Completing Your Program

Knowing your official program completion date is essential to maintain your immigration status.

Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Students

  • You must register for graduation and ensure all degree requirements are met.
  • Your program completion date is the University’s official graduation date for the term you finish all requirements.
  • If completing in summer, you must be registered for the Summer Term and complete summer registration with ISSO.
Term Standard Completion Date
Spring Date of May graduation ceremony
Fall Friday before the following Spring term begins
Summer August 25

Graduate Thesis or Dissertation Students

Completion date is the graduation ceremony day of the term when you submit your thesis/dissertation. Summer thesis/dissertation students must be registered during Summer Term.

All Undergraduate and Graduate Students Upon Completion of Program

Must take one of the following actions within 60 days:

  • Apply for OPT (work authorization)
  • Apply to change your immigration status
  • Transfer your SEVIS record to a new school
  • Start a new program at BU
  • Leave the U.S.

Important:

  • Transfers and new programs must be arranged within 60 days
  • You must begin your next program within 5 months
  • You cannot leave and re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status during the 60-day grace period

Non-Degree Students

Completion date is either the last day of exams for the term you finish or the date on your I-20/DS-2019, whichever is earlier.

Document Changes

If you end your program or activity before the date on your current F-1 or J-1 document, ISSO will issue an amended I-20 or DS-2019 reflecting your actual completion date. Post-graduation benefits (e.g., employment authorization, transfers) must occur within the grace period after this date.

Starting a New Program at BU

To begin a new degree program, you must obtain a new I-20 or DS-2019 before your grace period ends by:

  • Being admitted to the new program or approved for eligible post-completion employment.
  • Providing updated financial certification to the appropriate admissions office.

The new document must be issued no later than the end of your grace period.