enrollment information

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

A full course of study for an undergraduate student at UTEP is a minimum of 12 credits per semester. You must enroll full time each fall and spring semester.   Summer term is not required  unless you were admitted to UTEP to begin in the summer term, or if the summer term will be your last semester at UTEP. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The OIP does not recommend international students begin their program in the Summer as there is typically limited classes available and regardless of the term length, you are still required by the Department of Homeland Security to maintain full-time enrollment.

Below are examples of  acceptable  fall/spring schedules, per DHS regulations:

• 12 or more in-person credits 
• 9 or more in-person credits, 3 or more online credits
• Hybrid courses must contain  at least 50% of an in-person component to be considered “in-person”.
• HyFlex courses are considered  online courses.

Below are examples of  unacceptable  fall/spring schedules, per DHS regulations:

• 6 in-person credits, 6 or more online credits
• 3 in-person credits, 9 or more online credits
• 0 in-person credits, any number of online credits

Only 3 online credits may count toward your enrollment requirement per fall or spring term. Therefore, most of your courses must be in person each fall and spring semester. 

GRADUATE STUDENTS

A full course of study for a graduate student at UTEP is a minimum of 9 credits per semester, or enrollment in a thesis/dissertation course. You must enroll full time each fall and spring semester.   Summer term is not required  unless you were admitted to UTEP to begin in the summer term, or if the summer term will be your last semester at UTEP. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:   The OIP does not recommend international students begin their program in the Summer as there is typically limited classes available and regardless of the term length, you are still required by the Department of Homeland Security to maintain full-time enrollment.

Below are examples of  acceptable  fall/spring schedules, per DHS regulations:

• 9 or more in-person credits 
• 6 or more in-person credits, 3 or more online credits
• 3 credit thesis/dissertation course
• Hybrid courses must contain  at least 50% of an in-person component to be considered “in-person”.
• HyFlex courses are considered  online courses.

Below are examples of  unacceptable fall/spring schedules, per DHS regulations:

• 3 in-person credits, 6 or more online credits
• 0 in-person credits, any number of online credits

Only 3 online credits may count toward your enrollment requirement each fall or spring term. Therefore, most of your courses must be in person each fall and spring semester. 

ALL PART-TIME BORDER COMMUTER STUDENTS

• Students designated as Part-Time Border Commuters are not required to enroll full-time.
• Students may enroll in more credits if desired.

Concurrent enrollment

F-1 students may be authorized to concurrently enroll at one other SEVP-certified college or university per term.
Credits taken at the other school will count toward your total enrollment, and all enrollment requirements still apply (full-time status, online class limits, etc.).
To request authorization, complete the "Concurrent Enrollment Request" in Sunapsis.

Terms for Concurrent Enrollment

• Credit Distribution: The number of credits you take at UTEP must be greater than or equal to the number of credits taken at the other school.
• Proof of Enrollment: You must send your detailed course schedule at the other school to global@utep.edu at the start of the term.
  • The schedule must include: semester, your name, class title, number of credits and course modality (In-person, Online, Hybrid)
  • Failure to submit this proof may result in termination of your SEVIS record.
• Transferring Credits: Upon completion of the term, credits must be transferred to UTEP. Contact records@utep.edu for instructions.
• Reporting Changes: Any changes to your enrollment at the other school must be immediately reported to OIP.
• Summer Term Enrollment:
  • Students are not required to enroll at UTEP to take summer classes at another school, but they MUST obtain concurrent enrollment authorization from UTEP.
  • There is no minimum or maximum credit requirement for summer term concurrent enrollment.
  • Students may take as many online classes as they wish during the summer term.

TRANSFERRING-OUT

If you decide not to continue your enrollment at UTEP, you may transfer to another SEVP-approved school. Please note that there are time limits for transfers. The latest OIP can transfer your SEVIS record to your new school is:

• 30 days after the start of UTEP’s semester, or
• the latest date your new school can accept your SEVIS record in order to issue an I-20.

If approved by the other school, using the same SEVIS number, your new school will issue a new I-20.  You do not need to pay the SEVIS fee (I-901 fee) if your are in status ( program not terminated, invalid status, or requires reinstatement).

If you have not maintained status, OIP requires confirmation that the new school will accept a SEVIS transfer.  Contact your new school for instructions on how to obtain a new I-20.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS and STEPS

1. Complete the Transfer-out E-Form through  Sunapsis.

All requests and forms are submitted using SUNAPSIS.    OIP will release your SEVIS record to your new school. This date is usually a date after the end of your last semester at UTEP. Your SEVIS record cannot be released while you are still enrolled in classes at UTEP.

