FALL 2021 ENROLLMENT GUIDANCE

Based on The University of Alabama’s announced plan to return to full-time, in-person instruction under normal operations in the Fall 2021 Semester, all F-1 and J-1 students must resume regular in-person enrollment under standard F-1 and J-1 guidance beginning in the Fall 2021 Semester as outlined on our Full-Time Enrollment Page.

In preparation for the change back to pre-COVID enrollment requirements, ISSS requires all international students on F-1 and J-1 student visas to follow the standard immigration regulations when registering for Fall 2021 classes as outlined on our Full-Time Enrollment Page.

Generally speaking, F-1 and J-1 students are required to maintain a full-time course load during fall and spring semesters. Full-time enrollment generally means graduate students must enroll for at least 9 credits and undergraduate students must enroll for at least 12 credits every semester.

For F-1 visa holders, only 1 online class (i.e. 3 credit hours) per semester may count towards a “full course of study.”  For example, an undergraduate student is required to register for 12 credits per semester to maintain full-time status. Of the 12 required hours only 3 credit hours may be online. After an F-1 student has met the full-time requirement, any additional hours above the 12 required hours may be either regular campus classes or online.

J-1 student visa holders cannot count any online classes toward their full-time enrollment requirements.  For example, an undergraduate student on a J-1 student visa must enroll the first 12 credit hours in main campus, in-person courses, but after meeting the full-time requirement via main campus courses, they may enroll in additional hours above the full-time requirement in on-line courses.

FOR STUDENTS RETURNING FROM ABROAD, the notice here suspended the 5-month rule for absences from the United States.  So, for those students who have been enrolled online abroad and are returning to the U.S. to resume full-time in-person studies in Fall 2021 and have been outside of the U.S. for 5 months or more since March 2020, your I-20/DS-2019 and F-1/J-1 student status are valid for return.  Please refer to the “RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES“ section of this page for more information regarding what documents to carry with you.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

All non-U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. are required update their address within 10 days of any change of address. 

F-1 and J-1 visa holders should update their address in myBama, and ISSS will report the change to the Department of Homeland Security in SEVIS. 

All other visa holders (those not on an F-1 or J-1 visa) should update their address both in myBama and with US Citizenship and Immigration Services by submitting the Form AR-11 online at this website:  https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange.

FINAL SEMESTER

SCAM WARNING
 

Please be aware that there is a high volume of scams this time of year.  Most of these types of scams will spoof a government agency phone number or email address in order to look official.
 
Please note, the IRS, DHS, and other government agencies will never contact you by phone or email.
 
Signs of a Scam Phone Call:

1. Caller requests you to pay a fine using Western Union, PayPal, Green Dot, MoneyGram or some other wire transfer service
2. Caller threatens your arrest or deportation for failure to act within a very short period of time.
3. Caller will try to prevent you from hanging up, asking you to visit a retail store to transfer funds while remaining on the phone.

Scam Resources:
•  For more information on immigration scams: http://www.uscis.gov/avoidscams.    
•  For more information on tax/IRS scams: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Report-Phishing and http://www.irs.gov/uac/Tax-Scams-Consumer-Alerts.  
•  For more information on money transfer and check scams: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0090-using-money-transfer-services.   
•  In addition to the USCIS, IRS, and Consumer FTC Sites, scams can be reported here: https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

HEALTH INSURANCE

The University of Alabama policy mandates that all international students are required to maintain medical insurance coverage of at least:

• Unlimited dollar amounts for medical expenses incurred outside the student’s home country;
• Has no pre-existing medical conditions exclusions;
• $25,000 USD coverage for repatriation of mortal remains;
• $50,000 USD coverage for emergency medical evacuation; and
• A deductible that does not exceed $350 per person per policy year for in-network care and does not exceed $750 per person per policy year for out-of-network care.

If you are an F-1 or J-1 student, the University-sponsored medical insurance will be automatically charged to your student account. If this charge is not included on your registration bill, it is your responsibility to notify the UA Student Health Insurance office.

UA Student Health Insurance forms are available here: https://shc.sa.ua.edu/university-sponsored-health-insurance/.

INSURANCE FOR F-2 & J-2 DEPENDENT SPOUSES AND CHILDREN
Health care in the United States is extremely expensive, so it is important to learn about health resources for your dependents as soon as they arrive in the U.S.  Insurance coverage for dependents of J-1 exchange visitors, spouse and children, is required by the J visa program. Coverage for dependents of F-1 students is strongly recommended.

If you are enrolled in the University-sponsored medical insurance plan, you can add your spouse and/or children using the form available here: https://shc.sa.ua.edu/university-sponsored-health-insurance/.

WAIVER OF UA HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE OTHER INSURANCE
If you already have medical insurance that meets or exceeds the University of Alabama guidelines listed above, you may request a waiver of UA insurance charges. A waiver form is available here: https://shc.sa.ua.edu/university-sponsored-health-insurance/. The waiver form must be completed by you as well as your insurance provider and submitted to UA’s Student Health Center before 09/14/2021.  Without processing a waiver, you will be automatically charged for the University-sponsored insurance policy; so, be sure to submit the waiver in order to avoid paying for two separate insurance policies.

Success and Growth in the U.S. 
Apply by September 8

 
Success and Growth in the U.S. is a 9-week workshop designed to facilitate international students’ adjustment, academic success and personal growth.
 
This workshop will be done as a closed group of 5-8 members. Members will have opportunities to learn useful skills for successful life in America, to develop understanding about American culture and life, and to explore their experiences of living and studying in America.
 
The group will meet every Wednesday from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in-person.   The group sessions will begin on September 15 and end on November 10.
 
To apply to join the group:

1. Complete an application form and submit it to Dr. Nahree Doh at ndoh@ua.edu
2. Complete the Counseling Center’s Group Agreement Form and Email Consent Form, both can be accessed at: http://counseling.ua.edu/groups.

 An Evening At Global Café: Welcome Back 
Tuesday, September 21, 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Capital Hall
Refreshments will be provided.

New friends and old friends meet. Come celebrate with us as we return to our in-person events.
For newsletter and information please email globalcafe@ua.edu
 
 Global Café has a full schedule for Fall 2021 (Fall 2021 schedule).
Language Partner Program starts September 13
Details and updates are posted on http://ccbp.ua.edu/global-cafe/news/.