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 Approval a RCL?
Only a Designated School Official (DSO)- CIE advisors are DSO's, not your academic advisor

When to apply?
You can apply for a Reduced Course Load as soon class registration opens for the semester you are applying for a reduced course load. If you are applying for a reduced course load for 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

How to Apply for a Reduced Course Load

  1. Reduced Course Load (RCL) form - you must complete the RCL form and submit to cie@csueastbay.edu 
  2. Documentation- see above 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
      • Undergraduates- you will need to request your major advisor and your GE advisor (sam.tran@csueastbay.edu) to email CIE a list of your remaining requirements and your expected term of completion. Please see above for more details
      • Graduates- 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:

  1. Financial Reasons
  2. Class is full
  3. Didn't get added from the waitlist
  4. Got dropped and can't get back in
  5. Don't want to take the class with a specific professor