The F-1/J-1 Grace Period
F-1 and J-1 students have a grace period after they graduate. This grace period gives you extra time to leave the U.S., start a new academic program, or apply for post-graduation employment authorization.
- F-1 Grace Period: 60 days after your I-20 program end date or OPT/STEM OPT EAD card end date.
- J-1 Grace Period: 30 days after your DS-2019 program end date.
Important Note for J-1 Students
You may be subject to the 212(e) Two-Year Home-country Physical Presence Requirement. If you are subject, then this will take effect after your program ends.
Watkins Donations
The Watkins International Loan Fund was created in 1993 to assist international students who face short-term financial emergencies such as accidents, immigration-related complications, delays in international bank transfers from home, or similar situations. The fund is named after Tina Watkins, who, as Director of International Student Services from 1979 to 1995 recognized the specific financial challenges that international students may experience.
Every semester, the fund allows a small number of international students to be helped with short-term, no-interest loans ranging from $100 to $2,000. The number of loans that can be extended is limited by the modest size of the fund.
Please consider making a monetary contribution from your reimbursable General Deposit, so that more international students can overcome a temporary financial crisis that would otherwise jeopardize their educational success.
To ensure that your donation is processed appropriately, please complete this form before the first commencement date of the semester. You can find the commencement date for any upcoming semester on the Academic Calendar.
Employment
All F-1/J-1 students will need to apply for work authorizations to extend their status and work in the U.S. after graduation. See our Employment and Internships page for more information.
- Submit a Change of Major, Degree Level, or Campus request in the ISSS Portal
- The request must be submitted before your grace period ends OR by the last day of add/drop for the new semester, whichever comes first.
- ISSS will issue a new I-20/DS-2019 for you with the new program information
- F-1 students: You can may resume working on-campus after receiving your new I-20
- J-1 students: You need to request on-campus work authorization to continue working on-campus
If the new program is at another school, you need to transfer your SEVIS record to the new school.
- Submit a Transfer Out of TAMU request in the ISSS Portal
- You must follow the deadlines in order to be eligible for SEVIS transfer:
- F-1: Record must be transferred before your grace period ends
- J-1: Record must be transferred by your DS-2019 program end date
- You must start classes at the new school in the next available term or within 5 months of your last day of classes at TAMU, whichever is earlier
- You need to work with your new school to get a new I-20/DS-2019
- Once your SEVIS record leaves Texas A&M, any work authorizations under TAMU ISSS will also end:
- You cannot work on-campus at TAMU
- If you had OPT/STEM OPT or Academic Training, you can no longer work under those authorizations
Change Immigration Status
Some students change to other immigration statuses to stay in the U.S. after F-1/J-1 status (H-1b, O1, Permanent Resident, etc.) You may be eligible for various statuses depending on your situation.
If you are interested in changing to a new status, you should work with an immigration attorney to determine your eligibility and how to apply. Some employers already have immigration attorneys they work with and can give you further information.
ISSS recommends you continue to maintain your current F1/J1 status until the new status is approved. Once you have received the approval notice of your new status, submit one of the Change of Status from F or J requests in the ISSS Portal. We will then use the notice to end your current F1/J1 status as needed.
Additional Information
- Information about immigration attorneys
- For postdocs working for TAMU: TAMU Postdoctoral Resources
- If you have an F-1/J-1 spouse in the U.S. and you would like to change to F-2/J-2 status, talk to the ISSS office at your spouse’s school.
- If you are an F-1 changing to H-1b status, learn more about H-1B Status and the Cap-Gap Extension on the Study in the States website.
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has helpful resources for you to learn more about other statuses within the U.S.