International Student Services provides support programs and services to assist F-1 international students in achieving their goals. All F-1 international students must meet with their international student advisor/Designated School Official (DSO) prior to their first semester and are encouraged to meet each semester. International students should meet with their international student advisor/DSO if they experience academic difficulties, have questions about their academic program, or seek tutoring assistance.
Individuals seeking admission to Walsh College on an F-1 Student Visa must submit an application for admission and meet the general admission requirements for bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree programs. In addition, international and domestic student applicants whose education was completed outside of the United States must provide the following to be admissible:
An official international transcript evaluation by a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved agency.
Provide the required F1 International Student Packet documents including official statements of financial support through personal or sponsored funds.
Have maintained good standing of their previous F-1 status (applicable to transfer students) according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) regulations.
All application materials mustbe available for consideration by the international student advisor/DSO at least eight weeks prior to the first date of the semester for which the applicant is seeking admission. Only upon full admission to Walsh College will an I-20 be issued. All student visa holders are required to maintain full-time standing as defined in the Student Enrollment Classification section and pursue their designated program of study.
• Duolingo English score of 110; or
• IELTS score of 6.5; or
• MELAB score of 80; or
• MET score of 64; or
• PTE A score of 53; or
• TOEFL score of 79-80 (internet-based) or 550 written; or
• Successful completion of Level 112 from ELS Language Centers; or
• Successful completion of highest level of ESL program from an accredited U.S. institution; or
• Successful completion of an English composition course from an accredited U.S. institution; or
• Completion of a college degree from an accredited U.S. institution.
Upon Admission to Walsh College, students attending on a F-1 student visa are required to:
Ensure requirements are met to maintain compliance with F-1 student visa requirements.
Purchase health insurance through Walsh College or provide proof of personal coverage.
Arrange for their own living accommodations and transportation to and from locations. Walsh College does not offer residential facilities or transportation to classes.
Full-time Registration Requirements and Exceptions for F1 Students
In general, F-1 students must be registered full-time. This is defined as at least:
12 credits each semester for bachelor's degree seeking students
6 credits each semester for master's and doctoral degree seeking students
Only one online class may count towards the minimum credit amount each semester. Students should not register for fewer than the required number of credits or withdraw from a course without first receiving permission from the school DSO. Part-time studies could jeopardize the student’s stay in the U.S. and make a student ineligible for F-1 benefits. Progress in the F1 Student studies To maintain status, an F-1 student is also required to “make progress”. Making progress includes, but is not limited to, enrolling in the proper courses required for degree completion, maintaining satisfactory academic progress, and continually meeting all institutional enrollment requirements. In case an F1 student is academically dismissed or suspended, the SEVIS record will be terminated within 21 days from receiving the note about dismissal/suspension. In case a student is dismissed or suspended, transfer to a different school is strongly recommended, otherwise student has to make plans to leave the US after the record is terminated, there is no grace period after SEVIS termination. F1 Guests Students need to present a copy of their current I20 from their home school prior to enrolling in Walsh College classes. Border Commuters The Border Commuter category/I-20 is an option for students who are citizens of Canada and who attend a U.S. institution within 75 miles of the U.S. and Canada border. Border Commuters may attend full-time or part-time. Students may change from a full-time I-20 to a part-time I-20.
Full time and Part-Time Border Commuters Full-time border commuter students must be enrolled full-time every semester to maintain their F-1 visa status. All border commuters who wish to attend Walsh College will be issued an I-20 for one semester of enrollment. The student must be enrolled in at least one in-person academic course to maintain part-time border commuter visa status. The student must request a renewal of the I-20 every semester before the expiration date on the I-20. If the request is made after the end date, the student falls out of F-1 status and must request a reinstatement of the F-1 status and pay a new SEVIS again.
Border Commuters are subject to the following rules:
Students do not live in the U.S.
Students do not have an F-2 dependent.
Students can work on or off campus through Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Students must renew the I-20 every semester before the expiration date located on page 1 of the I-20. This gives students continuous status which is important for maintaining eligibility for work authorization. If students do not renew the I-20 on time, they must wait until they have three terms of continuous status for work eligibility.
