Transfer, Travel, Departure

Program End Date & 60 Days Grace Period

Your Program End Date is listed on your I-20. If need to request an extension, please email ISS@826306.com before your Program End Date passes. Once your Program End Date has passed, ISS will no longer be able to make changes to your SEVIS record and your 60 Days of Grace Period begins.

Within your 60 Days of Grace Period, you have the following options :

1. Pursue another program at JU.
   • You must inform us, so we can update your SEVIS record and issue you a new I-20.
2. Apply for OPT.
   • It is recommended you do 90 days before your Program End Date as approval can take upwards of two to three months.
3. Attend another U.S. SEVP institution.
   • We can transfer your SEVIS record given an acceptance letter.
4. Apply for a change of immigration status.
   • ISS cannot help you with this process, but you must keep us informed.
5. Depart the U.S.
   • You must depart the U.S. on or before the end of your 60-day grace period to avoid visa overstay penalties which may affect your ability to secure future U.S. visas.
   • During your 60 Days Grace Period, you cannot depart and come back to the U.S. Once you depart, you can no longer re-enter under F-1 status and utilize any remaining grace period days.

Transferring to Another U.S. Institution

The following documents needs to be provided to your JU DSO in order to transfer your SEVIS record to your new school. 

• Written confirmation of acceptance to another Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school.
• Contact information for the new school’s DSO.
• The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) school code for the transfer-in school.

Once your transfer release date arrives, the DSO at your previous school will not have access to your SEVIS record, and your new DSO can create a new Form I-20 for you. It is important to get a new Form I-20 (signed by your new DSO and you) as soon as possible. To maintain your status, register for classes and contact your new DSO within 15 days of the program start date listed on your new Form I-20.

JU Transfer-Out Procedure

1. Complete JU's Institutional Withdrawal Form.
2. Ensure all financial obligations are taken care of and clear all holds on your account.
3. If you've already registered for a future semester (after the transfer date) but are now planning to transfer out, please drop all JU classes that you don't plan to attend. 

Travel Outside the U.S. & Reentry

While studying at JU and traveling outside the United States, you need to have proper documents in order to re-enter the United States. 

Prior to departing the U.S. for long breaks, please comply with essential rules to maintain F-1 status:

1. Carry a valid I-20 with a travel signature from a DSO within the last 12 months (our office recommends getting a new signature every six-nine months).
2. Check your visa's expiration date; if it's expired, you'll need to renew it at a U.S. embassy or consulate before re-entering the U.S. F-1 students can remain in the U.S. on an expired visa. However, to do so, their I-20 must be up to date and their status maintained.
3. As a general rule, your passport must be valid for six months beyond the date you exit the U.S. Please renew while you’re home it if it doesn’t meet this criteria.
4. Plan to return to campus well before the start of the next term, allowing for potential travel delays.

Citizens of certain countries, returning from Canada, Mexico and the adjacent islands may be able to re-enter the US with an expired F-1 visa using Automatic Visa Revalidation.