Completion of Academic Program

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

Travel and re-entry to the U.S. as an F-1/J-1 student during the grace period is not possible. Please review the following guidelines regarding the grace period pertinent to F-1/J-1 student status.

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F-1 Students

F-1 students have a 60-day grace period in which they are permitted to do one of the following:

  1. Begin a new program of study at USC: Students must apply to the new program, be admitted, and be issued a new I-20 from the Graduate Admissions (GA) before the end of the grace period.  Proof of funding is required to issue the new I-20. Please contact GA with questions regarding I-20 issuance. Once the student receives the new I-20, they must submit the I-20 Request Form indicating “validation of higher degree” and a copy of the new I-20 to OIS.
  2. Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
  3. Transfer to another institution: 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 60 day 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 within five months from the last date of employment on OPT. For instructions on how to request a transfer of the SEVIS record, refer to the Transfer SEVIS Record from USC to Another Institution page.
  4. Depart the U.S. before the end of the grace period.
  5. Students who are graduating early (before the end date of their I-20) must submit a F-1 Student SEVIS Final Semester Check. OIS will shorten the end date of the I-20 which will trigger the students grace period.
  6. Apply for a change of status: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must receive the application to change the immigration status before the end of the grace period.

F-2 Dependents

The immigration status of an F-2 is dependent upon the F-1 student and they cannot remain in the U.S. under the F-2 status after the F-1 student has departed the U.S. during the grace period.

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J-1 Students

J-1 students have a 30-day grace period in which they are permitted to do one of the following:

  1. Begin a new program of study at USC: Students must apply to the new program, be admitted and be issued a new DS-2019 from the Graduate Admissions (GA) before the end of the grace period. Proof of funding is required to issue the new DS-2019. Please contact GA with questions regarding DS-2019 issuance. Once the student receives the new DS-2019, they must submit a copy of the new DS-2019 to OIS.
  2. Transfer to another institution: Student must apply to another institution, be admitted, have the USC SEVIS records transferred out to that institution and be issued their new DS-2019 before the end of the grace period. In order to transfer out the USC SEVIS record, student will need to meet with a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Coordinator and submit the J-1 Student SEVIS Transfer Out Request Form to j1student@usc.edu. In email subject line, write: J-1 Student SEVIS Transfer Out: Last Name, First Name – SEVIS ID.
  3. Depart the U.S. before the end of the grace period
  4. Students who are graduating early (before the end date of their DS-2019) must submit a J-1 Student SEVIS Final Semester Check. OIS will shorten the end date of the DS-2019 which will trigger the students grace period.
  5. Apply for a change of status: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must receive the application to change the immigration status before the end of the grace period.

Academic Training and 30-Day Grace Period

J-1 students who plan to work in the U.S. after graduation but have not yet applied for Academic Training must do so immediately. Although students are not required to begin employment right away, OIS must approve the Academic Training application before the end of the 30-day grace period. However, OIS recommends that students apply for Academic Training as soon as possible.

Please keep in mind that it takes two weeks to process the Academic Training application and students cannot begin working until they receive the new DS-2019 and written authorization from OIS. Please complete the Academic Training Application and make an appointment to submit the application to OIS as soon as possible.

J-2 Dependents

The immigration status of a J-2 is dependent upon the J-1 student and they cannot remain in the U.S. under the J-2 status without the presence of the J-1 student.

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