Completing Study at SFSU

If you plan to complete your program in Fall 2026, your I-20 program end date will be adjusted to January 8, 2027 at the end of Fall 2026 semester. You will not be eligible to work on campus beyond January 8, 2027.

• If you remain in the U.S. and do not travel outside the U.S. after September 15, your 60 day grace period will end on March 9, 2027.
• If you travel outside the U.S. after September 15, you will be subject to the new rules upon reentry. You will have a 30-day grace period that ends on February 7, 2027.

What is the "Grace Period"?

• You are eligible for a grace period starting from the “Grades Available on SF State Gateway” date posted on the Registrar's website. 

What Can You Do During the Grace Period?

• If you have applied or will apply for OPT:
  • Once you apply for OPT, You may stay in the U.S. on "Pending OPT" status as long as your case is pending. Once your OPT is approved, you may stay in the U.S. on "Approved" OPT status. 
    
    You are not using grace period in this case. We recommend you apply for OPT 90 days before the “Grades Available on SF State Gateway” date.
  • Please follow the OPT website for application deadlines. Review all of the information to learn about the processing time, unemployment days, how to choose a start date, and what documents to submit to us.
  • If you are interested in OPT and traveling after graduation, you should talk to an F-1 international student advisor before booking your flights. 
• If you plan to pursue another academic program in the U.S. right after graduating from SF State
  • If you wish to attend another academic program in the U.S., you must contact the Division of International Education and request you r SEVIS record to be released to a new school within grace period. There is no exception to this rule. You should follow I-20 Transfer Procedures so the Division of International Education can release Your SEVIS record to Your new school. 
• If You will not apply for OPT and/or transfer to another school
  • You will not need to do anything regarding Your F-1 status.  You should plan to leave the U.S. before grace period ends. 
  • You' SEVIS record I-20 will automatically change from “Active” status to “Completed” status upon the end of grace period. 

How Long Can You Continue to Work on Campus?

• You are allowed to work on-campus after program completion. There are no exceptions even if you have applied for OPT.

Can You Leave the U.S. and Return During the Grace Period?

Traveling within the U.S. during the grace period

• F-1 International students are allowed to travel within the U.S. during Your grace period. You do not need a signature on Your I-20 to travel domestically.

Travel outside of the U.S. during grace period

• If You leave the U.S. during Your grace period, Your SEVIS record will be automatically completed, and You will not be able to re-enter the U.S. on Your I-20.

Making Sure Students Are Eligible to Graduate

• Do not forget to apply for graduation!
  • Undergraduate students apply through the Registrar's Office. Contact the college-based student advising/resource/success centers (See Academic Advising Directory) 
  • Graduate students apply through Graduate Studies. Contact the graduate coordinators
• Update your Diploma Address on your Student Center (see Diploma Information)

International students are required to pursue full-time study in the programs indicated on their I-20s. It is possible to take additional classes for personal enrichment BEFORE students complete the program on their I-20, but not after. 

Save Copies of Academic Records

• SF State Student emails are closed after a student graduates.
  • Students should ensure their preferred personal email is up to date in their Student Center.
  • Students should forward any information they would like to keep, such as address book information, course syllabus, projects and papers.
  • Students should set forwarding addresses and or accounts that utilize SF State emails to their personal emails.
• Students will lose access to their Student Services Center beyond one year after graduation.
  • Students should download copies of unofficial transcripts for personal references.
  • Beyond one year after graduation, students must request official transcripts (payment required) if they wish to access transcripts.

• Students have access to Career & Leadership Development (CLD) resources as an alumni!
• If students are interested in OPT, it is time to apply for OPT and find a job.  Visit the Career & Leadership Development (CLD) for more information on Resume, Cover letter, Interview Skills, Networking, Salary Negotiations, etc. 
• If students will not be applying for OPT and will return to their home country for employment, we highly recommend that they write down the highlights and key challenges that they have experienced during their time in the U.S, and how they overcame them. Students could use these stories to help them stand out among their peers during interviews back home!

