Q: I am in the U.S. on an F-1 visa. I did not register for a semester of study. Will I have to leave the country? Is there any penalty for my action? How would it affect my future?

A: If you are no longer enrolled in your course of studies, you are no longer in valid F1 status. Thus, you are required to either depart from the U.S., extend your current status or change your status to another non-immigrant category. If you do not take any action and simply remain the U.S., you will be ineligible to regain or change your status in the U.S at a latter date. If you later depart from the U.S., you may also be subject to a 3/10 years bar from reentry back into the U.S.