Enrollment Requirements

As a J-1 exchange visitor in a student category, you must maintain a full course of study each semester that you are at the University of Arkansas in order to maintain valid J-1 non-immigrant status.  "Full time" is defined as follows:

  • Undergraduate students: At least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester
  • Graduate students: At least 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester
  • Graduate students with a 50% graduate assistantship: At least 6 credit hours each fall and spring semester

Online Courses

J-1 students are limited in the amount of online classes/courses they may "count" toward fulfilling the full time enrollment requirement for immigration status purposes.  The University of Arkansas only allows J-1 students to count one online course per semester toward their immigration full course of study requirement.

Summer

Summer enrollment is generally not required to maintain immigration status, unless you are beginning your program in the summer academic term.  If the summer is your first term in the United States, then you must be enrolled full time.  Even as  continuing students, graduate students may be required to enroll during summer to satisfy Graduate School requirements, especially if they are on graduate assistantship appointment.

Reduced Course Load

There are some circumstances which permit a J-1 student to be authorized to enroll for less than a full course of study.  These include:

  1. Vacation: During official school breaks and summer vacations if the student is eligible and intends to register for the next term.
  2. Medical illness: If the student is compelled to reduce or interrupt a full course of study due to an illness or medical condition and the student presents to the Responsible Officer (J-1 advisor) a writter statement from a physician requiring or recommending an interruption or reduction in studies.
  3. Bona fide academic reason: If the student is compelled to pursue less than a full course of study for a term and the student presents to the Responsible Officer (J-1 advisor) a written statement from the academic dean or academic advisor recommending the student to reduce his or her academic load to less than a full course of study due to an academic reason.
  4. Non-degree program: If the student is engaged full time in a prescribed course of study in a non-degree program of up to 24 months duration conducted by a post-secondary accredited academic institution.
  5. Academic Training: If the student is participating in authorized academic training in accordance with paragraph f of this section.
  6. Final term: If the student needs less than a full course of study to complete the academic requirements in his or her final term.

If you wish to be authorized for reduced course load, you must submit a request through the ISSLink system.  You must not drop below full time enrollment before receiving approval of your request.