F-1 students receive a 60 day grace period after completing their program while J-1 students receive a 30 day grace period.
During your grace period, you may do any one of the following options:
- Travel within the U.S.
- Transfer to another U.S. school
- Prepare for departure from the U.S.
If you are unable to depart the U.S. within your 60-day grace period, please contact International Student Services.
The purpose of the grace period is to give students more time to prepare for their departure, travel within U.S., transfer out to new school, apply for Post Completion OPT (eligible F-1 students only) or Academic Training (if applicable).
The grace period is counted from the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019. In the example below, this F-1 student's program end date is December 20, 2024, which means they must depart the U.S. no later than February 18, 2025. Students should make arrangements to leave the country on time. An overstay can negatively affect your chances of obtaining another U.S. visa in the future.
Students can't use their grace period to study, work, do research, or do an internship. If you have an on-campus job, your last day of work must be the program end date on your I-20 or DS-2019. In the example above, the student's last day at work would have to be December 20, 2024. Any work after that date would be unauthorized and a violation of the student's immigration status.
During your grace period you cannot exit the U.S. and re-enter. For instance, if you exit the country on day 5 of your grace period, you will automatically forfeit the remaining 55 days. Students who plan to travel in the U.S. as well as another country (e.g., Canada or Mexico) after their program end date should complete all of their travel in the U.S. first before leaving the U.S. and then fly back to their home country directly from Canada or Mexico.
If you must re-enter the U.S. after your program end date, you will need to do so as a tourist using a B-2 visa or ESTA visa waiver, depending on your citizenship.