Students can apply for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) work permit by filing an application with USCIS.
Change of Academic Level If the student completes the current program of study and plans to continue at Walsh College in another program (for example, change from a BBA degree program to an MBA program or MS to MBA), your I-20 must be updated. Change of Major If you change your major (bachelor's degrees) or program (master's degrees), you will be issued a new I-20. Name Change The name on your I-20 should match the name on your passport. If you change any part of your legal name—first/given name, middle name, or last/family name—on your passport, this change should be reflected on your I-20. Note that SEVIS is a separate database from the college database. Health Insurance Walsh College requires all F-1 international students to have health insurance coverage that meets the College’s standards. You must show proof of insurance at the end of the first semester. Students who do not show proof of health insurance will not be allowed to register for classes or continue enrollment. Failure to comply with any of the rules can result in the loss of your F-1 immigration status and possibly the accrual of unlawful presence. The Department of Homeland Security has more information on maintaining status on its website studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/maintaining-status. Loss of F-1 Status: There is a process to apply for reinstatement should you violate the terms of your F-1 status, however it is a very complicated procedure. The college DSO/advisor can assist students with basic information on F-1 reinstatement, but you may need to obtain legal advice from a trusted immigration attorney as well. Information regarding reinstatement can be found on the Department of Homeland Security website studyinthestates.dhs.gov/sevis-help-hub/student-records/certificates-of-eligibility/reinstatement-coe-form-i-20.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) it is a practical training that occurs during a student’s program of study. CPT is authorized for students that wish to engage in an internship for their specific degree. CPT activities must relate directly to a student’s major area of study and must be an integral part of the school’s established curriculum.
A Walsh College Designated School Official (DSO) may authorize CPT for an F-1 student if the student meets the following criteria:
CPT training and process: The employer or company providing the CPT must officially offer the F-1 student an internship opportunity. The employer or company must provide a written job offer letter that must:
Applying for CPT: F-1 student who wants to pursue a CPT should plan head. CPT authorization takes 1-2 weeks to process and requires several documents that may take time to compile. If a student does not have a Social Security number, they must apply with the Social Security Administration to obtain their Social Security number. It may take up to three weeks to obtain the number.
All required documentation must be submitted to the Academic Advisor/DSO. The Academic Advisor/DSO will submit the Job Offer to the Academic Department Chairperson for review.
Certain programs have an internship course required in the degree program/curriculum, and once CPT is approved, the student will be required to register for the internship class.
For degree programs that do not require an internship course, an internship course may be substituted for a required capstone class. The Academic Advisor/DSO will request a course substitution on behalf of a student. Upon approval, student will be required to register for the internship course.
Student must be registered for the internship course for an I20 with CPT authorization to be issued.
Student will receive an email once the I20 is issued and will be required to sign the I20 for validation, it is the student responsibility to keep all I20s in a personal file.
CPT and unpaid Internship: CPT is strongly recommended for all unpaid internships. CPT authorization by the school serves to demonstrate that this internship is part of the curriculum.
It is the DSO’s recommendation that students apply for CPT authorization if student has an internship offer (paid or unpaid) that meets CPT eligibility criteria. Part-Time vs. Full-Time CPT: Part-time CPT: Employment for 20 hours or less per week is considered part-time. Students must be simultaneously enrolled in classes full-time and be physically present on campus to maintain lawful F-1 status during approved CPT.
Full-time CPT: Employment for more than 20 hours per week is full-time. Please be aware that 12 months or more of full-time CPT will eliminate eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). CPT Extension: Extension of the CPT is possible only if student contacts the DSO providing a letter from the employer offering an extension of their internship at least two weeks to the current CPT expiration.
To receive an extension of a full-time internship, students must maintain the minimum required GPA in their program; 2.0 for undergraduate students, and 3.0 for graduate students.
A new job offer must be submitted for approval if changing an employer or extending an internship with a new position in the same company.
