Completing Your Program

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

As you get ready to complete your program of study, you can:

  • Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) so you can work in the United States. Applications for OPT can be submitted up to 90 days before your completion date and must be received by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) no later than 60 days after the completion of your academic program requirements.
  • Apply for a change of status if applicable. USCIS must receive the application before the end of your 60-day grace period. You should also consider working with an attorney as "Bridge applications" might be necessary if your F-1 status will end prior to the approval or start of your new status.
  • Transfer to a new school. You must request a “Transfer Out” of your SEVIS record via Atlas. You will need to have your transfer out approved by the Office of International Affairs before the end of your 60-day grace period.
  • Start a new program of study at IU Indianapolis. You must be fully admitted and have received a new I-20 from the Office of International Affairs before the end of the 60-day grace period. Updated financial documentation will be required. You can make your request for a New Degree Program via Atlas.
  • Leave the United States before the end of your grace period.

Program Completion and Your F-1 Status

If you are an undergraduate student, or a graduate student in a coursework-only program, your completion date will be the last day of final exams during the term in which you complete your degree requirements.

If you are a graduate student writing a thesis or dissertation, your completion date will be either:

  • The last day of final exams in the last semester or summer term of your enrollment when you are submitting your thesis or dissertation; or
  • The last day of the month if you are in an Indiana University-based degree program that allows monthly thesis or dissertation deposits and does monthly conferrals and you are submitting your thesis or dissertation earlier than the last month of the semester or summer term.
  • If you wish to apply for post-completion OPT prior to the final submission of your thesis or dissertation, your program completion date can be earlier to accommodate this, as long as you have completed all of your required coursework toward your graduate program. For detailed information on Optional Practical Training click here.

If you are a graduate student in a program with a required cumulative examination that is required for degree completion/conferral, your completion date would be the day of that required cumulative examination.

Please note: incomplete courses do not extend your program completion to a new semester. If you have incomplete courses in your final semester, or are concerned you might have incomplete courses, please contact Office of International Affairs immediately for assistance.

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

Your Post-Completion Grace Period

Federal regulations provide you with a 60-day grace period that starts the day you complete your program of study.

For example, if you complete your program of study on May 4, your grace period ends on July 3, regardless of the expiration date on your I-20.

If you have not made other plans, you must depart the country by the end of your grace period.

Travel After Completing your Program

If you plan to travel to Canada or anywhere else outside of the United States during your grace period, the Office of International Affairs will not be able to sign your I-20 for travel. If you travel outside of the country after completing your academic program, you will NOT be able to re-enter the United States as an F-1 student.

You may be able to re-enter the United States as a tourist. Discuss your plans before you travel; see an advisor during Walk-in Advising Hours.

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 members may not legally stay in the United States without you if they hold F-2 status. If you extend your stay with OPT, the status of your dependents is extended as well.

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.