Full Time Enrollment

Pursuant to 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(6)(i)(B), all international students must register and maintain a full-course of study.  This is a United States Immigration regulation for students on a F-1 visa and J-1 visa. Failure to comply will result in the termination of your student visa and may lead to deportation from the United States.

Lawrence Technological University requires 12 credit hours at the undergraduate level and 6 credit hours at the graduate level. International students must be enrolled full-time during the fall and spring semesters.  Full-time attendance is also required during the summer when it will be the first semester of attendance.

DISTANCE EDUCATION LIMITS:

International students must maintain full-time enrollment, however, online classes have a different impact on this requirement.

Regulation: 8 C.F.R  214.2(f)(6)(i)(G) 3.20.7 Distance Education Limits:

No more than the equivalent of one on-line/distance education class (or 3 credits) per session may count towards the "full course of study" requirement.

 Thus:

• 1) Undergraduate students who need to maintain 12 credit hours can only count 3 credit hours of online learning to meeting this requirement.
• 2) Graduate students who need to maintain 6 credit hours can only count 3 credit hours of online to meeting this requirement.

 International students can take more than 3 credits of online learning after they have met the required credit hour amounts.

For example, a graduate student is maintaining status with the following scenario:
3 credit on-ground course + 3 credit online course = full-time status. If a student wants to take additional online courses during this semester, it is allowable since they have met the status requirements.

Additional Information:

If the student's course of study is in a language study program, no on-line or distance education classes may be counted toward the full course of study requirement.
Programs which are completely online do not meet the requirements for an international student to study in the United States. Hybrid courses may be acceptable if a substantial component is held on-ground and requires the student's physical attendance for classes, examinations, or other purposes integral to completion of the class.

It is extremely important for a nonimmigrant to maintain his/her status while studying in the United States.  Failure to comply with the regulations set forth by the federal government constitutes grounds for removal from the United States.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Office of International Programs at 248-204-4100 or email international@ltu.edu.