Underloading is when a student enrolls in fewer than the minimum number of credits required for a semester.
IMPORTANT: Students should continue attending their course(s) until the request for an underload has been approved by the university and authorized in SEVIS by the Office of International Students, Scholars & Programs (ISSP).
The following information pertains to the immigration policies for requesting an underload for academic or medical reasons.
Undergraduate Students: Must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester. Up to three credit hours may be from distance education courses from accredited institutions.
Graduate Students: Must be enrolled for at least 9 credits per semester. Up to three credit hours may be from distance education courses from accredited institutions.
Summer sessions: Students beginning their program during the summer session must be enrolled full-time during that summer session. (Undergraduates: 12 credit hours; Graduate Students: 6 credit hours.)
Immigration Requirements for Underloading
With institutional approval, U.S. immigration law allows students in F-1 and J-1 status to be temporarily enrolled less than full-time for the following medical or academic reasons:
Illness or Medical Condition (up to 12 months may be granted; this is cumulative, for the duration of the program.)
Initial difficulty with the English language (only during first year)
Initial difficulty with reading requirements (only during first year)
Unfamiliarity with American teaching methods (only during first year)
Improper course level placement (any time during program)
Students are eligible for one semester of academic underload per degree level (i.e., if a student receive an underload for English difficulty, they cannot be granted one later for course level placement). A medical underload does not preclude student from an academic under-load, and vice versa.
Students in their final semester are only required by Immigration to enroll in the number of credits required to graduate. Students must still follow W&M's standard policy for requesting an underload if needed.
Medical underloads are only valid for up to 1 semester at a time, and must be reauthorized, if needed.
Procedures
The role of ISSP is to advise you of your eligibility for an underload as it pertains to your immigration status, and to update your SEVIS record if an underload is approved.
procedures for undergraduate and graduate students
Undergraduate Students
Student sees an ISSP advisor to discuss plans, determine eligibility under immigration regulations, and understand the immigration implications.
For academic underload, the student must Petition the Committee on Academic Status. The student will have the opportunity to indicate that they are an F-1 or J-1 student on the petition form.
For medical underload, the student must Petition the Committee on Academic Status. The student will have the opportunity to indicate that they are an F-1 or J-1 student on the form. The student must also obtain approval from a medical professional, and submit it in iStart.
Click onF-1 Student Servicesin the menu on the left-hand side. Then, click onF-1 Medical Reduced Courseloadand complete the form.
Once the underload is approved, an ISSP advisor updates the student’s SEVIS record with “Reduced Courseload” approval.
Graduate Students
Student sees an ISSP advisor to discuss plans, determine eligibility under immigration regulations, and understand the immigration implications.
For academic underload, the student will contact their Graduate Registrar to apply for the underload. ISSP will contact the Graduate Registrar to confirm that the student is eligible.
For medical underload, the student must obtain approval from a medical professional, and submit it in iStart. ISSP will contact the Graduate Registrar to confirm that the student is eligible.
