Grace Periods

The program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 will be adjusted to the last day of your final quarter of study. Graduate students that have filed in lieu of registration for their final term will have a program end date of their date of defense or comprehensive exam.

If your most recent I-20 or DS-2019 shows a program end date beyond your final quarter of study, ISEO will automatically adjust your program end date to the accurate final term. Your grace period begins on the day after your true program end date.

F-1 Students

F-1 students have a 60-day grace period following the last day of your final quarter of enrollment. By the end of that 60 days, you must take ONE of the following actions:

Submit your Form I-765 application for Optional Practical Training (OPT) to USCIS. Learn more about OPT here.
Transfer your SEVIS record to another school in the U.S.
Request a Change of Program Level if you've been accepted to a another academic program at UC San Diego that will start within 5 months from the end of your current program.
Change to another visa status.
Depart the U.S. if you do not take any of the actions listed above. If you choose to depart the U.S. by the end of your grace period, you may not re-enter the U.S. with your completed I-20 and F-1 student visa. You do not need to report your departure to ISEO.

J-1 Students

J-1 students have a 30-day grace period following the last day of your final quarter of enrollment.

Students MUST take action during their grace period, or they must leave the U.S. before their grace period ends. Use your grace period to do one of the following:

Apply for post-completion employment authorization (Academic Training).
- J-1 students must apply and be approved for Academic Training before the completion of their program.
Transfer your SEVIS record to another school in the U.S.
- J-1 students must apply and be approved for the SEVIS transfer before the completion of their program.
Change to another visa status.
Prepare to return to your home country and depart the U.S.

Note: If you depart the U.S. during your grace period, you may not re-enter the U.S. with your completed I-20/DS-2019 and F-1/J-1 student visa.