Reduced Course Load (RCL) Authorization

Academic Reasons
Completing Program in Current Term
Comprehensive Examinations in Course of Program
Medical Reasons
Other Considerations

Overview

U.S. immigration regulations mandate that students in F-1 and J-1 status maintain a full course of study for the entirety of their academic program. A full course of study is defined as:

  • 12 credit hours each semester for undergraduates
  • The normative full-time credit load on file with the U.S. government and the Graduate School of record for graduate students each semester
  • Graduate students registered for Thesis Research each semester (or a combination of credit hours and Thesis Research) also meet the full-course-of-study requirement

All F-1 and J-1 students must obtain approval from OGS for a reduced course load before actually dropping below the minimum credit hour requirement. Dropping below full-time enrollment without prior approval from OGS is a violation of your F-1 and J-1 status. You will lose the benefits of F-1 and J-1 status, you will be unable to stay and study in the United States, and this may impact your eligibility for F-1 CPT or OPT or J-1 Academic Training upon regaining status.

Please contact your dedicated IS Advisor to learn more about your immigration eligibility to enroll less than full-time.

In order to request an RCL, you must submit a completed RCL Request Form to internationalservices@georgetown.edu. It will be processed within OGS’s posted processing times.

RCL Request Form

Reduced Course Load (RCL) Eligibility Requirements

Academic Reasons

  • If you are experiencing initial difficulty with the English language
  • If you are experiencing initial difficulty with reading requirements
  • If you are unfamiliar with U.S. teaching methods
  • Improper course level placement

Imminent failure in a course is not a valid reason to drop below a full course of study. 

An RCL for academic difficulties may only be authorized for the first semester of study and after using all applicable on-campus resources such as the course instructor(s), the Writing Center and the Academic Resource Center. Written justification addressed to OGS is required from the course instructor and the Dean/Program Director in addition to the RCL Request Form.

Completing Program in the Current Term

If you need fewer than the normative full-time minimum number of credits in order to graduate in the current term, you may study less than full-time while still maintaining status. Your academic dean or advisor must attest to the remaining required number of credits on your RCL Request Form. An online or elective internship course cannot be your only course. You must take at least one ‘traditional’ course with regular in-person meetings for the entire duration of the term.

Comprehensive Examinations in Course of Program

If you are a graduate student who has completed all formal coursework (or will complete all formal coursework in the current term) and are preparing for comprehensive examinations as a final requirement, you may meet the full course of study requirement. Your academic dean or advisor must attest to your completion of formal coursework on your RCL Request Form.

Medical Reasons

If you have to interrupt or reduce your full course load due to an illness or medical condition, you can still be considered to be maintaining your status during this time. However, you must first get approval from your IS Advisor each term, and you may not be authorized for a reduced course load for more than 12 months in total.

You must submit documentation to the Academic Resource Center (ARC) from a licensed medical doctor, licensed doctor of osteopathy, licensed psychologist, or licensed clinical psychologist outlining the medical condition and the recommended accommodation, including the specific number of credits in which you should be enrolled. Please note that ARC may accept documentation from a healthcare provider that is not listed above; however, OGS cannot grant immigration permission for a Medical RCL unless the documentation is from one of the medical professionals listed above (per Department of Homeland Security requirements). Please note ARC’s posted processing times.

  • F-1/J-1 regulations do not allow for a pregnancy/delivery* alone to be considered for a Medical RCL. Pregnancy/delivery does not qualify as a medical diagnosis.  If there are medical complications or other issues, the doctor’s letter to ARC must address the relevant medical diagnosis or treatment reasons that prevent you from attending classes full-time. You must submit documentation to the Academic Resource Center (ARC) from a licensed medical doctor, licensed doctor of osteopathy, licensed psychologist, or licensed clinical psychologist to be considered for an accommodation and RCL.
  • Exclusively online study is not permitted in F-1 status. If you are unable to attend your full-time in-person course load, please consult your IS Advisor via an advising appointment about your immigration options and your academic dean/advisor about your academic options.

Your request must be approved by both ARC and OGS in order for you to remain in status for an F-1 or J-1 visa. If your request is approved by ARC, ARC will provide OGS a letter of recommendation for the number of courses to reduce for the current academic term. Please note that ARC will not share your diagnosis but is permitted to share information regarding its recommendation with OGS as a “school official” in accordance with the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA).  Upon receipt, OGS will review your RCL Request Form and the letter of recommendation from ARC to determine whether the criteria to remain in status on your F-1 or J-1 visa is satisfied. You must maintain full-time enrollment until OGS issues a new immigration document reflecting the reduced course load authorization.  Students approved for a Medical RCL must enroll in at least one in-person course (three credits or more). 

Students who must withdraw from their entire course load due to illness or other medical conditions are not eligible to remain in F-1 or J-1 status at Georgetown unless they are incapacitated.

Other Considerations

*Please note that students may also request Title IX adjustments based on general pregnancy needs or accommodations based on a pregnancy-related condition. Please review the information in this overview document to learn more about your options and the University’s processes. For more information, please contact your Deputy Title IX Coordinator and visit the Title IX pregnant and parenting website.

Other services may be affected by the number of credits in which you are enrolled. Please check with your academic advisor/dean, the Office of Student Financial Services, Residential Living, the Student Health Insurance office, and your third-party scholarship provider as relevant about any implications of dropping below a full course load.