What happens if I fall out of status while on an F-1 visa?

Once you fall out of F-1 status, you lose your legal right to stay in the U.S., unless you take quick action to fix it.

If you stay after violating status, you may start accruing “unlawful presence,” which can lead to 3- or 10-year bars from reentry if you leave.

You cannot work (on-campus, CPT, or OPT) if you're out of status. Doing so could hurt future immigration applications.

If your violation was minor and unintentional (like a medical issue or school error), you can apply for reinstatement using Form I-539.