End of Program Options
Grace Periods
F-1 and J-1 students receive a grace period upon completion of an academic program or an approved period of post-completion training (OPT, STEM OPT, or Academic Training). In addition, these students have a few end of program options. Students who fail to maintain status and have terminated SEVIS records are not eligible for a grace period. They must leave the US immediately.
F-1 Students
F-1 students who have maintained status have a 60-day grace period to do one of the following:
- Apply for a change of status.
- Start a new program of study, either at Emory or another institution.
- Students who will begin a new program at Emory must complete the Change of Program I-20 Request in ISSS Link and be issued a new I-20.
- Students who will start a new program at another institution will need to complete a Transfer Out Request in ISSS Link to have their SEVIS record transferred.
- Apply for Optional Practical Training.
- Upon completion of OPT, students may use their 60-day grace period to apply for a change of status or start a new program of study (as described above).
- Depart the US.
- After departing the United States, a student may not return to the US using their previous F-1 status even if they plan to return during the 60-day period.
- A student who intends to pursue a different end of program option must take the appropriate action (e.g. apply for OPT, obtain a new I-20 or file a change of status) prior to departing the US.
J-1 Students
J-1 students who have maintained status have a 30-day grace period to do one of the following:
- Apply for a change of status.
- Apply for Academic Training (AT).
- J-1 students must receive a new DS-2019 containing the AT authorization from ISSS before the end of their program or DS-2019 end date, whichever is earlier.
- Students should submit an Academic Training Request in ISSS Link at least 21 days before the end date on their DS-2019.
- Upon completion of AT, students may use their 30-day grace period to apply for a change of status.
- Depart the US
- After departing the United States, a student may not return to the US using their previous J-1 status even if they plan to return during the 30-day period.
Transfer Out of Emory
International students can request a transfer of their SEVIS record to another school by submitting the appropriate e-form in ISSS Link (see below) in a timely manner.
Title
F-1 Students
F-1 students may request a SEVIS transfer if they are currently:
- Enrolled in a program at Emory;
- In an authorized period of Optional Practical Training (OPT); or
- In their 60-day grace period.
Enrolled students should request a transfer at least 15 days before their final semester end date or their I-20 end date, whichever is earlier.
To be eligible for a SEVIS transfer, the F-1 student must be in valid F-1 status. Thus, they must be physically present in the US at the time they complete the Transfer Out Request in ISSS Link. ISSS is not able to transfer a SEVIS record of a student who has departed the US even if it is within the 60-day grace period.
- Gain admission to an academic program at a new school.
- Log into ISSS Link and submit the Transfer Out Request. In the e-form, the student will be asked to provide the following:
- Admission letter from the new academic program
- Copy of the most recent I-94
- Transfer-in documentation for new school (if applicable)
- SEVIS transfer release date
- This is the date the student's SEVIS record will be made available to the new school.
- Students with questions about selecting a transfer release date should contact their ISSS Advisor.
- The student's ISSS advisor will review the request within five business days.
- If approved, the ISSS advisor will initiate the transfer, and the SEVIS record will be electronically transferred on the date provided by the student in the e-form.
- As of the SEVIS transfer release date:
- The new school will have access to the student's SEVIS record and can create a new I-20.
- Emory ISSS will no longer have access to the student's SEVIS record.
- To complete the transfer process:
- Follow the I-20 request procedures provided by the new school's international office.
- Report to the new school within 15 days of the new I-20's program start date.
Title
J-1 Students
J-1 students may request a SEVIS transfer to another program sponsor if they are currently:
- Enrolled in a program at Emory; or
- In an authorized period of Academic Training (AT).
Additionally, the student must meet the following criteria:
- Has maintained their J-1 status
- Is in good academic standing
- Will continue to pursue their original exchange visitor program objective
- Is within the time limits of their DS-2019
Since a J-1 transfer requires coordination between ISSS and the new program sponsor, it is recommended that students request a SEVIS transfer at least 30 calendar days before the end of their program or DS-2019 end date, whichever is earlier.
J-1 students sponsored by another organization (i.e. Fulbright) should contact their program sponsor for transfer procedures. J-1 students who are sponsored by Emory complete the steps below.
Procedure
- Contact their ISSS advisor to:
- Inform ISSS of the student's intention to transfer their SEVIS record to another program.
- Discuss the SEVIS transfer release date.
- This is the date the student's SEVIS record will be made available to the new school.
- The student's ISSS advisor will be able to help the student determine a transfer release date.
- Students who plan to remain in the US between programs will need to select a release date that is on or before the end of their program or DS-2019 end date, whichever is earlier.
- Log into ISSS Link and submit the Transfer Out Request. In the e-form, the student will be asked to provide the following:
- Admission letter from the new academic program
- Copy of the most recent I-94
- Transfer-in documentation for new school (if applicable)
- SEVIS transfer release date
- The student's ISSS advisor will review the request within five business days.
- If approved, the ISSS advisor will electronically transfer the SEVIS record to the new school on the date provided by the student in the e-form.
- As of the SEVIS release date:
- The new school will have access to the student's SEVIS record and can create a new DS-2019.
- Emory ISSS will no longer have access to the student's SEVIS record.
- To complete the transfer process:
- Follow the DS-2019 request procedures provided by the new school's international office.
- Report to the new program within 30 days of the new DS-2019 start date.