Check-In with ISSS
Checking in with ISSS is one of the most important parts of getting your F-1/J-1 status. Your status will not be active until you submit your check-in to ISSS and ISSS processes the request. You must submit your F-1/J-1 Student Check-In online after you arrive in the U.S. or after you arrive at Texas A&M University (TAMU).
**If you are an F-1 or J-1 student with an I-20 or DS-2019 issued by another institution (not TAMU ISSS), you should check in using the Other Student Check-In in the ISSS portal. ISSS does not activate your F-1 or J-1 status in SEVIS, but you are still required to complete an ISSS Check-In.
Registration Hold Information
ISSS Holds
IC Hold
This check-in hold is placed on your record after admission. If this hold remains after the last day of add/drop of your admission term, it indicates that you have not yet completed the ISSS check-in.SA Hold
This address hold is applied to your record after you are admitted by Texas A&M University and when you do not have the required addresses mentioned below on your Howdy record.
If you see this hold, add or update the required addresses in Howdy. The hold will automatically be removed within 24 hours.IF Hold
The IF hold is applied by ISSS when students submit certain requests indicating they're in their final semester (and are not admitted to another Texas A&M program) or are leaving Texas A&M.
ISSS does not remove these holds unless the student intends to continue taking classes at Texas A&M. You should contact ISSS if you think an IF hold was added to their record by mistake.
Information About Non-ISSS Holds
Keep Address and Phone Number Up to Date
All F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors have a regulatory requirement to keep their U.S. address and U.S. phone number up to date.
- F-1 regulation: 8 CFR 214.2(f)(17), which states that "[a] student can satisfy the requirement . . . of notifying DHS by providing a notice of a change of address within 10 days to the DSO," and that "the DSO in turn must enter the information in SEVIS within 21 days of notification by the student."
- J-1 regulation: 8 CFR 214.2(j)(1)(viii), which states that "[a] J-1 exchange visitor enrolled in a SEVIS program can satisfy the requirement . . . by providing a notice of a change of address within 10 days to the responsible officer, who in turn shall enter the information in SEVIS within 21 days of notification by the exchange visitor."
To fulfill this federal requirement, F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors must ensure that the following information in their Howdy Portal is up to date at all times:
- Their international/NON-U.S. address: This address must be listed as an International Permanent (IN) address.
- Their U.S. address: This address must be listed as a Student Local/Physical (SL) address. This address should be within a reasonable driving distance of where you are either attending school or working. If you have moved away from campus to do Academic Training/CPT/OPT/STEM OPT extension, you MUST update your U.S. address accordingly.
- Their U.S. phone number: This phone number must be listed as a Student Local/Current (SM) phone number.
Only the specific address and phone types listed above will satisfy the F-1/J-1 reporting requirements. F-1s and J-1s who fail to enter a valid International Permanent (IN) or Student Local/Physical (SL) address will have a registration hold automatically placed on their record. ISSS cannot and will not process any ISSS Portal requests for students who are missing one or both of the aforementioned addresses.
In addition to keeping the Howdy Portal up to date, students who have applications pending USCIS adjudication should also submit the Form AR-11 to ensure that USCIS is kept abreast of any changes to their address or phone number.
Enrollment Information
Additional Enrollment Information
Fall and Spring Requirements
You must enroll full-time each major semester (Fall and Spring) or get an exception. Graduate students need at least 9 credits. Undergraduate students need at least 12 credits.
Summer Requirements
You must enroll full-time in summer as well (or get an exception) if one of the following applies:
- Summer is your first semester at TAMU; or
- Summer is your first semester as an F-1 or J-1; or
- You will graduate in the summer
If one of the three scenarios above applies to you: Then graduate students need at least 6 credits. Undergraduate students need at least 8 credits.
If none of the above scenarios apply to you: Then summer is considered vacation time. This means you are not required to take classes for immigration purposes. Please consult your academic department and on-campus employer concerning university rules on summer course registration.
Get Work Authorization
See the Employment page to learn more about the requirements and how to apply.
F-1 Students
You will need work authorization for any internships, co-ops, or other work done off-campus. After you check-in with ISSS, you can start working on-campus without any extra authorization. If you’re unsure if an employer is considered “on-campus work”, contact ISSS.
J-1 Students
You need work authorization for off-campus AND on-campus work or internships.
Health Insurance
F-1 and J-1 students are required by Texas A&M University to maintain health insurance while studying at TAMU. J-1 students also have the additional federal requirement to ALWAYS maintain health insurance during their stay in the U.S. (even after graduation).
Learn more about health insurance for international students
Final Semester Information
Enroll Less than Full-Time for Final Semester
It’s possible to enroll less than full-time during your final semester at TAMU. For more information see Dropping Below Full-Time.
Applying for Graduation
You will need to apply for graduation to officially finish your academic program with TAMU. The application for graduation can typically be found in your Howdy Portal. The Office of the Registrar will usually send out an email with additional information to students in their final semester, so be on the lookout for any emails from the Office of the Registrar
Working After Graduation
You can extend your F-1 or J-1 status so you can work after graduation by applying for post-graduation work authorizations. You should start these applications in your final semester.
- F-1 students, see 12-month OPT for more information
- J-1 students, see Academic Training for more information