image of international students walking towards office of global services

OGS MONTHLY UPDATE: FEBRUARY

Updates and Announcements

Stay Informed: Immigration Policy Updates Page

We are closely monitoring several executive orders issued on January 20. Our Immigration News and Updates page is regularly updated with resources and information. It is still too early to determine how these orders may impact our global community, but we will continue to share updates with affected communities as more information becomes available.

US Passport Drive

Need to apply for or renew a US passport? Apply conveniently on campus at the Office of Global Services on February 7, during the NYU Passport Drive. The New York Passport Agency will be at 383 Lafayette Street from 10am until 3pm to accept passport applications (both new and renewal). There's a limited number of appointments available, so sign up to reserve your spot today. You must bring a complete set of application documents with you on the day of the drive. If you have any questions, please reach out to our outbound team.

Key Highlights for International Students This Month

To maintain legal status, all international students must register for full-time coursework this spring:
- Undergraduates: Minimum 12 credits
- Graduates: Typically, minimum of 9 credits
- Students unable to enroll full-time must obtain OGS permission for a reduced course load.
- US immigration regulations allow only 1 online course (up to 3 credits) to count toward the full-time enrollment requirement. While OGS follows the regulatory language and counts all credits for an online course, we advise students to limit online credits to 3 per course due to ongoing guidance.
If a student is dismissed or withdraws, please inform OGS immediately so we can provide timely immigration guidance. Early communication allows us to offer students more options before any action is finalized. Since we must notify the US government within 21 days of an action, your prompt assistance is crucial
OPT season has started! For students graduating this May, we’re encouraging students to start preparing early. For those of you who review and approve an international student’s OPT request that comes to you via email, we hope this Reviewing an OPT Request video proves useful.