Student immigration status generally requires full-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment at NC State University is normally defined as 12 or more credit hours for undergraduate students and a minimum of 9 hours per semester for graduate students. One (3 credit) on-line or distance education course may be used each semester to help satisfy full-time enrollment requirements. Students who will take only one course in a semester are not permitted to take that course through on-line or distance education.

• Reduced Course Load: There are certain exceptions to the full time enrollment requirement when reduced course loads can be authorized in SEVIS. Unauthorized drop in course-load, withdrawal, or part-time enrollment is a reportable visa violation and OIS is required by law to terminate the SEVIS record of students who fail to maintain full-time enrollment.

• Leave of Absence or Withdrawal: In some cases, it may be necessary for an international student to withdraw or take a leave of absence from their studies. Because there can be academic, immigration, financial and more implications, international students considering a withdrawal or temporary leave must consult both their academic advisor (or DGP) and an OIS advisor.

In order to maintain eligibility to enroll at NC State, students must be in good academic standing, or be in approved remediation (Academic Warning or Academic Probation), working to regain good academic standing. Undergraduate academic standing and graduate student academic standing each have different requirements that are determined by NC State University policy, not by OIS. Note that these requirements relate to both performance (GPA of 3.0 or above for graduate students, 2.0 or above for undergraduate students) and progress (number of credits earned), and making normal progress towards degree completion is a requirement for maintaining immigration status.

F-1 and J-1 students are only allowed to engage in employment for which they are eligible according to their immigration status, which is authorized in writing in advance if required, and which does not interfere with one’s studies or delay one’s program completion.  There are various types of employment which students may be eligible for, such as on-campus employment, curricular practical training, optional practical training, etc. For each type of employment, there are different eligibility rules and requirements and procedures for obtaining authorization:

• On-Campus Employment
• Off-Campus Research Assistantship
• Curricular Practical Training (F-1 Students only)
• Optional Practical Training (F-1 Students only)
• Academic Training (J-1 Students only)

Unpaid work opportunities may also require students to ensure eligibility or obtain work authorization.

Beginning January 1, 2026, all registered F-1 and J-1 students must enroll in the UNC System Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). NC State’s Campus Health maintains information about insurance enrollment and coverage.

F-1 students may choose between the ‘Value’ and ‘Premium’ insurance plan options. The primary difference between these plans is the deductible amount.

J-1 students must enroll in the Premium plan, as the Value plan does not meet the federally required benefit thresholds for this visa category. Please note that federal law also requires that J-1 international students maintain medical insurance to cover any accompanying family members holding J-2 status for their period of stay in the U.S. Federal law mandates that the policy meet the following requirements:

• Minimum coverage must provide at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
• Maximum of $500 deductible per illness;
• Maximum of 25% coinsurance;
• Minimum of $50,000 provision for medical evacuation;
• Minimum of $25,000 repatriation coverage.

Exceptions: A waiver request may be considered if one of the following conditions applies:

1. Students with Teaching and Research Assistantships who have NC State health insurance through the Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP). 
2. Students holding F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant status who are designated as “sponsored students” at NC State and carry insurance through their sponsoring agency, government or program. Please email the Sponsored Student Program Manager at sponsored_students@ncsu.edu to verify your sponsored student status. 
3. A student who needs to maintain insurance for their dependents allowing them to meet the insurance requirement with BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions Insurance.
4. A student has an approved waiver for Fall 2025 with an insurance plan that covers them for the full 2025-2026 academic year and for which they have already paid their annual premium. 

Please note: Waivers under item four will only be considered for Spring 2026; international students will be expected to enroll in the UNC SHIP for Fall 2026 unless they fall under the first three waiver categories as described above.

Questions? If you wish to request or continue your waiver for Spring 2026, or have any additional waiver inquiries, please contact NC State Campus Health at student-health-insurance@ncsu.edu or 919-515-2563 or contact Student Blue directly at 1-888-351-8283.  Waivers must be completed before the February 2, 2026 deadline, however we strongly recommend completing this process prior to the effective date of the Spring policy, which is January 1, 2026.

All international students must update their local address every semester in the MyPack Portal (NC State’s Student Information System). The SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database is updated from MyPack Portal and uses MyPack’s ‘SEVIS Local Address’ to update your local address and the ‘SEVIS Foreign Address’ for your international address in SEVIS. Please select the SEVIS Local Address check box after adding a new address in order for your information to be passed successfully to SEVIS.

Once in the MyPack Portal,  follow these instructions to update the required information (SEVIS Local Address, Phone Number, and Emergency Contact Information).

** NOTE: The ”SEVIS Foreign Address” option in MyPack portal should only be used for your Foreign Address. Your Foreign Address is your address in your home country. **

If you are a student in F-1 OPT or OPT STEM status, you must report the following updates to OIS:

1. Change in address (within 10 days of the change occurring). Your Unity ID and GlobalHome account remain active while on OPT, even after graduating from NC State University. You will need to update your personal address in the SEVP portal or via GlobalHome, via the Update US Address form.
2. Change in employment situation. Once you receive your EAD card from USCIS, submit a scanned copy of the EAD to OIS. If you are in the first 12 months of OPT, update your employment information using GlobalHome when you start employment or have a change in employment situation, address or name. Note that there are additional and more extensive STEM OPT reporting requirements.
3. Change in visa status. Please submit a copy of proof of your new status (e.g. I-797 Approval Notice), so we can close your F-1 record. You can upload this in GlobalHome.
4. Transfer to another school to start a new degree program. Visit the Student forms page and fill out the transfer out form to request OIS transfer your SEVIS record to a different school and end your OPT/STEM OPT.
5. Change to a new degree program at NC State University. Visit the Student forms page and fill out the change degree form to request OIS update the academic program on your I-20 from OPT or STEM OPT to full-time student in a new program.
6. Departure from the US. Visit the Student forms page and fill out the departure form to request OIS close your SEVIS record.

Immigration regulations require all noncitizens 18 years of age and over to “carry with him and have in his personal possession” their “evidence of registration document” (such as Form I-94 or valid EAD card) “at all times,” including when traveling domestically or just going about daily life. 

OIS recommends making physical copies of the documents listed below to carry in your wallet or purse, as well as having digital copies on your phone. When traveling outside of the Raleigh area or when flying domestically, it is recommended that you carry your original documents.

For International students and scholars with F-1 or J-1 status, the following documents work together to provide proof of legal status:

• I-94 Arrival-Departure Record: This is your primary evidence of status in the U.S. Those in F-1 and J-1 status (and their F-2 or J-2 dependents) can print this evidence of status from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 Website. You should always make sure that you are using the official website of the U.S. government. Your I-94 should list your correct status (next to ‘class of admission’) and for the expiration date, you should see a “D/S” which stands for Duration of Status.
• Most recent I-20 or DS-2019 
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if on OPT or STEM OPT
• Passport