Published: July 6, 2026
Are you about to graduate on an F-1 visa? The complex immigration rules and limited time frames can make the job search particularly challenging for many F-1 graduates like you. That’s because you enter a 60-day grace period after ending your academic program or completing your degree requirements.
What you do in those 60 days after graduation determines whether you stay in lawful status or lose it altogether. In this post, we’ll walk you through the things you must file, change, or decide before the 60-day window closes.
Understanding the 60-Day Grace Period for F-1 Graduates
The 60-day grace period is the specific timeline for F-1 students to prepare for the appropriate next step after completing the program. It begins the date after the program end date on your Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.
That date marks the official end of your authorized program of study. The 60-day window begins the following day, and you must use it wisely. If you fail to act within that grace period, you risk accruing unlawful presence, which can affect your ability to secure future immigration benefits.
Your Options Before the 60-Day Window Closes
As an F-1 student, you have several options after completing your program and before the 60-day grace window closes. Each one comes with its corresponding timing requirements, paperwork, and considerations. Consult a Los Angeles immigration lawyer before taking one of the following routes:
- Apply for post-completion optional practical training (OPT) if you are eligible and want work authorization. It’s worth noting that the post-completion OPT start date should not be more than 60 days after the student’s program end date.
- File for a change of status if you have an approved petition or another visa pathway available to you.
- Transfer your SEVIS record to a different institution before your grace period ends.
- Advance to a higher education level by enrolling in a new academic program at your current school.
- Prepare to depart the US before the 60-day grace period expires to avoid overstaying and other immigration consequences.
Discuss Your Immigration Status With a Green Card Los Angeles Lawyer
Every case is different. What you must file, change, or decide before the 60-day window closes depends on whether you seek to start your career, pursue a different degree, or navigate long-term immigration opportunities.
A reliable Los Angeles green card lawyer would help you better understand the options appropriate for your situation. Contact our legal team at ALG Lawyers to discuss your immigration case in detail and avoid falling out of status.
FAQs on What F-1 Graduates Must File, Change, or Decide Before the 60-Day Window Closes
Is transferring to another school allowed during your 60-day post-completion grace period
You’re allowed to transfer to another school during your 60-day post-completion grace period. However, you must complete the transfer before that window closes. This requires working with the Designated School Official (DSO) at your current school to initiate the SEVIS record transfer. The new program must also start within five months of your program completion date.
Can you travel outside the US and return within the 60-day grace period?
Your legal status ends if you travel outside the US during the 60-day grace period. That means your grace period also ends the moment you depart the US. So if you want to reenter the US, you must seek another immigration status that would permit reentry.
Does the 60-day grace period apply if you stop your program without finishing it?
The 60-day grace period applies to students who complete their academic program or reach their program date in good standing. If you stop your program without finishing it, you’re not eligible for the 60-day grace period.
(Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers. Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from a qualified attorney based on their individual circumstances. Thank you.)