International students with an F-1 or M-1 visa must be “in status” with all U.S. immigration policies. Students who do not maintain status will be reported in SEVIS to the Department of Homeland Security.
To keep your F-1 visa status you must do the following:
- Have a valid passport while in the U.S. (it should always be valid for at least six months into the future).
- Have a valid visa to enter the U.S. (see the section below on expiration of visa)
- Have a valid I-20 while in the U.S. (you are responsible to make sure all information is accurate).
- Attend the school to which you have been authorized to attend.
- Be a full-time student. At Walla Walla Community College, full-time means 18 credits per term for IEP students, and 12 credits per term for college-level students. Immigration regulations do not allow you to enroll in more than 1 online course each quarter.
- Make satisfactory progress toward a degree program. At Walla Walla Community College, satisfactory progress is a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
- Follow proper transfer procedures if you want to attend a school other than Walla Walla Community College.
- Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours per week except for approved OPT or CPT. Walla Walla Community College employment policies generally limit on-campus employment to 15 hours per week.
- Not work off-campus except for approved OPT or CPT.
- Report your new address within 10 days of moving to Dept. of Homeland Security (see page on SEVIS policies under “Change of Address”).
- Stay enrolled in classes except for authorized breaks, for example summer quarter after completing THREE consecutive quarters.
- Notify your DSO of any changes in status, address, program of study.
- Work with proper authorization only (working without authorization is a serious violation of your status).
- Check your WWCC email or CANVAS account regularly – this is the official form of communication from Walla Walla Community College.
EXPIRATION OF VISA: The visa in your passport is used only to enter the U.S. While you are staying in the U.S. this visa may expire. As long as you stay in the U.S., you do not need to renew this visa. However, if your visa has expired and you leave the U.S., you must apply for a new visa before you return to the U.S. Check with your DSO if you have questions about your visa.
Earn Passing Grades
You must pass all of your courses. If your courses are too difficult, contact your DSO immediately. If you become academically deficient, you must seek academic reinstatement in order to continue at WWCC.
Summer Session Enrollment
Summer enrollment is optional for continuing full-time students. If you were enrolled at WWCC for the prior fall, winter, and spring quarters and plan to continue the following fall quarter, you are not required to enroll during the summer quarter.
Summer Quarter is Your First at WWCC
If you are beginning studies in the summer and a summer start date is on your I-20 (F-1 students), then you must enroll for credits during the summer quarter.