Janice's Advice for International Students (ISS)

**** PHYS&ASTR Deparment Academic Contact

• Undergraduates: Academic Advisor
• Graduate Students: contact your major professor

Funding Information ( TA/RA offer letter) -- contact our business office

ISS Staff Directory

1. Enrollment Requirements

Minimum enrollment requirements for international students are:

Undergraduate students must enroll in and complete at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester (unless it is the student’s final semester).

• Graduate students must enroll in and complete at least eight credit or research hours each fall and spring semester (unless it is the student’s final semester).
• Graduate students who hold a graduate staff appointment must enroll in and complete at least six credit or research hours each fall and spring semester (unless it is the student’s final semester).

2.  Distance Learning

No more than the equivalent of one class or a maximum of three credit hours of coursework delivered via distance/online/synch/asynch may be used toward an international student’s minimum enrollment requirements.

3.  Final Semester

Students who are in their final semester MUST be enrolled in all remaining coursework required to complete the degree, they must enroll in at least one class that requires their physical presence on campus for most of their final semester – even when summer is the student’s final semester, and the distance learning limitation is still in play.  If students have questions about final semester enrollment requirements, please refer them to the ISS office.  ISS Contact Student Services.  If a student is not properly enrolled during their final semester, they will lose valuable post-completion benefits which can severely impact their future goals.

4. Experiential Education and Employment Reminder

All off-campus internships, co-ops, externships, practicums, volunteer opportunities, fellowships, and remote work for non-Purdue employers must be evaluated by ISS to determine if authorization for Curricular Practical Training is required to participate.

 5. On-Campus Employment Restrictions

On-campus employment is strictly limited to a maximum of 20:00 hours per week for international students, while school is in session.  Students may only exceed 20 hours per week during Spring Break, Winter Break, and the summer (unless the student is required to be enrolled in the summer session).

Program Extension

• F-1 and J-1 students must never let their I-20 or DS-2019 expire. Program extensions should be completed at the beginning of the semester of which the document would expire. The deadline for extending your document is 14 days before the expiration date listed on the document.
• >>F-1 Read More
• >>myISS

(CPT) Curricular Practical Training Request 

• F-1 students seeking off-campus work authorization in their fields of study should complete the process described on this site.
• >>Read More

Change of Major

• ISS automatically updates majors the semester following the change. Only request a new document if you do not receive an updated one 60 days into the new semester.
• >>Read More
• >>Student Request Form

Early Departure and Reentry

• Students who need to take time off from their education but plan to return to Purdue should follow instructions on this sheet.
• >>Early Departure and Reentry Info Sheet

Notice of Departure

• F-1 and J-1 students planning to cancel or withdraw their enrollment should complete this form and meet with an Immigration Counselor prior to withdrawal.
• >>Departure Form

Reduced Course Load for Academic Reason

• F-1 and J-1 students must register for and complete a full course of study unless otherwise authorized. There are limited academic reasons for which ISS could authorize a reduced course load. Students must be authorized by ISS before dropping below the full course load.
• >>F-1 Read More
• >>myISS