{"id":2315,"date":"2026-04-10T15:30:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T19:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/?page_id=2315"},"modified":"2026-07-23T14:56:46","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T18:56:46","slug":"preparing-to-exit-bu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/scholars\/preparing-to-exit-bu\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing to Exit BU"},"content":{"rendered":"<nav class=\"toc-wrapper\" id=\"toc\" aria-label=\"Page Section Navigation\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"toc-heading toc-nav-toggle\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Toggle Page Contents Navigation\" aria-expanded=\"true\">Page Contents<\/span><\/nav>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h2 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Completing Your Activity or Appointment<\/h2><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>You may continue research, teaching, or other BU activities until the earlier of: the end date on your immigration\/employment authorization or the end date set by your host department.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>J-1 scholars: use the program end date on DS-2019.<\/li>\n<li>Employees with USCIS work authorization: use the dates on the USCIS document.<\/li>\n<li>H-1B scholars: use the end date on Form I-797 (exceptions may apply).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Notify your host department to confirm your appointment end date, have them submit the <a href=\"\/isso\/files\/2025\/07\/End-of-Employment-or-Activity-Notification.pdf\">End of Employment\/Activity Notification<\/a>, and work with ISSO to maintain immigration compliance.<\/p>\n<p>If your program or <strong>BU appointment ends before the date on your current DS-2019<\/strong>, ISSO will issue an amended document with your actual completion date. Note: many post\u2011graduation benefits (e.g., work authorization or SEVIS transfer) must be requested within the grace period following your true program end date.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note: If you\u2019re planning to begin a new academic appointment or employment at BU, please contact your ISSO advisor.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h2 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Transferring from BU<\/h2><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<h3>J-1 Scholar Status<\/h3>\n<p>You may transfer your SEVIS record to another U.S. J-1 sponsor if all of the following apply:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The new sponsor is Department of State\u2013approved to sponsor your J-1 category.<\/li>\n<li>The transfer aligns with your original BU program objectives.<\/li>\n<li>You are currently in valid J-1 status.<\/li>\n<li>The transfer won\u2019t extend your stay beyond the category\u2019s maximum.<\/li>\n<li>The transfer occurs before the DS-2019 end date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Contact your ISSO advisor if you are considering a transfer.<\/p>\n<h3><span>H-1B Status<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you plan to leave BU for another employer, consult your new employer, ISSO, and\/or an immigration attorney to avoid status violations. If the new employer will file an H-1B petition for you, you must continue working at BU until the new petition is submitted. Proper timing and procedures are essential to maintain status.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h2 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Grace Periods<\/h2><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p>After your program end date you may have a grace period\u2014extra time to change status, start a new appointment, or prepare to depart the U.S. Check whether your immigration classification provides a grace period and note the date your legal status ends.<\/p>\n<h3>J-1 Classification<\/h3>\n<p>J-1 exchange visitors have a 30\u2011day grace period beginning on the last day of your BU employment, or activity (regardless of the DS-2019 end date). If you use Academic Training, the 30 days begin the day after your AT ends. J-2 dependents receive the same 30\u2011day grace period.<\/p>\n<p>During your grace period you may:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Travel within the U.S.<\/li>\n<li>Prepare to depart (sell belongings, close accounts, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Transfer your SEVIS record to another school, if eligible<\/li>\n<li>Apply for Academic Training \u2014 note this usually must be started earlier<\/li>\n<li>Apply to change to another immigration status, if eligible<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may NOT:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Continue research, or employment at BU or elsewhere<\/li>\n<li>Work on\u2011campus or off\u2011campus without proper authorization<\/li>\n<li>Apply for a program extension (this must be done before your program ends)<\/li>\n<li>Leave the U.S. with the intent to reenter under the completed J program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>H-1B<\/h3>\n<p>H-1B status generally has <strong>no grace period<\/strong>. If you are not extending or securing new U.S. employment, depart by the I-797 end date. If your BU employment ends before that date, notify ISSO and plan to leave the U.S. by the employment end date even if the I-797 lists a later date.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Immigration Statuses<\/h3>\n<p>Many other statuses are date specific. If you have a date-specific U.S. entry visa or I-94 arrival record and do not have a grace period, you should depart the U.S. by the end date listed on your I-94 arrival record or U.S. entry visa. Once your status expires, you must stop your academic activities.<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h2 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Preparing for your Departure<\/h2><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<h3>Additional steps you should consider as you prepare for departure:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Talk to your advisor to insure that you understand how your departure from BU will affect your immigration status:\n<ul>\n<li>How long can you remain in the U.S.?<\/li>\n<li>What steps do you need to take to transition to employment elsewhere?<\/li>\n<li>If you are in J-1 status, are you subject to any associated bars or restrictions?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Clean out your workspace and return any office equipment (e.g., keys, SecurID, laptops).<\/li>\n<li>Contact Human Resources regarding benefits status (vacation days, retirement plan, etc).<\/li>\n<li>Report your new address to BUWorks, your host department and the ISSO (you will want to get those tax forms next year!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Other personal matters to consider:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Notify your landlord (most leases require 30 days\u2019 written notice) and tell your roommates.<\/li>\n<li>Cancel or transfer utilities, subscriptions, and insurance (health, car, life).<\/li>\n<li>Close or update bank accounts and arrange vehicle disposition if applicable.<\/li>\n<li>Leave a forwarding address with the post office.<\/li>\n<li>Pay outstanding fines (library, parking).<\/li>\n<li>Arrange shipping or storage for belongings; sell or donate items (online, garage sale, thrift shops).<\/li>\n<li>Unsubscribe from unneeded email lists.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":10133,"featured_media":0,"parent":21,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2315"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10133"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2315"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4080,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2315\/revisions\/4080"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/isso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}