Academic Training

Many J-1 exchange students choose to apply to participate in Academic Training after their period of study ends, as doing so allows them to work full-time (only part-time Academic Training is allowed while classes are in session). Students approved for full-time Academic Program will receive a new DS-2019 with extended program end dates. To learn more about Academic Training eligibility, please review the Academic Training section of the Division of International Education's website.

Grace Period

Upon completion of their program, J-1 visa holders receive a 30-day grace period before they must leave the U.S.  During the grace period, J-1 visa holders may travel within the United States, but they may not leave and re-enter the United States with their expired DS-2019 immigration document. Additionally, working and participating in other academic programs are not permitted during the student’s grace period. 

Transcripts

At the end of each semester, the Exchange student advisors send paper copies of exchange students’ official transcripts to their home universities. Generally, transcripts do not become available until several weeks after the end of the semester, after which it may take additional time for the Exchange student advisors to receive and mail them. Therefore, students’ patience is appreciated. J-1 exchange students do not need to request that their SF State transcripts be sent to their home universities, this is done automatically by the Exchange student advisors.

Students may learn when transcripts will become available for a specific semester by visiting the Academic Calendar. Additionally, students may request transcripts for personal use through the Registrar’s Office.

J-1 exchange students studying for one (1) semester may extend their program of study to two (2) semesters in special circumstances.  Before any extension can be considered, the student requesting the extension must submit the following to exchange@sfsu.edu before the deadline:

• Written permission from their home university authorizing the extension;
• Proof of sufficient financial resources for the 2nd semester ($15,000 Spring, $15,000 Fall);
• Proof of enrollment in the International Student Health Insurance for the 2nd semester.

Deadlines:

Extending to Spring from the Fall: November 01

Extending to Fall from the Spring: April 01

Paying SF State Bills

• Pay any outstanding campus financial obligations such as tuition, housing fees, and library fines. Pay parking fines if students have received tickets.
• Log on to the Student Center via SF State Gateway to see the outstanding balances.

Banking

• If students have opened up a bank account in the U.S. and do not plan to keep it, students must make sure to communicate with their bank to close their account and transfer their money.

Phone Bills

• If students have a U.S. phone number with a U.S. phone carrier, students must make sure to cancel their plan in order to avoid being charged for the number. If they would like to keep the number, explore options to keep it, such as transferring it to an online phone number.

Utilities/Other

• If students have their name on any utility or other bills (such as water, electricity, internet, etc), students must make sure to end it or transfer it to their roommates, so that they are not liable for any charges.

Furniture, Car, Clothes, Other Personal Belongings

• Students will have to decide what items they would like to sell or ship to their home country. When communicating with international shipping companies, inquire about cost, size/weight, insurance, and estimated shipping time.

Books & School Work

• Students should reach out to their friends and classmates to see if they can sell some of their books. SF State bookstore may buy back some books.
• Note that some Graduate Programs ask for writing samples; if students are interested in graduate school, they may consider keeping copies of some of their schoolwork for reference.

Move Out Notice

• If students' leases are ending and/or if they are not on a lease, they will need to consider when is the best time to tell their landlord that they are moving out. The typical time frame is a 30 day notice.

Final Walk-Through

• If students live off-campus they probably paid a security deposit to their landlord to cover any damage done to the apartment. A walk-through will help them and their landlord agree on whether their landlord should keep any of their security deposit.

Friends

• Students' friends may stay in the U.S. or leave and return to their home countries; they will have personal and professional connections all over the world if they maintain these bridges. Take time to reach out to people and connect with each other.

Other SF State Students

• Just because students did not connect during their studies, does not mean they cannot afterward; the SF State Alumni network is available for them to keep in touch with the university and other alumni.
• Did students receive help from someone else when they were at SF State? Are they hoping to give back and be the help they wanted as a student? Gator Connect is an online platform that connects alumni with current students to have career conversations and build professional networks.

Faculty / Staff

• Students should take time to reflect and consider if any faculty or staff made an impact in their educational journey, either professional, academic, or personal. Reach out to these people to let them know. It is nice to feel appreciated and it is nice to keep a connection, so if they ever need an academic reference for graduate school, they already have some people in mind.