End of the Semester Guidelines

Welcome to our END OF SEMESTER GUIDELINES webpage!

The end of the semester is almost here and depending on your plans there may be several things that you might want to start thinking about now. It is never too early to be prepared!

Read below for answers to frequently asked questions. Please read all situations, as more than one may apply to you. If you don’t find the answer you need, please contact your advisor to make an appointment.  

Are you a student who will be continuing your studies at GW in the Fall 2012 semester?

• If you will be a continuing student and you will be traveling over the winter break 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 GW sponsored J-1 student, please stop by our office as soon as possible to get a travel signature and verify your continued health insurance coverage.
  • If you are a non-GW sponsored J-1 student, 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 studies in Fall 2012?
·      

        Please remember that you must be enrolled full time in your final semester.

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. 

Are you a student who expects to complete your course of study by the end of this Fall 2012 semester and NOT apply for work authorization?

·     

If you are completing your degree ahead of the end date listed on your I-20 then please remember:

• After your program ends you have a 60-day (F-1) or 30 day (J-1) 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.
• Please notify the ISO of your pending completion, so that you SEVIS record may be appropriately updated.

Are you an F-1 student who expects to complete your course of study by the end of this Fall 2012 semester and wants to apply for post-completion work authorization?

• If you plan to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) then please remember:
  • Your OPT application packet MUST reach the USCIS Service Center no later than 60 days after program completion date.
  • Please review the OPT guidelines posted on the ISO website
  • In addition to the 3 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.
  • There are new REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES for students on OPT. Please review these guidelines, as failure to complete the OPT report can have a negative effect on your F-1 student status.

Are you a J-1 student who expects to complete your course of study by the end of this Fall 2012 semester and want to apply for post-completion work authorization?

• If you plan to apply for Academic Training (AT) then please remember:
  • You must have an employment offer before your completion date.
  • You should contact your advisor for instructions on how to apply for Academic Training
  • Processing for Academic Training can take up to 10 business days for a complete application or more longer if missing documentation.
  • You cannot work without the authorization in hand.

Are you a student who will not be able to complete your program requirements before the end date listed on I-20 or DS-2019?

• 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.

OPT guidelines, Full Time Certification and Reduced Course Load forms can be found on our website at
http://gwired.gwu.edu/iso/CurrentStudents/formscopy/

If you have any questions about anything related to your status here at GW then please contact your advisor to make an appointment.