Maintaining Your Immigration Status
- Keep passport valid for six months beyond expiration date
- Maintain full-time academic student status, which is a minimum of 12 hours for undergraduates or 9 hours for graduates.
- Obtain appropriate permission to work on or off campus
- Apply for program extension if more time is needed PRIOR to expiration of I-20 or DS-2019
- Keep your local mailing address up to date on My UNC Charlotte
- Follow procedures for transferring to another U.S. institution
Please view our handout on Academic Dismissal Effects on Immigration Status for F-1 and J-1 Students for more on your rights and responsibilities.
Can I remain in the U.S. if my F-1 or J-1 visa is expired?
Your F-1 or J-1 visa must be valid the day you enter the U.S. - Your F-1 or J-1 visa is similar to a "key" that you would use to enter a house (enter the U.S.). To get into your house, you must have a valid key (an unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa, unexpired passport, and an unexpired immigration document I-20 or DS-2019). Once you are in the house (in the U.S.), you no longer need to use the key to go from room to room. The same way with the F-1 or J-1 visa. Once you are in the U.S., it is not a problem if your F-1 or J-1 visa expires. You do not have to exit the U.S. by your visa expiration date. F-1 or J-1 status students are allowed to remain in the U.S. for "Duration of Status". If you are outside the U.S. and your F-1 or J-1 visa is expired, you must renew your visa before you can re-enter the U.S.
Remaining in the U.S. for "Duration of Status" - F-1 or J-1 students may remain in the U.S. as long as they are maintaining "status" (see the Maintaining Status section), even if their F-1 or J-1 visa has expired.
Websites To Visit
- USCIS
- U.S. Department of State
- Foreign Consulates in the United States
- Foreign Embassies in the United States
- Charlotte USCIS
- United States Visas
Use your @uncc.edu email account
The ISSO will notify all F1 and J1 students of any immigration-related reminders or updates by sending an email to his/her @uncc.edu email account. It is the student’s responsibility to read these emails if they want to have the latest, most accurate information.