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International Students & Scholars Services

Finishing Your Program

Finishing Your Degree or Program

The end date on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 is an estimate of the time it typically takes to finish your degree or program. This estimated time to completion is set when initially requesting an I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSS. 


Reminders

  • You must enroll full-time (12 credit hours for undergraduate students or 9 credit hours for graduate students) your last semester (this also includes the summer semester). If you need less than a full course of study to graduate, you must be approved prior to your final semester for Reduced Course load (RCL).
  • If you finish your degree or program early (before your most recent I-20 or DS-2019 expires), please note that you may not remain in the US until the expiration of your I-20 or DS-2019. 
  • Don't forget to apply for graduation by the application deadline. Please note that your department may have additional applications and/or deadlines. Be sure to speak with your academic advisor about graduation.
  • Your on-campus work authorization generally ends on your estimated program end date. See information below for determining this date.


Program End Dates

For IEP, ELP (formerly AMP), undergraduate, certificate programs, exchange, and graduate/profession programs without a thesis/dissertation requirement, program completion dates are based on the last day of finals.

For graduate/professional students with a thesis/dissertation requirement, program completion dates are based on one of the following:

  • The last day of the semester in which you defend your thesis/dissertation
  • The date of defense
  • The last day of finals for any required courses (for OPT only)
Grace Periods

F-1 and J-1 students have a "grace period" and must take action to remain in the US. If no action is taken in a timely manner, the student must depart by the end of their grace period.

  • F-1 students have a 60-day grace period upon completion of their studies or at the end of their practical training.
  • J-1 students have a 30-day grace period upon completion of their studies or at the end of their academic training.

Options that Must Be Taken Before the Grace Period (F-1 and J-1)

  • Extension of I-20 or DS-2019. If you need more time to complete your degree/program, you may request an extension before your I-20 or DS-2019 expires if you have a compelling academic or medical reason. More information can be found on the F-1 Student or J-1 Student information page under Maintaining Your Status section. 
    For J-1 Students:


Options That May Be Taken During the Grace Period (F-1 only)

  • Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) while in the US. You may also start this process 90 days prior to your I-20 end date.
  • Apply for a Change of Education Level (F-1) to begin a new degree/program at WVU.
  • Apply for a Transfer Out (F-1) to another school to continue or begin a new degree/program at another institution.
  • Apply for a Change of Status to another nonimmigrant status. Be sure to contact an immigration attorney if you have questions about this option.


Please e-mail isss-students@mail.wvu.edu if you have question about your options or to receive further guidance.