Current Situation: All new international students who plan to live in Mexico while studying at UTEP will be issued F-3 visas from now on. F1 students who are full-time and have current, valid visas can complete their studies.   If an F1 student needs to get a new visa, they will be evaluated under the current policy and may receive an F3 if it is appropriate.  Both visas allow for full-time study. The University is taking steps to gather more information about this emerging issue and information will be posted to the Office of International Programs website as information is made available. Background: In August of 2002, the INS added to section 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 18, Special rules for certain border commuter students. In addition to the new regulatory wording, the Border Commuter Student Act of 2002 created the F-3 and M-3 visa categories. No regulations regarding these visa statuses have been issued. In the absence of definitive instruction from the Federal Government, UTEP and other UT system institutions as well as border institutions across the country have interpreted the existing regulations to mean that Border Commuter Students are part-time students who live in Mexico and that the special rules regarding Border Commuter students do not apply to students living in Mexico who are attending fulltime. Up until spring 2009, the Consulate has been issuing F-1 visas for all students from Mexico. The consulate has now started issuing an F-3 visa to any applicant who does not have living expenses related to living in the U.S. What does it mean to have an F-3 Visa? Students with F-3 visas are called Border Commuter students. They must maintain their immigration status by making good academic progress, pursuing a degree or certificate program, renewing their I-20 every semester before it expires, and not working on campus or off campus unless they meet eligibility requirements for curricular practical training, a cooperative learning like program where the employment must be related to the student’s course of study. Border Commuter students may not live in the U.S. The benefits that they enjoy as long as they are maintaining status, is that can apply for Curricular Practical Training, (CPT) after one year of maintaining their status and they can apply for Optional Practical Training, (OPT)  after they graduate. What does it mean to have an F-1 Visa? Students on an F-1 visa have the following responsibilities and benefits: They must maintain their immigration status by maintaining good academic status, never working off campus without prior authorization, carrying a fulltime course load, and finishing their degree in the amount of time allotted to them. The benefits that they enjoy as long as they are maintaining status, is that they can work on campus immediately, they can apply for Curricular Practical Training, (CPT) after one year of maintaining their status and they can apply for Optional Practical Training, (OPT)  after they graduate.