ISSS Advising

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If you already have an on-campus job, you are ready to apply for a Social Security Number.  If you do not have a job or a job offer letter, you may not apply for an SSN. 

Our SSN letter request form is located online in the Current Student Forms section: https://www.usm.edu/isss/current-student-information.php - Select “Social Security Card Letter Request” near the bottom.

It is forbidden to work off-campus without prior authorization.  Please contact intl@usm.edu if you have any questions.  An F-1/J-1 student who works off campus would be in danger of a terminated I-20/DS-2019 and requirement to depart the U.S. immediately.  Future visa applications would also likely be negatively impacted.

To learn more about various work authorization opportunities, please see the international student work authorization page.

In order to maintain students, F-1 and J-1 students, must enroll in a full course of study.

Undergraduates must maintain:
12 credits minimum for full time enrollment each semester
Of those, 9 credits minimum must be face to face

Graduates must maintain:
9 credits minimum for full time enrollment each Fall or Spring semester
Of those, 6 credits must be face to face

There are very limited exceptions to full course of study requirements, which include academic or medical exceptions.  A student may qualify for a temporary reduced course load under one of the following academic and medical circumstances.  Please work very closely with ISSS if you feel that you qualify for one of the following exceptions.  Do not withdraw from classes until you receive authorization from ISSS.

Academic Reasons:

• Initial semester of study
  • Reasons:  Improper course level placement, Initial difficulty with reading requirements, initial difficulty with the English Language, Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods.
  • Verified by academic advisor
  • Students must maintain a minimum half credit load (6 credits undergraduate, 5 credits for graduate students)
  • Limited to first semester of study.
  • The appropriate ratio of in person classes must be maintained. 
• Final semester of study
  • Student is in the final term of study and can complete program with fewer classes.
  • Student must be enrolled in at least one required class.
  • The appropriate ratio of in person classes must be maintained. 

Medical Reasons:

• Serious and temporary illness or medical conditions preventing full time enrollment and verified by a medical doctor in advance of withdrawal.
• Student may enroll in zero or more credits, if authorized.
• Limited to no more than 12 months cumulative during entire program.
• If conditions continue, must renew each semester.
• The appropriate ratio of in person classes must be maintained. 

 

Continuing students: Summer enrollment is optional for continuing students who will enroll in the following Fall Term.  Therefore, there are no minimum enrollment policies (i.e. student may have an annual break from classes) and on-line courses are permitted with no minimum or maximum during summer semester only for continuing students. 

Graduating students:  If summer semester is the final term of study, in-person enrollment is required in order to remain in the U.S. and maintain eligibility for post-completion optional practical training (OPT).  However, if students want to complete their studies on-line, it is allowed if they depart the United States.

New students:  Students must enroll full time during their first semester of study.  It is unusual to start a new program in summer, however, if an F-1 student does start a new program, they must enroll full time with the appropriate on-line.  The University of Southern Mississippi academic bulletins indicate that full time enrollment in summer semester is 12 credits for undergraduates and 3 credits for graduate students.