Study in the U.S.
Maintaining F-1 Status and Filing Taxes: SEVIS, I-94, Travel Signatures and Common Mistakes
The F-1 visa in your passport is only the “entry ticket”. What lets you stay and study is your F-1 status — and you maintain it yourself by following certain rules. Violations can terminate your SEVIS record and require you to leave the U.S. Here is what every Texas State University student must know.
Golden rules for keeping F-1 status
- Study full-time every Fall and Spring (≥12 undergraduate or ≥9 graduate credits). A reduced course load for medical/academic reasons needs prior ISSS approval.
- Only one online course (3 credits) counts toward full-time.
- No unauthorized work — on campus ≤20 hours/week only, CPT/OPT when approved.
- Update your address within 10 days of moving (via the university's SEVIS portal).
- Keep your I-20 valid — request an extension at least 30 days before expiry if you need more time to graduate.
- Keep health insurance continuous.
- After graduation you have a 60-day grace period to leave, transfer or start OPT.
Going home and re-entering the U.S.
- Get a travel signature on your I-20 from ISSS (valid 12 months, usually 6 months on OPT) before departing.
- Your visa must be valid on re-entry; if expired, apply for a new one at home — straightforward while your I-20 is valid.
- Carry transcripts/enrollment verification and financial documents when returning.
I-94 — small document, big role
After every entry, download your new I-94 from the CBP website. “D/S” (Duration of Status) means you may stay as long as you maintain student status. You need the I-94 for SSN, driver's license, bank accounts and any government procedure.
Annual tax filing — even with no income
Every F-1 student must file Form 8843 with the IRS each year by mid-April, even without working. With income (campus job, OPT, taxable scholarship) you also file 1040-NR. F-1 students are non-resident aliens for tax purposes during their first five years — exempt from Social Security/Medicare tax; Vietnam has no tax treaty with the U.S., so no further exemptions apply. TXST provides free tax software (Sprintax) for international students each tax season.
Common mistakes
- Dropping below 12 credits without asking ISSS.
- Taking “small” off-campus jobs (delivery, weekend nail salon work).
- Letting the I-20 expire due to slow progress.
- Forgetting the travel signature before going home for Tết.
- Skipping Form 8843 — it affects future visa/green card applications.
Questions about your status? Ask TXST's ISSS (+1 512-245-7966, international@txstate.edu) or the Vietnam Office — we support you throughout your studies, not just at application time.
