International Student Services

The Office of International Student Services (OISS) provides support services to F-1 international students enrolled at Soka University of America (SUA). As the liaison between SUA and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the OISS staff provide information and resources pertaining to F-1 regulations and policies. OISS staff members communicate regulatory and policy updates related to F-1 regulations and policies to students, faculty, and staff at SUA. They have been designated by the DHS as Designated School Officials (DSO). As the DSO, the OISS staff oversee SUA’s compliance with F-1 immigration regulations and provide documentation and support services to F-1 students.

Questions regarding F-1 student status, visa application, travel, employment, documentation services, and government regulations and policies can be directed to the OISS at oiss@soka.edu.

Academic Programs at SUA

SUA has been approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll F-1 international students. New programs or academic offerings seeking to enroll F-1 students must be approved by the SEVP before an F-1 student can enroll in the program. Academic divisions and programs interested in enrolling F-1 students should contact the Director of OISS for additional information on the approval process.

Soka University of America assumes no responsibility for the adverse consequences regarding an applicant’s U.S. immigration status that may result from fulfillment of our study abroad requirement. Please view the Internship/Study Abroad section of this catalog for more detailed information.

F-1 Student General Information

F-1 students are non-immigrants who are temporarily admitted to the United States to pursue a full course of study. F-1 students are responsible for maintaining their F-1 status by:

1. enrolling full time during the academic semesters
2. engaging only in authorized employment
3. maintaining valid F-1 documents, and
4. reporting any changes to their information to the OISS

F-1 student records are stored and maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Registration Requirements

F-1 international students must be registered for a full course of study during the Fall and Spring semesters.

• For SUA Undergraduate students - A full course of study is 12 units
• For SUA Graduate students – A full course of study is 9 units
• For SUA Extended Bridge Program students - A full course of study is 21 contact hours
• For SUA Summer Bridge Program students – A full course of study is 21 contact hours

F-1 international students who plan to be enrolled for less than full-time must submit the Reduced Course Load (RCL) form to the OISS prior to dropping below full-time. There are only a few exceptions to the full-time enrollment requirement for the Fall and Spring semesters as listed below:

• Academic Difficulty RCL (once per degree level)
• Medical RCL (must provide a letter from a medical doctor and can be approved for up to an aggregate of 12 months)
• Final Semester RCL (once per degree program)

Students who drop below full-time enrollment without the proper pre-authorization from the OISS will be considered out of status.

Program Extension

A program extension must be filed at least 3 weeks BEFORE the Form I-20 expiration date. It is the student’s responsibility to check the Program End Date on their Form I-20 and request an extension on their Form I-20 in a timely manner. If the Program End Date has already passed, an extension is not possible.

Eligibility requirements for a delay in completion of a program must be due to one of the following reasons:

• Compelling academic reasons (change of Concentration, change in Capstone topic, unexpected research problems, etc.)
• Compelling medical reason (documentation is required from a U.S. licensed medical physician)

Employment
F-1 international students are eligible to work on-campus and off-campus with the appropriate work authorization prior to starting the position.

Curricular Practical Training
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work authorization that allows F-1 students to participate in paid or unpaid off-campus academic internships, fieldwork or practicums during their degree program and where the internship must be considered an integral part of a student’s degree program. An undergraduate international student on an F-1 visa at SUA may apply for CPT after completing their first full academic year at Soka. Interested students should contact the Office Career Development and Internship for further information.

Optional Practical Training
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a training or work benefit for eligible F-1 students. It is designed to provide F-1 students with an opportunity to gain professional experience in their field of studies for a maximum of one year, before or after completing a degree program. OPT is approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Contact the OISS for further information on employment benefits as an F-1 student.

Academic Withdrawal and Completion of F-1 Program

The OISS is required by law to report any changes to an F-1 student’s record due to academic withdrawal, expulsion, or completion of program of an F-1 student who is no longer enrolled at SUA.

Authorized Early Withdrawal

If an F-1 student plans on taking a temporary leave of absence or withdraw from SUA, the OISS is required to report this change in SEVIS. An F-1 student must consult the OISS to obtain authorization before withdrawing from classes. This ensures the F-1 student record is reported for the appropriate termination reason in SEVIS. The F-1 record will be terminated in SEVIS and the Form I-20 invalidated. With the approval of the OISS, an F-1 student will have 15 days from the termination date to depart the U.S.

An F-1 student must be re-admitted to SUA when they are ready to resume their studies as an F-1 student.

Any questions regarding the policy listed in this section can be sent to the Director of the OISS at the information below:

Office of International Student Services
Enrollment Services
Soka University of America

1 University Drive
Founders Hall – 2nd Floor
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Direct (949) 480-4150 
oiss@soka.edu