Over 12 months of full time CPT will eliminate the student’s eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT). IMPORTANT: F1 student should never begin/continue practical training UNTIL they have the I-20 in hand that provides authorization for the curricular practical training. If the student continues to work without this authorization, they are in violation of their status and SEVIS record needs to be immediately terminated.
Deadline for OPT (Optional Practical Training) – Apply 90 days before the Program End Date or within 60 days after.
Types of OPT: Post Completion C.3.B.: You can apply for post-completion OPT after completing your studies. If you are approved for post-completion OPT you can work full time, or part time (20 hours a week). If you participated in pre-completion OPT, USCIS will deduct that amount of time from your post completion OPT period.
Pre-Completion C.3.A.: You may participate in pre-completion OPT after you have been enrolled on a full-time basis for a full academic year at a college or any other higher education institution, certified by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement, SEVP (Student Exchange Visitor Program). (www.USCIS.gov/opt) Required documents to complete OPT application:
College Documents:
List of other documents if applicable:
Please keep in mind, OPT is never guaranteed, it is up to USCIS to grant permission for OPT.
Please follow the list closely, if you fail to submit any of the documents you will receive Request for Evidence (RFE) from the USCIS.
It is strongly recommended to submit the application online. It will be more cost efficient vs. mailing the whole packet. If you do not have USCIS account, you will have to start with creating an account. Please follow the link to do so: https://myaccount.uscis.gov/ Walsh College P/DSO is here to assist you with the process and review documents before submitting your application.
Definition of STEM OPT: Certain F-1 students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT).
If a student earned a degree in a field that appears on the U.S. government's official list of STEM OPT major they might be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. To confirm if your degree is on this list, look at the major code(s) listed in the "Program of Study" section on Page 1 of your I-20 form, and then look for that code in the CIP code column of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security STEM Designated Degree Programs list. https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stemList2023.pdf
Previously obtained STEM degrees: If a student participates in a period of post-completion OPT based on a non-STEM degree, they may be eligible to use a previous STEM degree from a U.S. institution of higher education to apply for a STEM OPT extension. They must have received both degrees from currently accredited and SEVP-certified institutions and cannot have already received a STEM OPT extension based on this previous degree. The practical training opportunity also must be directly related to the previously obtained STEM degree.
For example: If a student is currently participating in post-completion OPT based on a master’s degree in Management but they previously received a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, they may be able to apply for a STEM OPT extension based on the obtained previously bachelor’s degree as long as it is from an accredited U.S. college or university and the OPT employment opportunity is directly related to your bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. To be eligible for STEM OPT, students must file no earlier than 90 days prior to the end date of post-completion OPT, and no later than the end date of post-completion OPT. USCIS must receive the STEM OPT application within 60 days of the STEM OPT I-20 issuance date. Eligibility Criteria for the 24-month OPT extension:
All five of the above criteria must be met for a student to be eligible for STEM OPT. Work authorization status while STEM extension is pending. If a student successfully files the application for STEM OPT with USCIS during the final 90 days of post-completion OPT, they may continue employment even if your Post-Completion EAD card is expired. This automatic extension of post-completion OPT is valid until the STEM OPT application is adjudicated or until 180 days has passed from the expiration date of your post-completion EAD card, whichever is sooner. Types of Employment Allowed during STEM OPT:
STEM OPT employment may include multiple employers. Students may change employers during STEM OPT, and/or work for more than one employer simultaneously, but all employment must meet the criteria of qualifying STEM OPT employment as outlined above. Any changes in STEM employment must be formally reported to the Walsh College DSO within 10 days of any change.
Self-employment / business ownership cannot qualify for STEM OPT extensions.
Guidance for Online Filing of Form I-765 for STEM Optional Practical Training USCIS instructions in detail here https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
For any field that is not applicable on the electronic application it can stay blank.
Eligibility category - Select c(3)(C) STEM Extension. The degree level and major field of study for the STEM OPT qualifying degree is listed on page 1 of the I-20. Reporting requirements with a Pending or Approved STEM OPT At all times while your STEM OPT application is pending, as well as during any subsequent periods of approval, students must continue to comply with F-1 address reporting, and must also comply with employment reporting guidelines, reporting any changes of employment within 10 days of a change.