Texas A&M University Qatar

Texas A&M University Qatar (TAMU Qatar) is closing by 2028. For more information click here.

General Guidelines
Information for Students Admitted to TAMU Qatar
Information for Students Admitted to TAMU College Station
Additional Reminders
Resources

General Guidelines

You will only be eligible to apply for F/J Visa Status if you have been admitted to an academic program at Texas A&M University in College Station.
- If you have been admitted to an academic program at Texas A&M University in Qatar, you are not eligible to come to the U.S. in F/J Visa Status.
Graduate Students: Make sure you inform the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS) at Texas A&M University at Qatar at least two months before your expected return date. This applies regardless of if you are enrolling at the Qatar campus or the College Station campus.

Information for Students Admitted to TAMU Qatar

If you are a Texas A&M University at Qatar student and you plan to come to the United States to study at Texas A&M, please complete the following steps:

Consult with your academic department to determine the length of time you will be physically located in the United States. Consider when you may want to arrive in the U.S. and when you may want to return to Qatar.
Consult with an ISSS immigration specialist to discuss the specific immigration actions you will need to take to obtain a U.S. immigration status.

Information for Students Admitted to TAMU College Station

If you are a student at Texas A&M University College Station and you are interested in enrolling or researching at the Qatar campus, you must complete the following steps:

Consult with your academic department to determine the length of time you will be physically located in Qatar. Consider when you may want to arrive in Qatar and when you may want to return to the U.S.
Connect with ISSS to discuss the specific immigration actions you will need to take to either maintain your U.S. immigration status while in Qatar or to end your U.S. immigration status upon going to Qatar.

Below are the different scenarios in which you might be travelling from College Station. Continue reading to find the process for your situation:

Scenario 1A: I have an I-20 from TAMU ISSS and I want to enroll at TAMU Qatar for more than 12 months - What to do before you leave

Target Group

You have obtained F-1 status and started your program in College Station already.
You plan to go to Qatar with the intent to be there more than 12 months.

ISSS Process: 

Submit a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal request to ISSS to end your F-1 status (located under Academic Program Updates within the ISSS Portal). 
1. You should submit your request 15 business days prior to your departure from the U.S., OR by the add/drop deadline of the first College Station term you will attend TAMUQ, whichever comes first. 
  1. For reference, the TAMU academic calendar is available here.
2. Your academic advisor must complete a recommendation for this request; this is a part of the Leave of Absence or Withdrawal request.
Upon processing your request, ISSS will terminate your F-1 SEVIS record for “Authorized Early Withdrawal.” 
1. You will not be charged for TAMU health insurance while in Qatar. 
During the remainder of your program at TAMUQ, 
1. If you return to the U.S. for a conference, you may apply for B1 Business Visitor status. You could request a letter from TAMUQ OGS saying that you are physically enrolled at TAMUQ. 
2. If you will visit the U.S. to enroll in a course and/or defend your dissertation in College Station during your final term, you will need to apply for a new F-1 status.
  1. In this scenario, you will not be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Education Abroad Process: 

If traveling and don’t plan to enroll in courses during the term in Qatar, use the Independent Experience for No Credit registration.
If traveling and planning to enroll in courses during the term in Qatar, use the Independent Experience for TAMU Credit registration.

Scenario 1B: I have an I-20 from TAMU ISSS and I want to enroll at TAMU Qatar for more than 12 months - What to do before you return to the U.S.

Target Group

You have already been in Qatar for over 12 months and are returning to College Station to graduate in Spring 2025.
You must contact TAMUQ OGS and initiate the process to return to the U.S. a semester before your return semester at TAMU.

ISSS Process: 

Submit a TAMU F-1/J-1 Status – Continuing Students request within the ISSS Portal.
1. You will be issued a new I-20 with a new SEVIS record so that you can apply for a new F-1 visa (if needed) and return to the U.S. in F-1 status.
  1.  If your F-1 visa has expired, you must renew it. 
  2. If your previous F-1 visa is still valid, you do not need to obtain a new one.
2. After arriving in the U.S., you must complete the F-1 Student Check-in request  
Now that you are in F-1 status again, you are expected to maintain full-time F-1 status.
1. You must be fully enrolled during your final semester (or get an exception). 
2. You will be subject to the TAMU health insurance requirement and must pay the health insurance fee if you do not qualify for a waiver. 
3. You must maintain a valid international permanent address and student local physical address in the Howdy Portal. 
4. You will not be eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) unless you have maintained F-1 status for a full academic year (one fall plus one spring semester, or one spring plus one fall semester).

Scenario 2: I have an I-20 from TAMU ISSS and I want to enroll at TAMU Qatar for less than 12 months

You have obtained F-1 status and started your program in College Station already.

