Students in F-1 or J-1 status are reminded that they MUST complete the required work for a course for which they have been issued an "Incomplete" or "I" grade in a timely fashion, or they will put their immigration status at risk.
For example, a student who receives a grade of "incomplete" in a graduate or undergraduate course during the spring semester has until the end of the following fall semester to turn in the required work so that the professor can issue the appropriate final grade. However, if the required coursework is not completed, or if the professor does not submit a grade change form, the Incomplete will change to "W" or "withdraw" for graduate students, and to "F" or failure for undergraduate students following the fall semester.
International students in F-1 and J-1 status who received one or more grades of Incomplete are urged to check their grades in BU BRAIN.
A "W" grade means that the course was not successfully completed. If the course was being counted toward full-time enrollment, this will drop the student from full time to part time. Often, the student has made arrangements with the faculty member to complete the work. In such cases, it is strongly advised that the student check with the faculty member to see if the grade was submitted, or if necessary, extend the deadline for the incomplete and have the grade changed back to "I."
If a grade that remains a "W" drops the student below a full-time course load, it may mean that the F-1 or J-1 student is in violation of U.S. immigration requirements. Thus, some international students could suddenly find themselves in violation of their F-1 status based on a course taken as long as two semesters ago.
The ISSS is also frequently asked about grades of "failure" (F) or "unsatisfactory"
(U).
While F grades can have a very unfortunate impact on a student's grade point average,
such grades will only affect F-1 or J-1 students' immigration status if their poor
grades result in their academic program suspension or dismissal, or if they are severed
for poor academic performance.
Students who find themselves in these situations should come to the ISSS Office during walk-in advising hours and meet with an international student advisor to discuss their options.
