To maintain F-1/J-1 status, international students must be enrolled in a full course of study at the start of the fall and spring semesters.
F-1/J-1 students may request a Reduced Course Load (RCL) through the RCL eForm in the following circumstances:
Students in their final semester of study.
- Undergraduate students with less than 12 credits remaining to complete their degrees may submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL).
- Graduate students with less than 9 credits or less than 6 hours with TA/RA/GSA position remaining to complete their degrees may submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL). See information on determining your completion date.
Graduate students whose final academic requirement is a thesis or dissertation and who are required to take one continuing registration credit.
- Thesis/dissertation graduate students who have completed all coursework credits, including all research, dissertation, and thesis credit hours may request a reduced course load. Speak with your academic advisor if you are unsure what your final academic requirement is.
- **Thesis/dissertation F-1 students who are approved for a reduced course load and then change their final academic requirement may be violating their immigration status and not be eligible for post-OPT.
To be eligible for a reduced course load all F-1/J-1 students must:
- Meet one of the above circumstances.
- Maintain in-person presence throughout the entire semester.
- If you only have 1 class left to complete, it must be hybrid or fully in-person.
- You may only enroll in either 1 class or 3 credits that are virtual.
- Have a valid I-20/DS-2019 for the entire semester (see information on extending your I-20 or extending your DS-2019);
- Be inside the United States. Please inform the ISSC if you are planning to enroll in classes while outside of the United States.
Please keep in mind that:
- You need authorization to take courses outside of ASU. See our Additional coursework outside of ASU webpage for more information.
- An RCL is not required if your remaining credits are online as these will need to be completed outside of the U.S.
- An RCL is not required during the summer semester for continuing students.
- Please make sure to apply for the reduced course load before the start of your final semester.