Border Commuter F-1 Status
Border Commuters
The Border Commuter category/I-20 is an option for students who are citizens of Mexico and who attend a U.S. institution within 75 miles of the U.S. / Mexico border. Border Commuters may attend full-time or part-time. Provided that classes are still in session, a student may change from a full-time I-20 to a part-time I-20, at any time during a semester.
Full-time Border Commuters
Full-time border commuter students must be enrolled full-time every semester to maintain their F-1 visa status. A student who lives in Ciudad Juarez and attends UTEP on full-time basis is issued an I-20 for the entire length of their program.
Part-Time Border Commuters
A student who wishes to attend UTEP part-time will be issued an I-20 for one semester of enrollment. The student MUST be enrolled in at least one in-person academic course to maintain part-time border commuter visa status. The student must request a renewal of the I-20 every semester before the expiration date on the I-20. If the request is made after the end date, the student falls out of F-1 status and must request a reinstatement of the F-1 status and pay a new SEVIS again.
Border Commuters are subject to the following rules:
- Students MAY NOT live in the U.S.
- Students MAY NOT own a car with American plates.
- Students MAY NOT have an F-2 dependent
- Students MAY work on or off campus through Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
- Students MUST renew the I-20 every semester before the expiration date located on page 1 of the I-20. This gives students continuous status which is important for maintaining eligibility for work authorization. If students do not renew the I-20 on time, they have to wait until they have two terms of continuous status for work eligbility.
Falling out of F-1 Status
If you fall out of status, you MUST get back INTO status to legally continue your studies at UTEP.
Common reasons why students lose F-1 status
- Not enrolling in sufficient credit hours, student has a full-time I-20
- Not earning sufficient credit hours (“W” grades don’t count as credit earned to maintain immigration status), student has a full-time I-20
- Being fired from a required full-time CPT during a semester in which a student was not taking any classes
- Allowing the I-20 to expire and not requesting an extension before the expiration date
- Not completing the program by that date, and being ineligible for an I-20 extension
- Being a part-time Border Commuter who forgot to submit a request form to obtain an I-20 renewal before the expiration date of the current I-20.
Consequences of losing your status
When you lose your status you lose your eligibility for Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training for one year.
Steps to Reinstate your F-1 Border Commuter Status:
- Request a letter from your academic advisor stating when you are expected to graduate.
- Submit the letter from your advisor along with a I-20 request Form using Sunapsis.
- Submit updated “Confirmation of Financial Resources” for approval (if Mexican student; submit PASE e-form too)
- Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of $350 online at www.fmjfee.com. Print the receipt.
- Turn in your I-94 at a US port of entry and exit the United States
- Re-enter the US with your passport, visa, new I-20, and I-901 payment receipt. You must be given a new I-94 when you do this.
- YOU MUST HAVE A MULTIPLE ENTRY VISA TO DO THIS. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MULTIPLE ENTRY F-1 VISA, PLEASE SEE AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISOR AT OIP.
- IF YOUR F-1 / F-3 VISA HAS EXPIRED, YOU MAY HAVE TO OBTAIN A NEW F-1 / F-3 VISA BEFORE YOU CAN RE-ENTER THE US. For more information on reentering the US with an expired visa, click here: Travel & Re-Entry.
- Once you have reentered the US, go to OIP and provide a copy of your I-20 with the stamp from the port of entry as well as a copy of your new I-94.
- Provided you are enrolled full-time for the term in which your I-20 begins, OIP will register your I-20 record in SEVIS and your F-1 / F-3 status will be valid again.