Completing Your Program

Preparing for your graduation

As an F-1 student, you have several options after completing your program at IU Indianapolis.

Duration of Status

Will you still be in the U.S. as of September 14, 2026?

Information for those who have D/S on their I-94

Options as you prepare for program completion:

  • Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) so you can engage in training experience in the United States in your major field of study. Applications for OPT can be submitted before your completion date and must be received by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the deadlines outlined through OIA OPT resources. Start the Post Completion OPT Request eForm in Atlas under F-1 Practical Training. 
  • Transfer to a new school to begin a higher level of study. See the SEVIS Transfer from IU website for details.This is a request that you make in Atlas. You will need to have your transfer out approved by OIA before the end of your period of preparation for departure. Work with your new school to request an I-20 and apply for any Extension of Stay (EOS) that you may need.
  • Be admitted to and begin a new program of study at a higher education level at your I-20 issuing IU campus. You must be fully admitted, and apply for and receive a new I-20 from OIA before the end of the preparation for departure period. Updated financial documentation will be required. You can make your request for your new I-20 through the Change of Program Level e-form via Atlas. An EOS or travel may be required.
  • Leave the United States before the end of the preparation for departure period. Please email iadvisor@iu.edu when your departure plans are finalized.
  • Apply for a change of status if applicable. USCIS must receive the application before the end of your peroid of preparation for departure.

If you have not made other plans, you must depart the country by the end of your preparation for departure. Failure to do so can result in accrual of days of unlawful presence.

Program completion and your F-1 status

The program end date listed on your I-20 is generally an estimate of how long a student will take to complete a specific program. Your program completion date may be different from the date printed on your I-20 and may be earlier than your graduation date. If you finish your program of study earlier than your I-20 program completion date, OIA will shorten your actual I-20 program end date to match. Remember, your eligibility to work on campus ends upon completion of your program of study. Do not work after you complete your program.

If you are an undergraduate or a master’s student completing your study with coursework (classroom study) as your final requirement, the last day of your enrollment in your final required term of study will be your actual I-20 program end date.

If you are a graduate student completing with a thesis or dissertation as your final academic requirement, your completion date will be the date that you submit the final version of your thesis or dissertation (provided that you have been making steady progress toward your degree completion).

If you are completing with a final requirement other than coursework, thesis, or dissertation, this may impact your I-20 program end date. Examples include completion with required internship or with a capstone project. As your final term approaches you may wish to be in contact with OIA to discuss your I-20 program end date.

Your eligibility to work on campus ends upon completion of your program of study.

Your post-completion period of preparation for departure

Federal regulations provide you with a period of preparation for departure that starts the day you complete your program of study. The preparation for departure period is 30 days from the date you complete your program, or your U.S. departure date, whichever date comes first.

For example, if you complete your program of study on May 4, 30 days from that date is June 3. Your preparation for departure period then ends as of June 3 OR the date you depart the U.S., whichever date comes first.

I-94 Admit Until Date (AUD) versus period of preparation for departure end date

Your I-94 should indicate an Admit Until Date (AUD) that is 30 days after your I-20 program end date on the I-20, or four years from the date you last entered the U.S., whichever is shorter.

Note: The I-20 end date is often an estimated program end date. If you complete your program on an earlier date, your actual 30 day period of preparation for departure will end 30 days from your actual program completion date rather than the AUD printed on your I-94.

Example:

  • Your estimated I-20 program end date is May 31 and your I-94 AUD is June 30
  • You complete your program of study on May 4. The end of your 30 day preparation for departure period is June 3, rather than the June 30 AUD printed on your I-94.

Still in the U.S. as of September 14, 2026?

  • Information for those with D/S on their most recent I-94

    If you were in the United States in F-1 status as of September 14, 2026, and you have not departed the U.S. since then, you would still have an I-94 with an Admit Until Date (AUD) of D/S (duration of status). Read more about the regulation change.

    This means that following the completion of your program, you have a grace period of up to 60 days from that program completion date. Your F-1 grace period would end 60 days from your program completion date OR the date you depart the U.S., whichever comes first. You have up to 60 days to take one of the actions described above in the Options as you prepare for program completion section.

Travel after completing your program

If you plan to travel outside of the United States (such as Canada, Mexico, etc) during your period of preparation for departure, OIA will not be able to sign your I-20 for travel. Any existing travel signature on your I-20 will no longer be valid to request re-entry to the U.S. as of your actual program completion date. If you travel outside of the country, you will NOT be able to re-enter the United States as an F-1 student, because you have completed your program.

