Today’s blog is a serious topic. It’s about something that I-20 holders want to know. This information has been personally exchanged with the person responsible for the SEVIS.
Since last year, the SEVIS Field Associate (responsible for our school) has regularly come to visit the campus several times. They come to share the latest rules and visa information regarding the SEVIS, and to check that our school isn’t unusual at the same time.
Aside from that, the one question that we are often asked by students is:
“Will I be able to get the 60 days Grace Period?”
The Grace Period is a sixty-day legal stay within the country following the completion of your program. During this time, a student must either transfer to another school, or leave the United States.
The one thing that students on an F1 visa tend to get incorrect is that they will automatically be entitled to the 60 days Grace Period if they hold a valid I-20. This is wrong.
Not everyone is entitled to the sixty-day legal stay. To receive the Grace Period, a student must meet the requirements outlined below.
Properly complete their program → this means they complete their program without failing, and while meeting the appropriate attendance rates.
For example, a student has enrolled in a twelve-week program. Imagine they have now transferred to another school in the middle of the program. This transfer is possible, but it means they haven’t completed their program in this case (since they have transferred) and are not entitled to the 60 days Grace Period.
In this particular case, the student has a 15-day legal stay within the country. During this time, they must either leave the United States, or complete the transfer process to the new school and begin their next program from the earliest possible start date.
If a student’s attendance is insufficient, and their I-20 is terminated by the school, they must leave the United States immediately.
As for transfers, the SEVIS advises that it doesn’t mean “It would be good to complete the transfer process within the 60 days, and start the program at your next school”, but rather, “If you want to transfer during the Grace Period, you should finish the application process promptly and start your new program from the earliest possible start date.”
It is vital for students staying in the country on an F1 visa to take personal responsibility for maintaining their status. (Especially regarding attendance)
Students who come to America on an ETSA are able to stay for 90 days. Staying any longer than this will be an illegal stay and this will remain on their record.
It is highly likely that applications for visas from people with a record of illegal stays will be rejected. Please take plenty of care.