Are you a student who will be continuing your studies at GW in the Spring 2008 semester?

• If you will be a continuing student and you will be traveling over the summer then please remember:
  • If you are an F-1 student, please stop by our office as soon as possible to get a travel signature.
  • If you are a J-1 student or scholar, please contact the person or organization that originally signed your DS-2019.

• If you will be taking less than a full course of study next semester (less than 9 credits if you are a graduate student, or less than 12 credits if you are an undergraduate student) then please remember:
  • If you will take less than a full course of study next semester because you will be working on your thesis or dissertation, then please complete the Full Time Certification Form.
  • If you will take less than a full course of study next semester because it will be your final semester, or you have an approved reason to take less than a full course of study, then please complete the Reduced Course Load Form. 

Are you a student who expects to complete your course of study by the end of this Spring 2008 semester?

• If you plan to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) then please remember:
  • You need to apply for OPT before the end of your program at GW. Your OPT application packet can reach USCIS no later than your program completion date.
  • In addition to the three months that it might take USCIS to process your work authorization, our office can take up to 10 business days to recommend you (issue you a new I-20) for OPT. 
  • There are special considerations for students who try to travel while waiting for approval or while on OPT. Please check with an advisor if you plan to travel while you application is pending or during your OPT time.

If you are a J-1 student interested in working after you graduate, then please come into our office to speak with one of our J-1 advisors.
 

• If you going to need a more time to finish your program because you did not complete your course requirements by the end date that is listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 form then please remember:
  • You should come into the ISO as soon as you can before the end date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 form in order to speak with an advisor about the extension process.

·       If you are an F-1 student and you are not planning to apply for OPT but you are completing your degree on or ahead of the end date listed on your I-20 then please remember:

o      After your program ends you have a 60-day grace period in which you must do one of following things: depart the United States, apply for a change of status to another non-immigrant classification, or be admitted into another educational program.

Are you a student who expects to complete your studies in Fall 2008?

·       Please remember that you must be enrolled full time in your final semester, even if it is a summer session.

o      If you will not be enrolled full time because of thesis or dissertation work then remember to fill out the full time certification form

o      If you will not be enrolled full time because it will be your last semester then remember to fill out the reduced course load form.