You may be able to re-enter the United States as a tourist. Discuss your plans before you travel in an appointment with an international student advisor.

Dependent status after completing your program

If you have F-2 dependents with you in the United States, their status is dependent upon yours. If you choose to leave the country after you complete your program of study, your family may not legally stay in the United States without you if they hold F-2 status. Special note: Be sure to determine whether your dependent has an AUD, and if it differs from yours. They may need to take action before you.

Departure checklists

  • University Obligations

    • If you received any wages from IU Indianapolis during the previous year, be sure to inform the human resources administrator in your department of your plans for departure.
    • Update One.iu.edu with your new mailing address, phone number, and email address.
    • Return any borrowed books or other materials to the library.
    • Pay any remaining balance on your bursar account in One.iu.edu. Your diploma and official transcripts will not be released until your balance is fully paid.

  • Immigration Obligations

    • Organize a file with copies of all visa and immigration documents pertaining to your stay in the U.S. so that you can access them again in the future. Examples of visa documents include: passport, visa, I-94, I-20 forms, DS-2019 forms, I-797 approval notices, and EAD cards. The Office of International Affairs does not archive copies of documents for more than 5 years beyond your departure.
    • If you have a child who was born in the U.S., visit the State Department website here how to get a U.S. passport for your child. Your child will need a U.S. passport to return to the U.S. in the future.
    • If you have a small, white paper I-94 card, when you depart the U.S. , be sure to turn in that I-94 card. Usually, it will be collected by an airline official. Failure to submit this card upon your exit may result in future travel difficulties. If you have an electronic I-94, then you do not need to take any special actions.

  • Financial Obligations

    • If you received wages from IU Indianapolis or another employer during the calendar year, you will need to file a tax return the following spring. You will need to obtain your W-2 form from your employer. This form contains the data that you will use to complete a U.S. tax return. Please remember that even though you are not in the U.S., you are required to file a tax return on all U.S.-based income. This becomes especially important if you owe the U.S. government taxes. This debt will keep accruing interest until it is addressed. The Office of International Affairs can give you general information on filing individual tax returns.
    • Notify your bank of your departure plans. If you have been working or have scheduled payments from your bank account, determine if you will need to leave your account open beyond your departure date to allow for pending transactions. Work with the bank to determine the best way to handle the closure of your account or options for maintaining a U.S. account indefinitely after you relocate abroad.
    • Determine if you have any outstanding bills with credit card companies, auto or renter's insurance companies, or other organizations. If you are unable to pay them off before departing, contact the organization to make arrangements for payment.

  • Health Insurance

    • If you have been covered under the IU Indianapolis mandatory Aetna insurance policy for international students, the Indiana University Health Insurance Representative at studenhc@indiana.edu can verify your coverage end date and advise you on extension options.
    • If you hold insurance from another source, contact the program administrator for that insurance program directly for assistance.

  • Housing & Related Issues

    • Notify your landlord of your intended departure date. (Check your lease to determine how much advance notice is required and if there are any penalties for leaving before your lease is finished.) Ask if there are any procedures that you must follow. Make arrangements for the return of any refundable deposit.
    • Notify your utility companies (phone, gas, electricity, water, cable, internet, etc.) of your departure date. If you paid any deposits when you set up the service, ask if you can get that money returned. Make arrangements for paying your final bills.
    • Consider donating or selling your household goods. You can donate items to organizations such as Goodwill or AMVETS. You can sell them via the classified ads on OneStart or on craigslist.com. If you would like to give the items to new students, please contact the Office of International Affairs to learn if we are collecting items at that time.

  • Miscellaneous

    • Request official transcripts from the Registrar’s Office. You may wish to purchase several to avoid having to order them again from overseas.
    • If you will not receive your diploma before your departure date, contact your department to arrange for it to be mailed to you.
    • Learn about alumni email accounts.
    • If you have obtained a Social Security Number (SSN), keep your card! Your SSN will remain valid for the rest of your life. If you return to the U.S. at some point in the future, you will continue to use the same number. If you lose your card, you can only apply for a new one during a future visit if you are in a visa status that permits employment in the U.S.
    • Fill out a "change of address" form at the post office. (The online form does not accommodate international addresses.) Please note any U.S. immigration document will not be forwarded. Inform immigration of a reliable U.S. address if you have a case pending.