You should expect off-campus housing, budget about $1,567 per month if undergraduate or $2,582 if graduate for FIU’s housing-plus-food benchmark, use only authorized F-1 work routes, and treat ICE removal as a real consequence of status violations—not an automatic result of being Pakistani.

8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(i)

This final rule is effective on September 15, 2026. An F-1 student is admitted for a fixed period of time, which is the period necessary to complete the course of study indicated on the Form I-20, or successor form, not to exceed a period of 4 years, plus additional times noted in this paragraph (f)(5)(i).

Transition provision and 8 CFR 214.2(f)(5)(i)

F nonimmigrants who are present in the United States in duration of status on the final rule's effective date may remain in the United States until the program end date listed on their Form I-20, including any authorized practical training, but not to exceed November 14, 2030. An F-1 student may be admitted up to 30 days before the report date or program start date listed on the Form I-20 and for an additional period of 30 days beyond the program end date listed on the Form I-20 or authorized practical training following completion of studies.

2026–2027 FIU Freshman Housing update

Due to exceptionally high demand for freshman housing for the 2026–2027 academic year, we have reached full capacity and are no longer accepting new housing applications for the following terms: Early Fall 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027. At this time, applications are being accepted for the housing waitlist only.

Undergraduate, Off Campus, per semester

Housing | $4,590 Food | $2,461

Graduate, Off Campus, per semester

Housing | $9,157 Food | $2,461

F-1 Student Employment

F-1 students may not work off-campus during the first academic year, but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions.

(f)(9)(i)

Employment authorized under this paragraph must not exceed 20 hours a week while school is in session, but may be full-time during those periods when school is not in session or during the annual vacation.

(f)(10)(i)

Practical training may be authorized to an F-1 student who has been lawfully enrolled on a full time basis in a college, university, conservatory, or seminary approved by the Service for one full academic year. Exceptions to the one academic year requirement are provided for students enrolled in graduate studies that require immediate participation in curricular practical training. A student may begin curricular practical training only after receiving his or her Form I-20 with the DSO endorsement.

(f)(11)–(12)

While school is in session, the student may work only 20 hours per week. The student may not begin employment prior to the date indicated on the employment authorization document.

(f)(9)(ii)(C)

Severe economic hardship. If other employment opportunities are not available or are otherwise insufficient, an eligible F-1 student may request off-campus employment authorization based upon severe economic hardship caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond the student's control. The student may not begin employment until he or she receives the employment authorization document from USCIS.

Student Assistant and Federal Work-Study requirements

Student Assistants must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours as an undergraduate or 3 credit hours as a graduate student. You can only work a maximum of 20 hours a week. During university breaks, you may work a maximum of 30 hours per week. To be eligible for Federal Work Study, students must have an award and must have accepted their FWS funds on MyFIU.

§1227(a)(1)(C)(i)

Any alien who was admitted as a nonimmigrant and who has failed to maintain the nonimmigrant status in which the alien was admitted or to which it was changed under section 1258 of this title, or to comply with the conditions of any such status, is deportable.

Enforcement Actions in or Near Protected Areas

Going forward, law enforcement officers should continue to use that discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense. It is not necessary, however, for the head of the agency to create bright line rules regarding where our immigration laws are permitted to be enforced.

(f)(6)(i)(G) and (f)(17)

For F-1 students enrolled in classes for credit or classroom hours, no more than the equivalent of one class or three credits per session, term, semester, trimester, or quarter may be counted toward the full course of study requirement if the class is taken on-line or through distance education and does not require the student's physical attendance for classes, examination or other purposes integral to completion of the class. An F-1 alien must inform the DSO and the Service of any legal changes to his or her name or of any change of address, within 10 days of the change, in a manner prescribed by the school.

After completing your program

Once you complete your program, you will have a 60-day grace period to depart the United States.