Basic Regulations and Maintaining Status

Important: To protect your F-1 visa status, always consult with your International Advisor before doing something that might affect your visa status.

Note – April 2026: The Department of Homeland Security is currently finalizing the replacement of duration of status, and:

  • the lengths of grace period may change soon
  • the concept of “make normal progress” may change soon
  • and more

Travel Documents:

Documents must always be valid.

Only schools that are certified by the Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) can issue I-20 forms for international students.

  • Confirm all information on your I-20 is accurate.  
  • Know the I-20 end date.
  • Consult with your International Advisor if you may not be able to complete your study before your I-20 expiration date.
  • Get your International Advisor’s travel signature if you wish to travel internationally and then resume your full-time study at Bellevue College.

Your home government issues your passport, and it is official proof of your identify and country of citizenship.  

  • You must renew your passport with your home government at least 6 months before the expiration date.
  • If while you are in the United States your passport is expiring, you may renew your passport at the nearest consulate or embassy.

An F-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows international students to enter the United States and to pursue full-time academic studies at an SEVP-certified school. Only United States embassies and consulates can issue F-1 visa stamps for qualified individuals.  

  • You must present your valid F-1 visa, a passport, and Bellevue College’s I-20 every time you request to enter the United States as a full-time student at Bellevue College.  
  • Provided you have been studying full-time and keeping good academic progress without violating any F-1 rules, you are fine to keep studying even if your F-1 visa has expired.
    • You are not required to return home just to renew your visa. 
    • Consult with your International Advisor first if you are thinking about returning home to renew visa. 
    • Visa renewal is not guaranteed and takes a long time. Allocate at least two months and have back-up plans in case of visa rejection.  

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issues and updates your I-94 Arrival/Departure record when you request to enter the United States commonly by air travel, and you may need to ask for a new I-94 record by land or seaport of entry.  

  • Your I-94 record contains your legal name, passport number, date of birth, a port-of-entry location, entry date, and an immigration classification.
  • Under the current F-1 regulations, most F-1 visa students are admitted to the United States for Duration of Status (i.e., D/S) instead of a fixed date. Duration of status allows students to remain in the United States if they are actively pursuing their program of studies by obeying the F-1 regulations.

Maintaining F-1 Status

Maintaining your F-1 visa status or “staying in status” means fulfilling ALL the requirements of your nonimmigrant student status. This involves adhering to specific rules and regulations to ensure you remain eligible to stay in the U.S. for your studies.

  1. Pursue a full course of study at the school that issued your valid I-20 form.  
    • Intensive English Program: In Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter, full-time means 20 credits per quarter, and all classes meet in-perform. In Summer quarter, full-time means 15 credits per quarter, and all classes meet in-person.  
    • Bridge Pathway Program: Full-time means 15 credits per quarter, and all classes meet in-person.  
    • College-Level Programs including Associate, Certificate, International High School Completion, and Bachelor’s: A minimum of 12 credits with a minimum 7 credits in-person or hybrid.
  2. Make normal progress towards completing your program of study before your I-20 expires.  
    • Attend all your classes and maintain normal academic progress to complete your program of study before your I-20 expires.  
  1. Report a change of address within 10 days of the change.  
    • Students must report any changes to their contact information (address or phone) within 10 days of the change. 
    • Steps on How to Update Your Address: 
      • Log-in to ctclink and navigate to the sidebar 
      • Click ‘My Profile’ 
      • Click ‘Contact Info’
      • Update your old address to your new one 
      • Email your International Advisor to inform them that you have updated your address 
  1. Do not work on and off campus without a Designated School Official’s approval.  
  1. Keep you I-20 valid with correct education level and program of study.  
  1. Abide by the F-1 grace period rules.  
    • Grace periods are given to F-1 students who have maintained their F-1 status and have successfully completed their program of study or have gotten approval by their International Advisor to withdraw from the school early to return home.
    • Grace periods allow F-1 students to prepare to depart the U.S., transfer to a new school, apply for post-completion optional practical training, or prepare to change their F-1 status to a different immigration classification and more.
    • F-1 students in their grace period should not travel to Canada or Mexico unless they are leaving for home country without needing to reenter the United States.
      • You may remain in the United States up to 60 days if you have maintained your F-1 status and successfully completed your program of study or post-completion optional practical training.
      • You may remain in the United States up to 15 days from the date your International Advisor updated your SEVIS record for your Early Withdrawal (i.e., Departure Request).
      • You have 0 days of grace period if your SEVIS record is terminated for failing to maintain your F-1 status including unauthorized withdrawal.  
  1. Follow the federal, state, and local laws.  

Last Updated April 20, 2026