An F-1 student must show an ability to afford the costs of school and living expenses before entering the United States and should not plan to work off-campus. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will authorize off-campus employment only in cases of severe economic hardship occurring after a student's enrollment in an academic program and after the student has been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year, or in emergent circumstances as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Serious Violations of a Student (F-1 or M-1) Visa | Nolo
Here are seven examples of serious immigration violations that your DSO would truly hate to hear that you have done:
- failed to properly report your arrival to your school's Office of International Services (OIS)
- engaged in unauthorized employment
- failed to report optional practical training (OPT) employment or accrued 90 days or more of unemployment while on OPT
- submitted fraudulent financial documentation to either obtain your student visa or extend your Form I-20
- entered into a scam marriage to get a green card
- either withdrawn from all classes or dropped below a full course load without advance permission from your DSO or OIS, failed to enroll in classes, or enrolled in too many online classes, or
- gotten expelled or suspended from school.