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Full-Time Certification

What is Full-Time Certification (FTC)?

Full-Time Certification (FTC) serves as an official confirmation that a graduate international student in the United States, holding an F-1 or J-1 visa, is engaged in a full course of study. Under specific circumstances, graduate F-1 and J-1 students may qualify for FTC. This certification permits a student to enroll in fewer than the required full-time credit hours while maintaining their immigration status as a full-time student. If eligible and authorized for an FTC, you will receive an approval email from the Registrar which you will be able to submit via the ISOGateWay. 

Who is Eligible? 

The Registrar and academic department will determine your eligibility for FTC. Typically, graduate F-1/J-1 students are eligible for FTC if:

Engaged in dissertation or thesis research:

  • Graduate students actively working on their dissertation or thesis

In their post-coursework phase:

  • Graduate-doctoral students preparing for comprehensive/General examination

Participating in required internships or practicums:

  • Graduate-doctoral students enrolled in a full-time internship/externship/practicum required by their academic program

    Reminder: FTC is not work authorization, you must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization for any paid off-campus employment (internships, externships).

How to Apply:

Starting in fall 2024, F-1 and J-1 students must submit all FTC requests to the Office of the Registrar for processing, irrespective of the student's international or domestic status. After obtaining approval from the Office of the Registrar, the ISO will utilize the documentation to confirm the student's full-time enrollment status with the Department of Homeland Security.

Before submitting the ISOGateWay eform, you must first complete the GW Registrar's Full-Time Certification approval process. If you have not already, you will need to submit the form and be approved for Full-Time Certification by the Registrar.

To complete the eform, you will need to upload a PDF of the Full-Time Certification approval email sent to you by the Registrar with the subject line "Your request for Half-time/Full-time Certification has been approved." After your eform is submitted in ISOGateWay, you will receive a confirmation email from the ISO.

Important Notes:

  • Only Full-Time Certification will enable a student to maintain their F-1 or J-1 visa status. Half-Time Certification does not fulfill this requirement.
  • Please note that if you submit a fall semester FTC request during the summer, the registrar will not begin processing your request until the first day of the fall semester.

Questions?

Please send an email to [email protected] if you have any questions.