Enrolling from Outside the U.S.

International students sometimes choose to enroll from abroad during their academic program at Texas A&M University for various reasons. Please be advised that you must comply with Texas A&M University policy and procedures as well as all immigration regulations relevant to student visa holders to properly maintain your academic and immigration status before, during, and after enrolling abroad.

If you are interested in enrolling abroad, you should consult with your academic department and ISSS to determine your options before taking any actions. Depending on the length of time you wish to be abroad and your nonimmigrant status, the requirements for enrollment, insurance, and reporting are different.

Immigration Requirements
Education Abroad Requirements
Additional Reminders

Immigration Requirements

You should connect with ISSS before submitting a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal request if you will take temporary absence (not enrolling) when school is in session.

You should seek to end your F-1 status if you will be enrolling from abroad for more than 12 months.

Target Group: You plan to enroll abroad for more than 12 months. 

Before You Leave: 

Submit an Enrollment Abroad Request to ISSS and ISSS will end your F-1 status.
1. You should submit your request 15 business days prior to your departure from the U.S., OR by the add/drop deadline.
  1. For reference, the TAMU academic calendar is available here.
2. Your academic advisor must complete a recommendation for this request; this is part of the Enrollment Abroad Request.
After ending your F-1 status, while enrolling abroad:
1. You do not need to meet the full-time requirement set by F-1 immigration regulations.
2. You do not need to meet the insurance requirement set by TAMU System policy.
3. You are no longer eligible for F-1 benefits including but not limited to: on-campus employment, CPT, or OPT.
4. You and any F-2 dependents must leave the U.S. within 15 days of the date of termination. F-2 dependents are not eligible to remain in the U.S. once the student has departed.

During the Remainder of Your Program:

After processing your request, your status with the university will be updated to "Abroad".
If you return to the U.S. for a conference, you may apply for B-1 Business Visitor status.
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 F-1 status. If your pervious F-1 visa has expired, you will need to renew your F-1 visa.
1. In this scenario, you will not be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) unless you return to the United States under a new SEVIS ID and are enrolled full-time for two major semesters.

You can maintain your F-1 status if you will be enrolling from abroad for fewer than 12 months.

Target Group: You plan to go abroad for a maximum of 12 months (365 days).

Before You Leave: 

Submit the Enrollment Abroad Request to notify ISSS. 
1. You should submit your request 15 business days prior to your departure from the U.S.
  1. For reference, the TAMU academic calendar is available here.
2. Your academic advisor must complete a recommendation for this request; this is part of the Enrollment Abroad Request.
3. This process must be completed every semester (including summer) when you enroll abroad.

While You Are Abroad:

You are expected to maintain full-time F-1 status and must not exceed the limitation on distance/online courses.
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.
  1. You must meet the insurance requirement set by TAMU System policy.
3. You must maintain a valid international permanent address (IN) 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.
Upon processing your request, ISSS will update your SEVIS record to reflect that you are located outside the U.S. pursuing a full course of study for the specified term while continuing to maintain F-1 status.
After completing your time abroad, you are required to update your Student Local Physical (SL) address in the Howdy Portal.
If you decide to remain abroad for more than one year, please Connect with ISSS

Education Abroad Requirements

Per the University Rule on Student Travel (13.04.99.M1), all students traveling abroad must register their travel with Education Abroad before traveling. Education Abroad is charged to monitor international mobility from undergraduate and graduate students, whether the experience is credit or non-credit-bearing.
Graduate students may participate in various experiences abroad, including but not limited to internships, research (conferences, collecting dissertation data and materials), coursework with an experiential learning component, or faculty-led programs. While these experiences may be part of their responsibilities as a GAT, GAL, GAR, or GANT, they remain students while traveling and must register with Education Abroad.
All students participating in experiences not coordinated by an affiliate provider, Texas A&M department, or student organization must also register. Each program or registration process with Education Abroad will have different deadlines and a designated staff member to assist with questions, the application process, and general trip preparations. For details, visit https://global.tamu.edu/ea/students/programs.&nbsp.
You can connect with Education Abroad if you have any questions.

Additional Reminders

It is critical that your academic department, ISSS, and the graduate and professional school (if applicable) are made aware of your plans to enroll abroad.
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. For tax resources, please visit https://global.tamu.edu/isss/resources/taxes.
- 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.
You can connect with ISSS if you have any questions.

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Enrolling from Outside the U.S.

Immigration Requirements

You should seek to end your F-1 status if you will be enrolling from abroad for more than 12 months.

You can maintain your F-1 status if you will be enrolling from abroad for fewer than 12 months.

Education Abroad Requirements

Additional Reminders

Enrolling from Outside the U.S.