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Notify ISSS

• If you are completing your degree requirements in fall 2024:
  • Complete the ISSS Confirmation of Final Semester e-form available in the MyISSS portal.
• If you plan to defend your dissertation or thesis prior to January 13, 2025, the start of the spring 2025 term:
  • Email ISSS as soon as possible to discuss important information regarding your F-1 status.

Your I-20 End Date will be Shortened

Your F-1 status is based on continued required enrollment or post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) 

• If complete your studies in fall 2024, including defending your thesis or dissertation before the start of the spring 2025 term, the academic program end date on your I-20 will be shortened to December 18, 2024.

Students who meet all degree requirements cannot continue to be enrolled for administrative purposes.

• Successfully defending your thesis or dissertation means you do not need to enroll in subsequent terms. Continued enrollment for administrative purposes is not allowed.
• If you complete all degree requirements but continue enrolling in courses for other purposes, such as preparing for graduate school or completing a certificate, this is considered enrollment for administrative purposes only.
• Enrollment for administrative purposes does not maintain your F-1 status.

Consult ISSS for Post-Graduation Options

• Discuss your options for staying in the U.S. after defending your thesis or completing your degree.

60-Day Grace Period

If you complete your degree requirements in fall 2024 or defend your master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation before January 13, 2025, your grace period to legally remain in the U.S. in F-1 status ends on February 16, 2025, 60-days after your I-20 end date.

Work Authorization On and Off-Campus

Your ability to work in the U.S. is based on your continued enrollment or OPT authorization.

• All employment authorization ends on the last day of the fall 2024 semester, December 18, 2024. This applies to on-campus employment (including teaching and research assistantships) and off-campus work authorization (e.g., curricular practical training, pre-completion OPT).
• To work after December 18, 2024, you must:
  • Apply for post-completion OPT before the end of your 60-day grace period.
  • Receive your OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
  • Be within the work authorization period indicated on your EAD card.

Applying for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)

If you are graduating or defending your thesis/dissertation and are interested in applying for post-completion OPT, you must apply before the end of your 60-day grace period. USCIS must receive your application no later than February 16, 2025.

• For fall 2024 graduates, the 60-day grace period ends on February 16, 2025, 60 days after the semester end date of December 18, 2024. 

Before filing your OPT application with USCIS, you must receive an I-20 recommending OPT from ISSS.

• ISSS recommends applying for post-completion OPT as close to 90 days prior to your F-1 program completion date as possible to increase your chances of receiving your OPT EAD card in a timely manner.
•  For fall 2024 graduates, the earliest ISSS can make the required OPT recommendation in SEVIS is September 19, 2024.

Visit our OPT webpage and attend a Post-Completion OPT Workshop to learn about the application process.

Congratulations and best of luck to our fall graduates!