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Full payment of tuition is due by the fifth day of classes after which a student’s enrollment is cancelled if payment is not made. Students do not receive a formal bill, but can look up their bill using Student Self-Service (formerly OASIS).

If your bill is paid by an outside agency (government sponsor or other third party sponsor), be sure your scholarship agency notifies the University in advance by letter stating the amount and length of time of the award and who to bill for tuition. Keep the original copy in case the immigration officer at the port-of-entry or the University Cashier’s Office requests it.

If you need to make a payment from an institution outside the US, USF has partnered with Flywire to allow secure payments from almost any country and any bank, typically in your home currency. By making your payment with Flywire, you can track your payments from start to finish, save on bank fees and exchange rates, and engage their multilingual customer support team with any questions. For complete details, go to the International Payments page, or visit . 

Due to , there are 39 countries with full or partial travel bans.  

Our office will not produce an initial I-20 for admitted students from those countries. 

Undergraduate students must sign up for and attend an orientation prior to the start of the semester. Visit the Orientation website for information on dates and sign up procedures. There are separate orientations for First Year (freshman) and Transfer (2nd year or above) students. Graduate students should contact their department for information about department orientation. The Graduate and Professional Student Council and the Graduate School host an orientation for incoming graduate students. Visit the New Graduate Student Orientation website for more details.

F-1 and J-1 students may enter the US up to 30 days prior to the first day of the semester. We recommend that all students arrive to USF at least one week prior to the first day of the semester. This gives students time to attend the International Services check-in, the final orientation sessions, and to avoid late registration fees.

Graduate students with university assistantships (GA's) should plan to arrive one week prior to the early August start date shown on their I-20 in order to complete all official paperwork. Students arriving later and not completing paperwork in time may have one or more paychecks delayed.

F-1 students beginning a new program in the Summer term must enroll full-time for that summer session.

In order to maintain your immigration status, when starting in the summer semester, if it is your first semester:

• Undergraduates starting in Summer A/C are required to be at 9 credit hours and 6   credit hours if starting in Summer B.
• Graduate students are required to be at 6 credit hours and must start in A/C only.

Students must report to the university by the first day of the semester. If you are unable to report by the first day of the semester, you should contact the admission office at international@usf.edu to ask about your next steps and whether you qualify to defer to another term.

In general, most visas allow for part-time/full-time study. Visa types that are prohibited by US immigration law from studying are B1 and B2. USF does not issue M-1 visas.  F-2's may study part time.

We encourage you to visit the U.S. Department of State website for more information on the rules and regulations about student visas.

As soon as you are admitted to USF, we will be happy to meet with you to discuss your immigration needs and concerns. Our services are reserved for admitted students only.

The injunction pauses the implementation of the final rule.  While further legal action is pending, duration of status continues and the academic restrictions do not apply.

No.  USF will not automatically shorten the end date on I-20’s and DS-2019’s.  Students and scholars will maintain their program end date. 

Under the current admission system to the US, D/S allowed F-1 and J-1 visa holders to remain in the US, if they continued to maintain their immigration status.

• F-1 and J-1 visa holders will receive a fixed period of admission tied to the end date on their I-20 or DS-2019, up to a maximum of four years (this applies to current students if they travel outside the US and reenter on or after this date/see next transition question).
• The I-94 will show a specific expiration date instead of D/S.  This date is now called the Admit Until Date (AUD).
• Students and scholars who need to remain in the US past their end date will need to file a formal Extension of Stay (EOS) application with USCIS.
• F-1 and J-1 visa holders will have new rules related to change of majors, changing levels at USF, and transfer of status to another US institution.
  • Undergraduate students
    • Prohibited from transferring to another school or changing their major during their first academic year at USF.
    • May change to a higher level of study at USF after completing the bachelor’s degree with an EOS stay filed with USCIS.
  • Graduate students
    • Prohibited from changing their major and transferring to another school.
    • May change to a higher level of study at USF after completing their master’s degree with an EOS filed with USCIS. 
  • No student can move to a lower level or obtain a second degree at the same level.

• The transition allows F-1 and J-1 visa holders who have maintained status and are in the US on September 15, 2026, to keep their Duration of Status and the 60 day grace period.
• They will still be subject to the new academic restrictions on program changes.
• F-1 and J-1 students and scholars remain under this provision if they do not leave the US – limited as follows:
  • November 14, 2030 for F-1 students (four years plus the 60-day grace period); or
  • October 15, 2030 for J-1 exchange visitors (four years plus the 30-day grace period).

Yes, but you will receive a fixed date, I-94 that will be the end date on the I-20 plus 30 days.  

After September 15, 2026, undergraduate students may change their major after the first year at USF.  If you need more time to complete that major, you would need to file an Extension of Stay with USCIS. 

After September 15, 2026, undergraduate students may transfer to another school after the first year at USF.  This may require an EOS with USCIS. 

To apply for OPT, you will submit the OPT application and the EOS application to USCIS.

Yes, you are allowed to seek a change of level to a higher level of study. This will require an EOS application to USCIS.

No, you will not be allowed to do a second bachelors.

Yes, but you will receive a fixed date, I-94 that will be the end date on the I-20 plus 30 days.  