1. Your SEVIS record will be automatically released to your new school according to the date listed in the transfer-out form.

2. If you change your transfer release date or decide not to attend the new school, notify OIP immediately   before the transfer-out date.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

• UTEP will not have access to your SEVIS record after the release date. 
• Once your SEVIS record has been transferred, all employment permissions will cease (e.g. on campus employment, CPT (Curricular Practical Training), OPT (Optional Practical Training, ad/or economic hardship permits)

We recommend that you stop working the day before the date scheduled to transfer the record.

English language training programs enroll F-1 students who want to pursue an English language training course of study. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) defines two types of English language training programs:

• A “stand-alone” English language training program is an SEVP-certified institution whose officials have indicated on the school's Form I-17, “Petition for Approval of School for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student,” that the school offers  only English language training programs of study.
• A “combined” English language training program is an SEVP-certified institution whose officials have indicated on the school's Form I-17 that the school offers an English language training program of study, as well as other programs of study.

It is important that both English language training students and schools understand how SEVP rules and reporting requirements relate to their unique program of study. Failing to properly comply with federal regulations may have adverse impacts on a student’s status or a school’s SEVP certification.

Requesting an Initial I-20

1. The Program director of ELI submits the ELI Admission E-Form through Sunapsis. The request will show up in alerts and be assigned to a DSO
2. The assigned DSO for ELI reviews the request and if all documentation is complete will generate an I-20 for the prospective ELI student.
3. If documentation is missing, the DSO will email the ELI student and the Program director with the pending required information.
4. When the I-20 is ready, the ELI student will be sent an approval email with the I-20 attached for them to print in color, sign, and date the document to validate it. 
5. Upon receipt of I-20, be sure to review the following web page to apply for your F-1 student visa: 

1. When the student arrives to the U.S. to begin their program, they must report to the ELI office and submit an Arrival Check-In form, along with copies of their passport, F-1 visa, I-94, and signed I-20 to the ELI office
2. As Arrival Check-Ins come in, the ELI office will submit them to OIP via email
3. When OIP receives the Arrival Check-ins, the Front Desk staff will forward it and assign it to a DSO
4. Review the Arrival Check-In forms to make sure the information is complete
5. The DSO will now need to do a  Document Check:

English language training students may transfer to a different SEVP-certified school at any time.  Since Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records are government property, DSOs may not refuse to transfer a student’s SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school. However, schools may have their own internal rules and fees associated with transferring academic records. For more information, please visit the   Transferring to Another School  page.

1. Program Director for ELI will submit the ELI Enrollment e-form.
2. Review the ELI Enrollment e-form
3. Once it is approved, OIP will create the I-20
4. If transferring out, s/he will also email a SEVIS Transfer form to be signed by the DSO and sent to the Transfer Out institution.

Like other F-1 students in the United States, English language training students must maintain their status by enrolling in a full course of study and following the rules associated with their benefits outside of the classroom. This section explains these requirements and provides links to more resources on Study in the States.

Full Course of Study

All English language training students must enroll in either 18 clock hours per week if the majority of the program consists of classroom instruction or 22 clock hours per week if the majority of the program consists of lab instruction. Online courses cannot count toward a full course of study for an English language training student.

Reduce Course Load

F-1 Language Training students must enroll in a   full course of study. There are no exceptions to enrolling in less than full-time. 

Employment

• ELI students are not eligible for any practical training opportunities (e.g., Optional Practical Training or Curricular Practical Training).

Annual Vacation

Like other F-1 students, English Language Training students are eligible for an annual vacation after they complete at least one full academic year, at an SEVP-certified school.  ELI students must consult a Designated School Official to ensure that they are eligible to take an annual vacation by emailing global@utep.edu .

Medical Leave

If F-1 students experience a medical emergency or event and need a break from their studies, they must work with their DSO to request a temporary absence for medical conditions. The student must provide the DSO with medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor or clinical psychologist. 

• The DSO would terminate the student’s Student and   Exchange Visitor  Information System ( SEVIS) record for   authorized early withdrawal  and the student would need to depart the United States within 15 days.

The student must always email global@utep.edu  before they stop attending classes, otherwise the student risks having their SEVIS record terminated.  To return to F-1 status, they will be expected to pay the SEVIS fee again and apply for a new F-1 visa.