Current Students

During OPT:

• Beginning a full-time program of study while on OPT is not allowed.
• If you wish to start a new program while on OPT, the remainder of the OPT must be forfeited before beginning classes with the new program.
• If you are beginning a program of study at another US school, you must request a Transfer Out of your F-1 SEVIS record to another school. If you are starting a new program of study at Florida Gulf Coast University, you must request a Change of Level I-20.

After OPT:

• If you plan to go back to school after your OPT, you will need to request a Transfer Out of your F-1 SEVIS record to another school or request a Change of Level I-20 if returning to FGCU. This must be done before the end of the 60-day grace period following the OPT end date.

Students should keep in mind the following points when deciding on when to request a Transfer Out of their SEVIS record:

• After the SEVIS transfer release date has passed, students may not continue working on OPT, even if the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has not expired. The release date, in effect, cancels the EAD.
• The SEVIS transfer release date can be within the OPT period dates listed on the EAD or up to 60 days after the expiration date on the EAD.
• Classes at the new school must begin within five months of the transfer release date or the end date on the EAD, whichever is earlier.
• Students may request a release date in the future and continue working on OPT until that date as long as the EAD has not expired and the new program of study has not yet begun.
• If the period between the OPT end date and the start date of classes at the new school will be more than five months, please meet with a GEO adviser to discuss your options.

If interested in joining a program that does not have the authorization to admit F-1 students and thus cannot issue an I-20, students should discuss their options with the International Student Adviser at that school.

Admission to a new school does not by itself authorize an international student in F-1 status to begin studying full-time at the new school.

You must request your current school (FGCU) to transfer/release your F-1 U.S. government SEVIS I-20 record to your new school before you can begin full-time studies there. The U.S. government calls this process a “SEVIS transfer.”

After being admitted to a new school through the normal admissions process, international students must then request a transfer of their SEVIS record from the old school to the new school. You need to inform the DSO that you have arrived in the United States and want to transfer immediately to another SEVP-certified school. You must show proof of acceptance to your new school. You must report to your new school and enroll in a full course of study within 30 days of arriving in the United States.Consult with international student advisers at both schools to make sure the F-1 or J-1 transfer is handled properly.

• Transfer out of FGCU form.

The U.S. government considers all the following examples to be possible “SEVIS transfer” situations:

1. Completing a program at one school and starting a new program at a different school Examples:
   • A student graduates with a bachelor’s degree and will begin graduate study
   • A student graduates from high school in the U.S. and will begin study at a community college or university
   • A student completes an intensive English program and will start a university degree
2. Currently studying at one school and deciding (before completing program) to change to a new school
   Example: A student is studying for a bachelor’s degree. The student decides after only two quarters at their current school that they want to change to a different school.
3. Currently doing OPT and starting a new program of study at a different school Examples:
   • A student graduated with a bachelor’s degree and started 12-month standard OPT. During their OPT they also apply to graduate schools. They are admitted and decide to start a Master’s degree that will begin before or after completion of the 12-month standard OPT.
   • A student graduated with a Master’s degree and started 12-month standard OPT. Then they started a STEM OPT extension period. They receive admission to a new program of study that will begin before or after the STEM extension OPT finishes.

Eligibility for a SEVIS Record Transfer

• You must currently be maintaining F-1 status
• You must have an offer of admission from a new school
• If you already graduated or completed OPT, you must still be within your 60-day grace period
• The start of classes at your new school must be within 5 months of one of the following:
  • academic program completion at UW
  • last day of enrollment at UW (if not graduating from UW)
  • OPT authorization end date
  • For students not completing OPT period, the requested SEVIS I-20 transfer/release date

If the period of time between F-1 activities is longer than 5 months, your SEVIS record is not eligible for transfer. Your new school must issue a new initial I-20 with a new SEVIS number.

Enrollment Hours:

Fall/Spring: 12 hours minimum with at least 9 credits of in-person/classroom or hybrid or flex blend mode (not online or virtual) classes out of the 12-credit minimum enrollment.

Summer: Summer is the annual vacation and immigration regulations do not require enrollment. However, FGCU requires 9 summer credits for graduation.

Final Semester:  Immigration regulations allow a student to enroll in only the number of credits required for completion of the degree. For immigration purposes, enrollment in a final term cannot be 0 credits only. If enrolling in a 0-credit course in the final semester, a student must also enroll in at least one course required for the completion of their degree.

