Lana Oconnell
International students on F-1 or J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. However, in certain circumstances, they may be granted a reduced course load (RCL) that allows them to take fewer courses than the standard full-time course load. Students must apply for an RCL and receive approval before dropping any classes. There are several reasons why an international student may be granted an RCL, including academic difficulties, medical conditions, or being in their final semester of study.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full name | Reduced Course Load (RCL) |
| Who is it for? | International students in F-1 and J-1 status |
| Who can authorise it? | Designated school officials (DSOs) |
| Who can request it? | The student |
| When to request it | At the beginning of the semester, no later than the end of the second week of classes |
| When is it not necessary? | In the final semester of study, if only a few units are remaining to meet academic program requirements |
| When is it not granted? | If the student drops below full-time enrollment without prior approval |
| What is required? | Submission of the RCL form, and in the case of illness or medical condition, a letter from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist |
| What is the deadline? | End of the second week of classes |
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What You'll Learn
RCL form submission and approval
International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. However, in certain circumstances, they may be granted permission to undertake a reduced course load (RCL). An RCL allows international students to be registered below full-time during a semester.
RCL Submission and Approval
The RCL submission and approval process varies slightly depending on the university. However, there are some common steps that students must take:
- Obtain relevant documentation: Depending on the reason for the RCL request, students may need to provide a letter from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist. The letter must be dated no more than 30 days before the start of the term for which the RCL is requested and must specify the semester and time period for which the RCL is recommended. Students may also need a letter of support or a printed email from their academic advisor confirming the circumstances and recommending the RCL.
- Complete the RCL form: The student must complete the RCL form, providing information such as the reason for the request and the recommended time period.
- Obtain approval from an academic advisor: Prior to submission to the designated school official (DSO) or Office of International Services (OIS), the RCL form must be approved by the student's academic advisor.
- Submit the RCL form to the DSO or OIS: The student must submit the completed and approved RCL form to the DSO or OIS by the specified deadline, which is usually by the end of the second week of classes.
- Wait for a decision: Submission of the RCL form does not automatically grant approval. The DSO or OIS will review the request and may contact the student or advisor for additional information if needed. If the request is approved, the student may enroll in fewer courses. If the request is denied, the student is not permitted to enroll less than full-time.
- Update Form I-20: If necessary, the DSO or OIS will generate an updated Form I-20, which will include the RCL authorization.
It is important to note that the RCL approval process may vary slightly depending on the university and the student's specific circumstances. Students should refer to their university's guidelines for detailed instructions on the RCL submission and approval process.
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Medical reasons for RCL
International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. However, there are provisions for a reduced course load (RCL) in certain circumstances, such as medical reasons.
Students may apply for RCL if they are unable to enrol full-time due to a temporary illness or medical condition. To substantiate their condition, students must provide medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist. This letter must be dated no more than 30 days before the start of the term for which the RCL is requested and must specify whether the student should be part-time or not enrolled at all due to their medical circumstances.
The DSO must authorize the drop below full-time enrollment for each new term, and the student must provide current medical documentation. The maximum duration for an RCL due to medical reasons is 12 months for F-1 students and five months for M-1 students. During this time, they can remain in their F-1 or M-1 status.
The process for requesting an RCL varies depending on the student's institution. At the University of Michigan, students log in to the M-Passport portal and follow the instructions for requesting an RCL. At the University of Southern California, students submit an F-1 or J-1 RCL Request for Academic Difficulty/Medical Reasons form through Trojan International.
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Academic difficulties
International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. However, academic difficulties can be a valid reason for a reduced course load (RCL).
Immigration regulations specify four academic difficulty reasons for which a reduced course load may be approved: initial difficulties with the English language (usable only in the student’s first year), initial difficulties with reading requirements (also only usable in the first year), and more generally, imminent danger of failing a class. However, this last reason is not a permissible reason for authorizing an RCL in and of itself. It may be that once sufficient facts are gathered, it becomes clear that the student is on the verge of failure because they were placed at an improper course level.
Students who are in their final semester of study and only have a few units remaining to meet academic program requirements are exempt from the full course load requirement. For example, if you only have 4 units remaining in your degree program, you do not have to enroll in additional units to maintain your immigration status.
To apply for an Academic Difficulty RCL, students should email their international office for more information or to request an appointment with a Designated School Official (DSO). The student must obtain approval from a DSO in advance, regardless of the reason for their RCL request. The DSO will review the RCL form and provide the appropriate override in CATSWEB, and report the RCL to SEVIS by updating the student's immigration record.
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RCL and DSO
International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. If a student drops below full-time enrollment without prior approval, it is considered a violation of status, and their F-1 or J-1 status will be lost.
There are, however, certain circumstances in which an international student can be permitted to take a reduced course load (RCL). These include:
- Academic difficulties, such as initial difficulties with the English language or reading requirements (only usable in the student's first year).
- Temporary illness or medical conditions.
- Enrollment in the final semester of study, with only a few units remaining to meet academic program requirements.
- Enrollment in a thesis, dissertation, or qualifying exam.
To request an RCL, students must submit relevant documentation to their academic advisor and Designated School Official (DSO). The DSO will then authorize the RCL by completing an action in SEVIS called "Authorize to Drop Below Full Course." The DSO authorizes the RCL for one term and may extend it to the following term if the student is still eligible.
DSOs must be familiar with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) standards for what equals a full course of study at their schools. F-1 and M-1 students typically must enroll in a full-time course load each term to maintain their status. However, DSOs may excuse students from this rule in certain circumstances. For example, a DSO may authorize an RCL for an F-1 student experiencing academic difficulties or a temporary illness, or an M-1 student with an illness or medical condition.
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RCL and student status
International students in F-1 and J-1 status are required to maintain full-time enrollment during the school year. However, in certain circumstances, they may be permitted to reduce their course load (RCL).
RCL is a formal process that requires approval. Students must apply for RCL and, if approved, they will be allowed to drop below full-time enrollment. Students can apply for RCL due to academic difficulties, medical conditions, or in their final semester of study.
For academic difficulties, an academic advisor must verify the situation. Immigration regulations specify four academic difficulty reasons for which a reduced course load may be approved: initial difficulties with the English language (only in the student’s first year), initial difficulties with reading requirements (only in the student’s first year), improper course placement, and unsatisfactory progress.
For medical reasons, a student must provide medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist. The letter must be dated no more than 30 days before the start of the term for which the RCL is requested and must specify whether the recommendation is for part-time study or no study.
Students in their final semester of study who only have a few units remaining to meet academic program requirements are exempt from the full-course load requirement. They must submit an F-1 or J-1 SEVIS Final Semester Check eForm. If only one course is needed to complete the degree program, it must be an in-person course.
It is important to note that RCL requests must be submitted by the end of the second week of classes and approval is not guaranteed. If a student drops below full-time enrollment without authorization, it is considered a violation of status, and the student may lose their F-1 or J-1 status.
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