FAQs for International Student Immigration Changes

With the approval of your graduate program head, you may arrive up to two weeks after the start of classes without further approval.

If your arrival will be later than two weeks after the start of classes, you will need to get approval from your program head, International Student and Scholar Advising, and the Fox Graduate School. The program head must submit a request for approval to the Fox Graduate School for review. Approval by the Fox Graduate School is contingent on assurances from faculty instructors and advisors that all coursework can be completed successfully in the remaining time.

If you cannot arrive as expected, ask your program head for delayed admission to a later semester. While this is typically possible, there may be circumstances where admission is deferred for up to a year.

Please start by contacting International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) to determine next steps. We also recommend that you consult an immigration attorney for further information on your options.

Unfortunately, under federal law, we must terminate the assistantship immediately.

If there is an identical course offered through the World Campus you may be able to transfer to that course. Start by contacting the instructor of the World Campus course.

If there is no corresponding course, contact your instructor to determine if it is possible to complete your course remotely. If they agree it is possible, please contact the Fox Graduate School Graduate Enrollment Services office at gesrecords@psu.edu for further review.

You should withdraw from any courses you cannot complete remotely to protect your GPA.

That may be possible. Speak with your thesis, dissertation, or culminating experience advisor. If they agree it is possible, please contact the Fox Graduate School Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration at gsfellowships@psu.edu for further review.

That may be possible. See GCAC-606 - Comprehensive Examination - Research Doctorate, specifically Process provision 6. Please contact the Fox Graduate School Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration at gsfellowships@psu.edu for further review.

That may be possible. Please contact the Fox Graduate School Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration at gsfellowships@psu.edu for further review.

That may be possible. See GCAC-608 Final Oral Examination - Research Doctorate, specifically Process provision 6. Please contact the Fox Graduate School Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards Administration at gsfellowships@psu.edu for further review.

Yes. Students who do not re-enroll in consecutive Fall – Spring semesters (summers don’t matter) are “discontinued” and may re-enroll in the future by re-applying to the Fox Graduate School and being re-admitted (at the discretion of their graduate program).

Possibly. Eligibility depends on many factors, including applicable tax and employment laws, and export control regulations. Start by asking your program head if funds are available.