Spring 2026 Student Reminders

in Featured
January 13th, 2026

Please review the information below for important reminders regarding maintaining status for new students and continuing F and J students. Please read our updated summaries of F-1 student and J-1 student regulations to learn more!

ISSO continues to monitor news and updates to immigration policy from the federal administration. In the event of changes that impact F-1/J-1 students, ISSO will update the dedicated page on our website and reach out to the community to offer information sessions. Students are always welcome to reach out to ISSO with questions.

Entering the US this Spring

Whether you are a new student arriving to the US for the first time or, you are a continuing student returning to campus after intersession, it is vital that you present yourself at the port of entry with all required documentation to ensure a smooth and successful entry to the US. During this time of increased scrutiny and vetting of F-1 and J-1 students, please review the Current Travel Advisory

Update Your Addresses in the MyBU Student Portal

It is critical that you understand the different addresses on the MyBU Student Portal and that you keep each address updated correctly. If you live in on-campus housing, your dormitory address will populate automatically. Please confirm it is accurate. If you live off campus, it is critical you keep the address field called “Current” up to date as this is the address that ISSO will use to report your address to SEVIS. Immigration regulations require that you update your address within 10 days of a move so you must keep your immigration-related addresses in the MyBU Student Portal up-to-date throughout the duration of your program. When updating your address, please refer to ISSO instructions to ensure accurate formatting.

Complete Initial ISSO Check-in for New Students

All international students beginning a new program and F-1 students returning to campus after a leave of absence will be required to complete Initial ISSO check-in remotely through the ISSOPortal. You will be required to upload copies of your US immigration documents to notify us of your arrival in the US so we can activate your SEVIS record. You should only complete Initial ISSO check-in after you have entered the US. Students beginning a new program of study will receive separate email messages with additional details about Initial ISSO check-in.

Understand SEVIS Reporting for Continuing Students

Boston University is required to confirm your enrollment to the US Department of Homeland Security through the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) at the start of each semester. The ISSO will rely on your academic registration data to automatically update your SEVIS record for spring. You do not need to take any additional steps provided you are academically registered.

Satisfy Regulatory Enrollment Requirements

Remember that you must be enrolled full-time and making normal academic progress in your degree each semester. For most students, full-time is a minimum of 12 credits. Some graduate student programs may have different full-time equivalents or there may be a situation where you may be considered to be full-time with less credits such as during PhD dissertation. If this is the case, you must work with your academic department and be designated full time under “Approved Academic Load” in MyBUStudent to maintain valid student immigration status.

Students are only allowed to take one online course each semester towards the 12-credit enrollment minimum so students seeking to enroll in an online course must enroll in at least 8 credits of in-person instruction. If it is your last semester and you need less than 12 credits to graduate, you must enroll in at least one on-campus course and request authorization for a Reduced Course Load from your ISSO advisor prior to the start of the semester.

Please also be aware that MyBU Student has technology features that will allow students to drop or withdraw from courses without additional authorization. If you drop or withdraw from courses on your own dropping your total credits to less than full time enrollment, that is a violation of your F-1 or J-1 status and will result in a termination of your SEVIS record.

Engage in On-Campus Employment

Immigration regulations allow international students to work a maximum of 20 hours per week on-campus during the regular semester. If you have multiple jobs, you are still restricted to a maximum of 20 hours per week. The consequences of exceeding the 20 hour per week limit are severe so it is important you pay attention to your hours each week. You can read more about being hired to work on-campus on the ISSO website. If you have not worked on-campus before, you will need to complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility form before you begin work. If you do not have a Social Security Number, you will need to apply for one after you secure a job.

Apply for Off-Campus Employment Authorization

Immigration regulations intentionally limit employment options off-campus during the academic year so you can concentrate on your full-time coursework. You can learn about eligibility requirements and the application process from the ISSO website. The consequences of beginning employment without authorization are severe so, it is critical that you obtain specific authorization BEFORE you begin any employment opportunity.

  • F-1 students may qualify for Curricular Practical Training from the ISSO for academic internship experiences specifically required by a program of study or a particular course. Alternatively, if you are interested in gaining work experience related to your major field of study during your program, you may need to apply for pre-completion OPT employment authorization in advance from USCIS for Optional Practical Training for jobs directly related to your field of study.
  • J-1 students may qualify for Academic Training authorization from the ISSO for experiences related to your program of study.

Avoid Unauthorized Employment

During this time of increased scrutiny, it is more important than ever to make sure that you have work authorization to work in any capacity in the US. See more information on our website or make an appointment with your advisor to inquire about possible employment authorization. Keep in mind that USCIS has s very strict definition of employment and students are not eligible for the following:

  • Employment for cash payments, gift cards or housing remuneration like babysitting, snow removal, dog walking, helping with household chores, under the table work at bars or restaurants, tutoring etc.
  • “Gig economy” opportunities like selling items you have made or have purchased for resale, selling artwork, getting paid for app creation, podcasts, influencer activities, artistic performances (not related to your program of study) ride share, food delivery etc.

We wish you a successful semester. The ISSO team is available in-person or virtually to support you. Please see our website to confirm your assigned ISSO Advisor and make sure you check this frequently as sometimes assignments chance. Attend one of our immigration workshops or visit our website to learn how to contact us, meet with our Advisor-On-Call or schedule an appointment. Given the volume of messages, it may take your advisor a few days to respond to inquiries and up to 10 business days to issue immigration documents and complete requests so please plan in advance.