Reduced Course Load
U.S. government immigration regulations require that F-1 and J-1 international students study full time each Fall and Spring semester, and Summer session (if that is your last term). Full Time enrollment is 12 credit units for undergraduates, or 8 credit units for graduates. There are limited scenarios in which an exception can be granted. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allows CIE to authorize a reduced course load exclusively for the reasons listed below. Please note that DHS does not consider financial difficulties or the unavailability of certain courses as valid reasons for enrolling in less than a full course of study.
Who can approve my RCL and when should I apply?
Who can approve a RCL?
Only a Designated School Official (DSO) can approve a Reduced Course Load (RCL). CIE advisors serve as DSOs, whereas academic advisors do not.
When to apply?
You can apply for a Reduced Course Load as soon as the class registration opens for the semester you are applying for a reduced course load. If you are applying for a reduced course load for the last semester, please be enrolled in the classes you have remaining before submitting the request.
Approval from a CIE Advisor must be granted PRIOR to engaging in a reduced course load. A student who drops below full time enrollment during the semester without PRIOR approval from a CIE Advisor will be considered to be in violation of their immigration status.
What is the deadline to apply?
All Reduced Course Load requests and documentation should be submitted before the first day of the semester/term for which you are applying for. The deadline is by the end of the second week of classes. Please do not submit your Reduced Course Load Request until you are enrolled in the classes to match your RCL request.
Processing time:
Once all documents have been received, CIE will review your request within 3-5 business days. Upon review, you will receive an email from CIE with the approval or a request for additional information.
Reduced Course Load Options
You qualify for this option only if one of the following applies to you:
- Initial difficulties during the 1st year of your academic program with the English language, reading requirements, or unfamiliarity with American teaching methods.
- Improper Course-Level Placement- missing prerequisite courses due to no fault of your own or a course is not available due to sequencing.
Requirements for an Academic Difficulties Reduced Course Load
- Minimum enrollment of 6 units - if you qualify for Academic Difficulties RCL you must still enroll in at least 6 units.
- Verification- you will need to provide a letter from your academic advisor to substantiate the reason for the request.
If, due to a serious illness or medical condition, you are unable to be enrolled full-time, (or, if necessary, no course load), you may apply for a Medical RCL.
Required Documentation: Submit a letter of support from a U.S. doctor. Letter requirements must meet the following:
- Must be from a licensed medical doctor (MD), doctor of osteopathy (OD), licensed clinical psychologist (Ph.D.), or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.);
- Must be on official letterhead, dated, and signed by the doctor;
- Specify the semester(s) you are being recommended for the leave; and
- Include a general medical diagnosis (specifics are not required) with a clear recommendation that due to a medical condition/temporary illness the student take a reduced course load for the applicable term.
- Maximum Duration: Reduced Course Load for a medical condition can be granted for a period of time not to exceed a total of 12 months (365 days) while you are pursuing a course of study at a particular program level.
- Continuing Medical RCL: If your medical condition prevents you from enrolling full-time for multiple terms, you must apply for a new RCL authorization each term with updated documentation.
- Return to Study: you must intend to resume full time study in your program at CSUEB in a future semester.
Your SEVIS record will be updated with the approval for the Reduced Course Load for Medical Reasons and you will be provided with an updated I-20 showing the approval.
- A student may apply for Reduced Course Load in his/her final semester if fewer courses (i.e. less than full time) are needed to complete the course of study.
- If approved, he/she must complete his/her study at the end of the particular semester.
- Can only be approved once.
Undergraduate Students
Major Advisor- contact your major advisor to request verification of your remaining requirements be emailed to cie@csueastbay.edu.
GE Advisor- contact advising@csueastbay.edu to request verification of your GE requirements be emailed to cie@csueastbay.edu.
Graduate Students
Major Advisor- contact your major advisor to request verification of your remaining requirements be emailed to cie@csueastbay.edu.
Project/Thesis/Capstone Advisor- only required if you will have 0 units for the term you are applying. You and your capstone project or thesis advisor must complete and sign the Capstone Project/Thesis Verification Form. This form must be submitted along with verification (email or memo) from your major advisor. You are only eligible for this option if you were full time the prior semester.
Graduate and Undergraduate Students Important Information
- If you are approved for a Reduced Course Load for Final Term then need additional time to complete a requirement (failing a class or extending a project), you will be required to enroll full time the following term.
- If an F-1 student needs only one course to complete the program of study and the student intends to remain in the US, that course must be in-person or hybrid format. This will allow the student to maintain their visa status and be eligible to apply for work authorizations such as Optional Practical Training opportunities if they choose to do so. If an F-1 student chooses to take online courses during their final semester, that student must do so from outside the US. In this case, a student will no longer be eligible for work authorizations such as Optional Practical Training.
If you qualify, you will receive an approval email from CIE upon submission of your required documents. You SEVIS record will be updated during the semester add/drop period. You can request an updated I-20 at that time, it will not automatically be provided.
How to Apply for a Reduced Course Load
- Reduced Course Load (RCL) form - you must complete the RCL form and submit to cie@csueastbay.edu.
- Documentation- see below sections regarding documentation specifications for your specific RCL reason:
- Academic Difficulties - letter or email from your academic advisor submitted directly to cie@csueastbay.edu.
- Medical - letter from your medical doctor.
- Last semester of study
- Undergraduate students - you will need to request your major advisor and your GE advisor (advising@csueastbay.edu) to email CIE a list of your remaining requirements and your expected term of completion.
- Graduate students - you will need to request your major advisor to email CIE a list of your remaining requirements and your expected completion date.
- Graduate students with 0 units continuing Thesis or Project - In addition to the verification from your major advisor, you will also need your capstone project or thesis advisor to assist in completing and signing the Capstone Project/Thesis Verification Form. This form must be submitted along with verification (email or memo) from your major advisor.
Reasons that are NOT valid for Reduced Course Load
Some popular reasons that students request an RCL that are NOT permitted per F-1 regulations include, but are not limited to:
- Financial Reasons
- Class is full
- Didn't get added from the waitlist
- Got dropped and can't get back in
- Don't want to take the class with a specific professor