Related Information Reduced Enrollment Request Form
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Immigration regulations require international students in F-1 or J-1 status to register for
and complete a full course load each semester. Students who drop below full-time without Berkeley International Office approval will be reported to SEVIS, your SEVIS record will be terminated, and you will lose your lawful F-1 or J-1 status including F-1 and J-1 employment eligibility and benefits. For immigration
purposes, full-time enrollment is defined as:
- Undergraduate students: 12 units. Your college may require more than 12 units to
be considered full-time (e.g. Letters & Sciences full-time = 13 units or more).
- Graduate students Full time enrollment for graduate students is 12 units or the number of units required by the department for all graduate student in the program.
SEVIS Registration Reports
At the beginning of each term the Berkeley International Office office is required to electronically confirm with the Department of Homeland Security through SEVIS that all international students are maintaining full-time registration. If there are any blocks on your registration, or if you have not paid your fees, you are not considered formally registered with the University. You can check the status of your registration through the Office of the Registrar.
Reducing Your Course Load
To request approve before dropping any classes, submit to Berkeley International Office a completed Reduced Enrollment Request.
Immigration regulations permit exceptions to the full-time registration requirement in very limited circumstances and only with prior approval from the Berkeley International Office office. Students who drop below full-time without Berkeley International Office approval will be reported to SEVIS, your SEVIS record will be terminated, and you will lose your lawful F-1 or J-1 status including employment eligibility and benefits. Students will be considered for a reduced enrollment based on the reasons listed below.
- Academic Reasons
Academic reasons for dropping below full-time include improper course placement , initial English language difficulties, or in cases when full-time enrollment would not be academically appropriate. An academic adviser (college or major adviser) must recommend the reduced enrollment.
Reduced enrollment for academic reasons may be approved for only one semester during the student’s degree program. Students should consider this carefully before requesting an approved reduced enrollment for academic reasons since it can only be used once.
- Health Reasons
Students may drop below full-time for physical or mental health reasons. The reduced enrollment must be recommended by a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist. Students with health problems should contact the University Health Services for care or referral.
Reduced enrollment for health reasons may be approved for no more than a cumulative period of 12 months during the student’s degree program. Approval for reduced enrollment will be given for only one semester at a time, thus continuing health problems may need more than one approval if it continues beyond one semester.
- Final Semester
Degree-seeking students who are completing their degree requirements in a specified semester can enroll for as many or as few units as needed to graduate. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:
- Be on the degree list for the specified semester
- The student must graduate at the end of the semester
- Upon completion of the specified semester students will have a 60-day grace period for a one-time departure or transfer to another school, advancement to a higher degree level, change of nonimmigrant status or may apply for Optional Practical Training.
If you plan to reduce your course load in your final semester, submit the Notice of Final Semester to Berkeley International Office.