It is important that you finish your program of study by the program end date listed on your Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” If you know you will not finish your current program of study on time, talk to your designated school official (DSO) for guidance. If you are maintaining status and making normal progress toward completing your educational objective, your DSO may be able to grant you an extension.

To be eligible for an extension, an F student must show continual maintenance of status and that one of the following reasons caused the delay in progress:

• Changes of major or research topics
• Unexpected research problems
• Documented illnesses

Per the Code of Federal Regulations, to be eligible for an extension (of no more than one year at a time for a total period of stay of up to three years), an M student must show the following:

• The student “is a bona fide nonimmigrant currently maintaining status.”
• The student has a “compelling educational or medical” reason that caused the delay.
• The student “is able to, and in good faith intends to, continue to maintain that status for the period for which” the DSO grants the extension.

Your DSO will not grant you an extension (for an F or M student) for any of the following reasons:

• Academic probation
• Suspension
• Request for an extension made after the program end date listed on your Form I-20

If you have not completed your program and do not request an extension before your program end date, your DSO must change your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System status to Terminated.

If this happens, talk to your DSO. With your DSO’s recommendation, you can apply for reinstatement by filing a Form I-539, “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status,” with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. To receive the DSO’s recommendation, you will need to demonstrate that you are eligible.