Expect to spend 6 to 9 hours per week (on and offline) for a 3-unit course.
What other online learning expectations should students be aware of? Students should be prepared to actively participate in online courses through frequent
interactions with instructors and classmates. This includes contributing to online
discussions. Students should review course syllabi for more information about grading
policies.
Is F-1 Check-in Day Mandatory? Yes. All new F-1 students who entered the US in initial status, transferred, or are
recently approved Change of Status students, are required to attend. The event will
fulfill your immigration reporting requirements. Details will be sent by email closer
to the event date.
If I have been in the U.S. (transfer students and Change of Status students), do I
need to attend? Yes.
May I join a student club if I spend my first semester studying online from my home
country? Yes, you may still join a student club(s) as some have online meetings. The colleges
have a variety of clubs that have been active in the remote learning environment.
Please inquire with the club(s) you are interested in for more information. Here is the link to the Student Life office at DVC.
