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I‐20ProgramExtensionRequestForm
Regulations
Belowarethetworegulatorycitationsthatgovernstudent’seligibilityforaprogramextension.
Whendeterminingastudent’seligibilityforprogramextension,twoconditionsmustbemet:
1. Thestudent’sphysicalpresenceintheUnitedStatesmustberequired.Workthatmaybecompletedremotelyfrom
outsidetheUnitedStateswouldnotqualifyforaprogramextension–
8CFR214.2(f)(6)(iii)(C)
Ifthestudentisnotrequiredtotakeanyadditionalcoursestosatisfytherequirementsforcompletion,butcontinuesto
beenrolledforadministrativepurposes,thestudentisconsideredtohavecompletedthecourseofstudyandmusttake
actiontomaintainstatus.SuchactionmayincludeapplicationforchangeofstatusordeparturefromtheU.S.
2. Thereasonforthestudent’sextensionisreasonableforsomeonemakingnormalprogresstowardaparticulardegree
andacademicinnature–
8CFR214.2(f)(7)(iii)
AnF‐1studentwhoisunabletomeettheprogramcompletiondateontheFormI‐20maybegrantedanextensionbythe
DSOiftheDSOcertifiesthatthestudenthascontinuallymaintainedstatusandthatthedelaysarecausedbycompelling
academicormedicalreasons,suchaschangesofmajororresearchtopics,unexpectedresearchproblems,or
documentedillnesses.Delayscausedbyacademicprobationorsuspensionarenotacceptablereasonsforprogram
extensions.ADSOmaynotgrantanextensionifthestudentdidnotapplyforanextensionuntilaftertheprogramend
datenotedontheFormI‐20.AnF‐1studentwhoisunabletocompletetheeducationalprogramwithinthetimelistedon
FormI‐20andwhoisineligibleforprogramextensionpursuanttothisparagraph(f)(7)isconsideredoutofstatus.
TheOfficeofInternationalAffairslackstheexpertisetodeterminetheacademicreasonablenessofaparticularstudent’srequest
andrequireassistancefromtheappropriateacademicprogramstaffinmakingthisdetermination.
Bysigningthisform,theappropriateAcademicAdvisor,ProgramDirector,orDepartmentChairconfirmsthatthestudent
meetstheconditionssetbyregulationsregardinganextension.
Weappreciateyourassistanceinthismatter.PleasecontacttheOfficeofInternationalAffairsusingthecontactinformationon
thefrontofthisformifyouhaveanyquestions.
ProgramCompletionDate(ProgramEndDate)
Forimmigrationpurposes,theprogramendateisthedatethatalldegreerequirementsarecompleted.Programend
datesmaynotextendedtoaccommodategraduationceremonies,degreeconferraldates,and/orexternal
examinationdates.
LEVEL I‐20ENDDATE
Undergraduatestudents
Graduateandprofessionalstudentswithout
thesis/dissertations
Thelastdayoffinalexamsweekforthelasttermof
enrollment,aslistedinthepublishedAcademic
Calendar.
Graduateandprofessionalstudentsin
programsrequiringathesisordissertation
Thesubmissiondateofthefinalversionofthe
dissertation/thesis,withrevisions,tothecollege.
Programcompletionisgenerallydeterminedbycompletionofcoursework(andsuccessfuldefenseofathesis/dissertationif
applicable).Unnecessaryenrollmentoron‐campusemploymentforanyadditionalsemester(s)beyondcompletionofprogram
requirementsisnotpermittedandcouldresultinalossofpost‐completionvisabenefits(suchasOPTorAcademicTraining).