Completing Your Program

F-1 students are expected to complete their studies by the program end date on Form I-20.

Early Completion

If you will complete your program earlier than the program end date on your current Form I-20, please notify the Center for Global Health as soon as possible. You must provide the Center for Global Health with a letter from your academic advisor indicating your new program completion date. Your new requested program end date must align with the MUSC University academic calendar. Once the letter is received, an advisor in the Center for Global Health will then update your SEVIS record and issue a updated Form I-20 with the new program end date. 

Grace Period

Once you have completed your program of study, you are permitted to remain in the United States for 60 days following the program completion date on your Form I-20. This grace period is intended for you to be able to settle your affairs in the U.S. and prepare to return to your home country. You are also permitted to travel within the U.S. during this grace period.

During the 60-day grace period, you cannot do the following:

• Apply for re-entry into the United States in F-1 status
• Apply for a program extension
• Work or study

Post-Completion OPT

If you wish to apply for post-completion OPT employment authorization, refer to the F-1 OPT page for more information. Please note that you must begin planning and preparing for the post-completion OPT application process several months in advance.

SEVIS Transfer to Another School

If you have been accepted into a new degree program at another SEVP-certified academic institution, and you want to transfer your F-1 SEVIS record from MUSC to the new school, you must request a SEVIS transfer. Refer to the SEVIS Transfers page for more information.