Fall/Spring:  9 credit hours minimum with at least 6 credits of in-person/classroom or hybrid or flex blend mode (not online or virtual) classes out of the 9-credit minimum enrollment.

Summer: Summer is the annual vacation and immigration regulations do not require enrollment.

Final Semester:  Immigration regulations allow a student to enroll in only the number of credits required for completion of the degree. For immigration purposes, enrollment in a final term cannot be 0 credits only. If enrolling in a 0-credit course in the final semester, a student must also enroll in at least one course required for the completion of their degree.

Students in F-1 status must receive authorization from a DSO before dropping below or withdrawing and falling below enrollment requirements.

Immigration regulations permit F-1 students to request authorization to reduce their course load below the levels stated above for the following reasons:

1. Initial difficulty with English language or reading requirements
2. Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods
3. Improper course level placement
4. Medical condition, with documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist.

• Reduced Course Load for F-1 students.

Registered students may add or drop a course during the drop/add period in the first week of classes, but must maintain a full course load.

To drop or add a class after the drop/add period ends, contact your academic department for instructions. Talk to a DSO before initiating a drop or withdrawal that would reduce your  enrollment below full time. 

NOTE: You may still be required to pay for any classes you drop after the drop/add period ends.

If you wish to withdraw from ALL classes for the semester, please speak with a DSO immediately. If your proposal to withdraw is due to a mental or physical health issue for which you have not sought assistance, please know that CAPs is available to students in need.

FGCU Withdrawal rule 

Beginning Fall 2017, FGCU implemented the 3/2 Withdrawal Limit to help students stay on track for timely graduation. Students are allowed to withdraw from a maximum of three (3) lower-level courses (numbered 1000-2999) and two (2) upper-level courses (numbered 3000-4999) without academic penalty after the drop/add dates.
Any W’s that students acquired prior to Fall 2017 will not count toward this limit.
An appeal process will be in place. 
Withdrawals for approved extenuating circumstances such as medical reasons and active duty military service will not count toward this limit.   
A withdrawal counter is available on your DegreeWorks degree audit on Gulfline. 

F-1 students may be eligible to meet their full-time enrollment requirement by simultaneously registering at FGCU and another institution.

Go to Floridashines.org to sign up for courses at another institution

Click on “Succeed in College” o Select “Take a Course at Another School” 

Click “Start or check the status of your Transient Student Application now” 

Log-in using your School ID and Gulfline PIN/Password Once you are verified, on the drop-down list for your College, select your upper division college (i.e. College of Arts and Sciences).

If you select the incorrect college, the form will not be routed to the proper advising unit for approval and you will need to resubmit.

In order to change your major please meet with your advisor. Once the change of major has been processed students must inform their DSO immediately. Once it has been approved, students need to have their Form I-20 or DS-2019 updated by visiting the Global Engagement Office.

• Students accepted into another degree level or who have finished a program and would like to continue studying at FGCU in another degree level will need an updated Form I-20 or DS-2019 that reflects this change. Please schedule an appointment with GIIS to request your new Form I-20 and bring the required documents listed below.

  • Admission letter to new program
  • Financial Support Documents

After F-1 students complete their program of study, they are allowed a 60-day grace period to remain in the U.S. J-1 students’ grace period is limited to 30 days. Students who depart the U.S. within the grace period are not eligible to re-enter with their same I-20 or DS-2019. Please note that any on-campus or Curricular Practical Training (F-1 students) must end on or before your graduation.

F-1 students who want to remain in the United States may do so under the following options:

• Begin a new program of study at FGCU. Students should follow the procedures for admission to the new program and request an updated I-20 from GEO. A “change of level” must be completed in SEVIS within the 60-day grace period. The new program of study must begin in the next available semester within five months of completing your current program. To request an I-20 for a change of level, schedule an appointment with a GEO advisor.
• Begin a new program of study at another U.S. institution. Students must be admitted to the new school and have their SEVIS record transferred out to the new institution within the 60-day grace period. The new program of study at the new institution must begin in the next available semester within five months of program completion at FGCU. To have your SEVIS record transferred to a different school.
• Apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment authorization. The application must be received by the USCIS within 60 days of program completion.
• Depart the U.S. within the 60-day grace period. Please note that once you depart the U.S. in your grace period, you will not be eligible to reenter the U.S. with your same I-20 or apply for OPT.