Office of International Services
  • Maintaining Status
  • Students
  • Program Completion (Students)

Program Completion (Students)

After successfully completing an academic program, F-1/J-1 students are given a grace period allowing them to remain in the United States for a specified time after a program of study, Optional Practical Training or Academic Training. 

Travel and reentry to the United States as an F-1/J-1 student during the grace period is not possible. Please review the following guidelines regarding the grace period for F-1/J-1 students.

Upon completion of their program, F-1 students have a 60-day grace period during which they may take one of the following actions.

Students who are graduating early (before the end date of their Form I-20) must submit an F-1 Student SEVIS Final Semester Check. OIS will shorten the end date on the I-20, triggering the student’s grace period.

  • Students must apply to the new program, be admitted and be issued a new Form I-20 from the Graduate Admission office before the end of the grace period. Proof of funding is required to issue the new I-20. Please contact the Graduate Admission office with questions about I-20 issuance. 

    Once the student receives the new I-20, they must submit the Validation of New Program Request and upload a copy of the new I-20 to OIS.

  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of work authorization permitting F-1 students to gain experience in their field of study in the United States. Please visit our OPT page to learn more about the application process and guidelines.

  • Students must apply to another institution, be admitted and have the USC SEVIS record transferred out to the new institution before the end of the grace period. In addition, the start date at the transfer-in school must be within five months of the last date of enrollment at USC or the last date of employment on OPT. 

    Students traveling internationally between programs must have their SEVIS record released to the new school before departing the United States.

    For instructions on requesting a transfer of the SEVIS record, visit our page on attending another institution.

  • Students who choose to depart the United States after completing their programs must do so before the end of the 60-day grace period.

  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must receive the Change of Status (COS) application before the end of the grace period.

  • The immigration status of an F-2 dependent is dependent on the F-1 student’s status. If the F-1 student departs the United States during the grace period, the F-2 dependent may not remain in the United States in F-2 status.

Upon completion of their program, J-1 students have a 30-day grace period during which they may take one of the following actions.

Students who are graduating early (before the end date of their Form DS-2019) must submit a J-1 Student SEVIS Final Semester Check. OIS will shorten the end date on the DS-2019, thereby triggering the student’s grace period.

  • Students must apply to the new program, be admitted and be issued a new Form DS-2019 from the USC Graduate Admission office before the current DS-2019 end date. Proof of funding is required to issue the new DS-2019. Please contact the USC Graduate Admission office with questions about DS-2019 issuance. 

    Once the student receives the new DS-2019, they must complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV).

  • Students must apply to another institution, be admitted, have the USC SEVIS record transferred out to the new institution and be issued their new DS-2019 before the current DS-2019 end date.

    To transfer out the USC SEVIS record, the student will need to meet with a J-1 advisor and submit the J-1 Student SEVIS Transfer Out Request via Trojan International.

  • Students who choose this option must depart from the United States before the end of the 30-day grace period.

  • Students who choose this option do not need to notify OIS and should instead apply directly to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a new immigration status. USCIS must receive the application to change the immigration status before the end of the grace period.

  • J-1 students who plan to work in the United States after graduation must apply before the current DS-2019 end date. 

    The processing time for Academic Training requests is 10 business days.

    Apply for Academic Training

  • The immigration status of a J-2 dependent depends on the J-1 student. A J-2 dependent may not remain in the United States under the J-2 status without the presence of the J-1 student.

Optional Practical Training

Attending Another Institution 

Academic Training