After September 15, 2026, you will not be allowed to change your program (major) during your program. 

After September 15, 2026, you will not be allowed to transfer to another school until you have finished your program at USF.  Transfer must be to a higher level of study and may require an EOS with USCIS.

To apply for OPT, you will submit the OPT application and the EOS application to USCIS.

Yes, you are allowed to seek a change of level to a higher level of study. This will require an EOS application to USCIS.

No, you will not be allowed to do a second masters.

If you are applying for OPT for a December 2026 graduation and your current/latest I-94 indicates Duration of Status (D/S) under the Admit Until Date (AUD), No, the D/S ruling is not affecting your OPT application. Which means:

• Your grace period is still 60 days
• You can select an OPT start date up to 60 days after the end of your program (generally indicated December 31, 2026 on your I-20)

Students who re-entered the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026, or students subject to the transition rules who apply for OPT after March 18, 2027, will need to file an EOS application concurrently with the OPT or STEM OPT application. Students may not begin OPT until both the OPT and the EOS are approved.

Current F-1 students on Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT admitted under D/S who are present in the United States before September 15, 2026, may remain in the United States without applying for an Extension of Stay (EOS) up to the end date of their current EAD plus their legacy 60-day grace period.

If you travel internationally and re-enter the U.S. on or after September 15, 2026, you will be admitted with a new fixed period of admission (Admit Until Date), including a 30-day grace period.

The Duration of Status is forfeited. The new Admit Until Date (AUD) is determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry to match the end date of the student’s Employment Authorization Document (EAD) plus a 30-day grace period.

Yes, however, the transfer needs to be to a higher level of education. An F1 student cannot transfer to a lower level or similar level of education.

Yes, F-2 dependents are subject to the new rule. The authorized period of stay for F-2 dependents should match the authorized stay of the principal F-1 student.

OIS does not recommend OPT applicants travel while their OPT application is pending.

If you travel while your post-completion OPT or STEM OPT application is pending, you should have your post-completion OPT or STEM OPT receipt notice with you and the latest I-20 signed for travel by OIS with the post-completion OPT or STEM OPT recommended. If admitted to the U.S., the Admit Until Date should reflect the DSO’s recommended employment end date for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT plus a 30-day grace period.

Yes, but you will receive a fixed date, I-94 that will be the end date on the I-20 plus 30 days.  

If you qualify for Academic Training, you will work with OIS and file an EOS with USCIS. 

Yes, but you will receive a fixed date, I-94 that will be the end date on the I-20 plus 30 days.  

The department host provides OIS with the possible future end date to the scholar’s experience at USF. This date can be up to the maximum allowed for the J category.

After September 15, 2026, transfers to another program will include an EOS application with USCIS.

• The Office of International Services (OIS) assists departments with sponsoring their non-immigration employees for H-1B, E-3,TN, and O-1.  More information for departments can be found here.
• Please visit our page regarding the Presidential Proclamation Affecting the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program for more information.
• Based on the pending changes to 91ÉçÇø Board of Governor’s Regulation , OIS can process filings for H-1B visas for current university employees only.  This would include extensions of status of current H-1B employees and change of status to H-1B for current employees. 

Departments should begin the sponsorship process at least 6 months prior to the employment start date at USF.  For a detailed description of the timeline and costs to the department, go here.

• F-1 students with OPT have 12 months of work eligibility. They can be hired in any position that is relevant to the major listed on their I-20. They will use their OPT EAD for work authorization.
• F-1 students in STEM Majors can apply for an additional 24 months of STEM Extension OPT.  They will receive an OPT EAD for work authorization.

• Departments may host scholars to research and teach at USF.  Please see the Hosting A Scholar website.
• The J-1 visa is not a work visa but a department can support a scholar’s visit with an appropriate appointment.  This does not include administrative positions.

USF F-1 students are eligible to work on campus at the campus listed on their I-20. This matches your home campus. During the Fall and Spring semesters, they are limited to part-time (20 hours per week or less). During the Summer semester and authorized breaks, they may be eligible to work more hours. On-campus employment must stop when the student completes their academic program.

The Office of International Services (OIS) provides a monthly immigration newsletter to students. You can access these newsletters here.

On January 14, 2026, the State Department that it will pause the issuance of immigrant visas at US Consulates worldwide starting January 21, 2026 for 75 countries.  The pause impacts individuals applying for an immigrant visa (green card) from outside the US. It does not affect non-immigrant visas such as F students visas, J exchange visas, and H1B work visas. 

• On December 16, the US President expanded to include 39 countries for a full or partial ban.  The full travel ban suspends entry of individuals from Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Suda, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The partial travel ban suspends entry to B, F, and J visa holders from Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  These bans are reviewed every 180 days by the US government. These bans apply to individuals outside the US without a valid visa stamp. It also does not apply to those with green cards.
• OIS cannot issue a DS-2019 (J-1) or I-20 (F-1) for students and scholar from the banned countries if they are seeking to join USF from outside the US.

• Information for employees sponsored by USF in H-1B, O1, TN, and E-3 status is at the Employee Status Maintenance webpage.
• Information for visiting J-1 Scholars is at the Maintaining Status webpage.
• Information for students is at the Maintaining Your Status webpage.