CHANGING THE PROGRAM END DATE 

Each F-1 or J-1 student has a SEVIS record and has the responsibility to maintain accurate information there at all times. The UIS can update the information in your SEVIS record and reprint the I-20. The SEVIS record in real-time takes precedence over previous I-20s, but you should save all your I-20s because you may be asked to show copies when applying for future benefits. The UIS recommends you save scans of everything on a USB drive. 

Your program end date could change during your student journey, so you want to be sure your SEVIS Record matches with your current projected program end date.

1. Program Dates –  At the time of your admission to the University, a program start date and a program end date was entered into your SEVIS Record based on the average time need to complete a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral degree programs. These appear on the I-20 in the Program of Study Block.  You may be able to complete your program requirements in less time or you may need more time. It is your responsibility to communicate with the UIS if your program end date needs to be changed.

SHORTEN PROGRAM:  If you discover that you will finish your program sooner than the program end date, do a degree audit with your academic adviser and make sure you are completing all requirements. Then have your advisor email a confirmation to UIS stating how many credits you have remaining and when you are projected to complete all remaining credits.  The UIS will update your SEVIS record and issue you a corrected I-20. The UIS recommends you request to shorten your program when you are sure you are in your final semester.

EXTENSION: If you discover that you will need more time to finish your program, you must request an extension from the UIS well in advance of your program end date. The SEVIS database functionality will not accept the extension after the end date has passed. Do a degree audit with your academic adviser and make sure you are completing all requirements. Then and then have your advisor email a confirmation to UIS stating how many credits you have remaining and when you are projected to complete all remaining credits. You must also provide updated financial certification for the remaining time needed. 

2. Change of Education Level – You may also extend your F-1 status by continuing study in a subsequent degree program. When a student finishes one academic program and is accepted to a second academic degree program at the same or a higher level, UIS will update the student’s SEVIS record to show a pending change of education level with new program start and end dates and new academic and financial information. The student does not need to repay the I-901 SEVIS fee because they will retain the same SEVIS ID number. When the student starts the new program in the subsequent semester, the change of education level is completed in SEVIS and UIS gives the student a new continued attendance I-20 for the new program. The process to change education level starts by applying to a new academic program.

Shorten Program Form

Extension Request Form

If after reviewing this information, you still have questions, submit your inquiry to UIS via the General Inquiry Form. UIS will answer inquiries in the order they are received.