Office of Visa & Immigration Service AdvisingF-1 Student Visa
It is a student's responsibility to maintain her/his visa status and her/his good standing at the University by following the following and any subsequent updates in Immigration regulations, VISA processes and/or ODU policies that are announced on the web site and/or the ISSlist
Health Insurance Requirement
All F-1 visa holders with documents issued from Old Dominion Unviersity must have health insurance provided by ODU or an approved waiver for each enrolled semester.
Learn more about Health Insurance
On-Campus Employment
For F-1 visa holders, up to 20 hours per week of on-campus employment is allowed. No off-campus work is allowed without prior, written approval from VISA and/or USCIS.
All nonimmigrant visa holders (i.e. not in possession of a green card or a U.S. passport) must fill out their tax (I-9) paperwork in the VISA office.
Learn more about Employment
Transferring To Another School
To transfer from Old Dominion to another school, you must complete a Transfer Out Form and follow the procedures detailed on the form.
Transfer Out Form
Keep I-20 Updated
Request a new I-20 form if ANY change occurs to the information on the form, including the amount of your graduate assistantship. If you need to extend, all documentation requirements are listed on the link above. Do not let your form expire to avoid significant immigration problems.
I-20 Form
Maintain the Required Addresses
The following addresses must be updated within 5 days of any move to ensure that your visa status is kept current.
- SEVIS U.S. Address: click on the link to submit the change to VISA so your address can be made current in SEVIS and on LeoOnline.
- SEVIS Home Country Address: click on the link to submit the change to VISA so your address can be made current in SEVIS and on LeoOnline.
Maintain a Valid Passport
Your passport should be valid for at least six months into the future. Contact your embassy at least nine months before your passport expires to ask about renewal procedures.
Find your embassy
Taxes
F-1 student visa holders will need to submit tax documentation in order to maintain their status--even if they do not work. Be sure to watch for emails from our office in regards to taxes.
Stay Informed
Read e-mails and updates sent to the ISSlist. Always feel free to contact VISA if you have questions or need clarification.
Learn more about staying connected
Full-time status for students on F-1 visas is defined as completion of a certain number of credits: 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester for undergraduate students, 9 credit hours each fall and spring for graduate students.
Please see the Reduced Course Load Request (RCL) to see in which instances VISA may grant approval for few credits.
Resources
Changing to F-1 Visa Status
Learn about the application process.
Bringing Dependents to the U.S.
Learn more about the process for F-1 or J-1 students.
Practical Training (CPT, OPT and STEM)
Explore employment options.