Graduating in Spring 2023?
Read this important update about your F-1/J-1 status.
Are you an F-1 or J-1 student expecting to graduate in Spring 2023? If so, International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) wants you to understand some critical information regarding the validity of your I-20/DS-2019. Please carefully read all the information below to avoid immigration status violations and protect your eligibility for F-1/J-1 benefits such as Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Academic Training (AT).
IMPORTANT! New Immigration Program End Dates for Spring 2023 Graduates
What is a program end date?
The program end date is the date listed on your I-20/DS-2019 that indicates when your document expires. You can find this date in the “Program of Study” box on the I-20 and Box 3 on the DS-2019.
The I-20/DS-2019 program end date for Spring 2023 graduates is now May 6, 2023.
You may have an older (previously issued) I-20 or DS-2019 program end date of May 20 or later. Because of UT’s updated academic calendars, this later date is no longer valid. Your correct program end date is now May 6, 2023, NOT May 20, 2023.
ISSS has updated all F-1 I-20s and J-1 DS-2019s that had a May 20, 2023, program end date. These I-20s and DS-2019s have been changed to reflect the new graduation date of May 6, 2023. Read on to find out how to obtain your new I-20 with the correct program end date.
Why is this change important?
The program end date determines how long you may legally remain in the United States after graduation and when you are eligible to apply for post-completion employment authorization. Even if you are not yet in possession of your new I-20/DS-2019 with the May 6 end date, your employment eligibility and grace period will still be calculated using this new, correct end date.
F-1 students
- Your program end date determines when you are eligible to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). Your application eligibility period is from 90 days before your program end date through 60 days after your program end date.
- If you do not plan to apply for OPT, you have a 60-day grace period. This means you must leave the U.S., apply for a change of visa status, or obtain admission to a new U.S. degree program within 60 days of your I-20 program end date.
J-1 students
- Your program end date determines when you may apply for J-1 Academic Training (AT) work authorization. If you wish to remain in the U.S. to work on AT, you must secure a job offer in your field of study and submit your AT request to ISSS through myIO no later than two weeks before your program end date.
- If you do not apply for academic training, you have a 30-day grace period after graduation. This means that you must leave the United States no later than 30 days after your program end date.
My I-20/DS-2019 has a program end date of May 20, 2023. What should I do?
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student, you should have received an email notification about your updated I-20/DS-2019.
F-1 students
ISSS has already emailed your updated I-20 with a May 6, 2023, end date. Please check your inbox for emails from ISSS with attachments. The email would have been sent between July and Sept. 2022, from either hotline@austin.utexas.edu or isss-donotreply@austin.utexas.edu.
J-1 students
Your DS-2019 has been shortened to May 6, 2023. If you have not already done so, please pick it up from our office through our front desk services.
My I-20/DS-2019 has a program end date of Summer 2023 or later, but I plan to graduate in Spring 2023. What should I do?
You do not need to take action at this time. However, understand that your employment eligibility and grace period will still be based on a May 6, 2023, end date. We will adjust your I-20/DS-2019 as described below.
F-1 students
ISSS will shorten your I-20 to May 6, 2023, when you apply for OPT or after you graduate, whichever is earlier.
J-1 students
If you apply for academic training (AT), we will extend your DS-2019 to accommodate the period of AT. If you do not apply for AT, we will shorten your DS-2019 to May 6, 2023, after you graduate. You will then need to depart the U.S. by June 5, 2023.
My I-20/DS-2019 has a Spring 2023 end date, but I will not graduate by then. What do I need to do?
Submit an I-20/DS-2010 extension request through myIO no later than April 21, 2023. Your employment eligibility application dates and grace period will then be calculated based on your extended I-20/DS-2019.
We wish you the best during the rest of the semester!
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