International students post for a photo together

Maintain Status

International Students & Scholars

As an international student, you will need to follow the regulations associated with your visa status. Our office is here to help guide you on ways to maintain your status while also helping you reach your educational and career goals.

In order to maintain status, you will need to be able to:

  1. Check in with the ISSS office upon your initial arrival: As an international student, you will need to attend International Student Orientation. During this event, you will learn important information about Belmont and your nonimmigrant status. We will also collect important information from you and report your arrival to SEVIS. Please make sure not to book your flights to Belmont before confirming the dates of International Student Orientation since it is a mandatory event to maintain your visa status.
  2. Enroll as a full time student every fall and spring semester: For undergraduate students, you would need to enroll in a minimum of 12 credits a semester. For graduate students, you would need at least 6 credits. If you ever need to drop below these minimum requirements, please contact the ISSS office to see if you can apply for an exception based on academic or medical reasons.
  3. Update your local address to ISSS within 10 days of moving: Please make sure to email ISSS when you move to make sure that your SEVIS record has been updated with your local living address. Per federal regulations, this needs to be updated within 10 days of moving.
  4. Do not engage in unauthorized employment: As an international student, you are allowed to work on campus up to twenty hours a week. All other work, whether paid or unpaid, needs to be authorized by the ISSS office or by USCIS. Please visit our employment information page for more information.