Program Extension

Occasionally, a person may need longer than originally planned to complete their program. In this situation, you may request a program extension. Procedures for this differ depending upon the visa you entered the country on. Appropriate information can be found below.

J-1 Extension

In order to be granted a program extension, a new DS-2019 must be issued by the Visa Sponsor with the new date of completion on it. The participant needs to fill in the back of the first page of the DS-2019 that will be sent to the STATE DEPARTMENT to report the extension to it. If a spouse has permission to work, usually the spouse must reapply to extend that permission at the time the application for extension is done.

If a person is sponsored by an outside agent, such as the Fulbright Program, then the agreement of the sponsor is essential for extension. This is especially true if the participant wants to go on for a further degree after completion of the original objective. Sometimes, the person will be permitted to continue and will be given an DS-2019 for extension, if that person can demonstrate that he/she has the financial support to go on. The original financial sponsor will not pay for more than the original agreed-upon objective. Talk to a Foreign Student Adviser if you want to extend your program.

Final responsibility for most J-1 visa students and scholars is with the organization that has provided the financial support of the participant. In the case of Fulbright scholars, that may also mean a Fulbright Commission in the home country. This means that a person needs to plan well in advance if there is likely to be any change in the original plans because permission will be required.

F-1 Extension

Situations requiring a program extension:

  • A student needs more time to complete a degree than what is entered on item 5 of I-20. Acceptable reasons for more time are change of major, medical reasons or an Intensive English study. The INS does not consider academic difficulty as an acceptable reason to extend.
  • Students who undertake another degree program
  • Transfer from one university to another.