Graduation
There is some important information international students need to consider before graduation:
- When to apply for OPT
In order to use the Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment benefit of F-1 status, the immigration service MUST receive your OPT application NO LATER than your graduation date. If you are planning to clear prior, the "clear prior deadline" (not your commencement) will be considered the date the OPT application has to be received by the immigration service.
- Grace Period
As an F-1 student, you have a 60 day grace period after your date of graduation (or OPT end date, if applicable). During the grace period, you may remain in the US but you may NOT exit and re-enter to the US in F-1 status. If you only need to re-enter the US to pick up your belongings, you should consider the possibility of entering the US in tourist status. J-1 students only have a 30 day Grace Period after the end of the program.
- Continuing in a new degree at UF
If you are planning to begin a new degree program at UF after you graduate from current program, you MUST have a new I-20 issued for the new program no later than the end of the 60 day grace period (I-20/DS2019 Request). If your new I-20 is not issued by the end of the 60 day grace period, you will be out of status.
- Transferring to a different school for another program
If you are planning to begin a new degree program at another US college or university after graduating, you MUST contact the International Center to make an appointment to transfer-out your SEVIS record to your new school no later than the end of your 60 day grace period. You do not have to have the new school's I-20 by that time. If you do not transfer your SEVIS record by the end of your 60 day grace period, you will be out of status.