You plan to go to Qatar with the intent to be there for a maximum of 12 months (365 days).

ISSS Process: 

Submit the Travel Outside the U.S. request to notify ISSS you will enroll from abroad. 
1. You should submit your request 15 business days prior to your departure from the U.S., OR by the add/drop deadline of the first College Station term you will attend TAMUQ, whichever comes first. 
  1. For reference, the TAMU academic calendar is available here.
2. Your academic advisor must complete a recommendation for this request; this is a part of the Travel Outside the U.S.
3. This process must be completed every semester (including summer) when you attend TAMUQ.
You are expected to maintain full-time F-1 status. 
1. You must be fully enrolled during major semesters (Fall and Spring, and/or Summer if it is your first or final semester at TAMU) or get an exception. 
2. You will be subject to the TAMU health insurance requirement and must pay the health insurance fee if you do not qualify for a waiver.
3. You must maintain a valid international permanent address (IN) and student local physical address (SL) in the Howdy Portal.
4. You should inform ISSS if you plan to apply for OPT. You are not eligible to apply for OPT while outside the U.S. attending TAMUQ.
Upon processing your request, ISSS will update your SEVIS record to reflect that you are located outside the U.S. for the specified term while continuing to maintain F-1 status.
After completing your time at TAMUQ, you are not required to inform ISSS upon returning to College Station. 
If you decide to remain at TAMUQ for more than one year, please Connect with ISSS

Education Abroad Process:

You should register with Education Abroad each term you plan to be at TAMUQ by completing the appropriate Independent Experience registration: 
1.  If you are traveling and don’t plan to enroll in courses during the term in Qatar, use the Independent Experience for No Credit registration.  
2. If you are traveling and planning to enroll in courses during the term in Qatar, use the Independent Experience for TAMU Credit registration.

Scenario 3: I started at TAMU Qatar and I need an I-20 to come to College Station

You must contact TAMUQ OGS and work together to initiate the process to return to the U.S. a semester before your return semester at TAMU.

Submit the Other Student Check-in request in the ISSS Portal before enrolling at TAMUQ.
Once you have decided on which semester you will study at College Station,
1. You should submit a request TAMU F-1/J-1 Status – Continued Students. You will be issued a new I-20 to apply for an F-1 visa.
2. After arriving in the U.S., you must complete the F-1 Student Check-in request  
You are expected to maintain full-time F-1 status
1. You must be fully enrolled during major semesters (Fall and Spring, and/or Summer if it is your first or final semester at TAMU) or get an exception. 
2. You will be subject to the TAMU health insurance requirement and must pay the health insurance fee if you do not qualify for a waiver.
3. You must maintain a valid international permanent address (IN) and student local physical address (SL) in the Howdy Portal.
4. You should inform ISSS if you plan to apply for OPT. You are not eligible to apply for OPT while outside the U.S. attending TAMUQ. You must maintain F-1 status for a full academic year before applying for OPT (one fall plus one spring semester, or one spring plus one fall semester).

Additional Reminders

Any student participating in an approved experience with TAMUQ while degree-seeking at TAMU CS must register with Education Abroad.
You must contact TAMUQ OGS and work together to initiate the process to return to the U.S. a semester before your return semester at TAMU.
Paying federal income taxes and filing the appropriate paperwork with the U.S. government is required by law. Failure to comply can result in serious immigration, financial, and legal consequences.
- Most international students in F-1 status and their F-2 dependents are considered NONRESIDENTS for tax purposes and therefore DO have to file a tax form with the U.S. government for each tax year they are in the U.S., even if they earned NO income.

Resources

Click the links below to learn about various resources and departments available to assist at your campus:

...

Students

Funding

Health & Safety

Academic Advisors

Program Development

Connect

F-1 & J-1 Students

Other Students

Scholars & Interns

Resources

Health & Safety

Travel & Visas

Life in the U.S.

Connect with ISSS

Costa Rican Support Services

Mexican Support Services

International Agreements

Passports

Host International Visitors

Fulbright

Resources and Forms

Texas A&M University Qatar

Texas A&M University Qatar (TAMU Qatar) is closing by 2028. For more information click here.

General Guidelines

Information for Students Admitted to TAMU Qatar

Information for Students Admitted to TAMU College Station

Scenario 1A: I have an I-20 from TAMU ISSS and I want to enroll at TAMU Qatar for more than 12 months - What to do before you leave

Scenario 1B: I have an I-20 from TAMU ISSS and I want to enroll at TAMU Qatar for more than 12 months - What to do before you return to the U.S.

Scenario 2: I have an I-20 from TAMU ISSS and I want to enroll at TAMU Qatar for less than 12 months

Scenario 3: I started at TAMU Qatar and I need an I-20 to come to College Station

Additional Reminders

Resources

Texas A&M University Qatar