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F-1 students are admitted for duration of status, noted as
“D/S” on the I-94 card. This means that their
stay in the U.S. is authorized for as long as the student
is in school, following regulations and has a valid I-20.
Students are expected to complete their studies in a reasonable
amount of time. If their length of stay at a degree level
is longer than usually required for that degree, the student
will be required to file for an extension of stay with the
international student adviser, also known as your Designated
School Official (DSO). You should contact the OIE-IS at least
one month before your current stay expires if you wish to
apply for an extension.
F-2 dependents' extensions are filed at the same time as
the F-1's and are immediately extended when the F-1's extension
is processed.
Eligibility for extension
A student is eligible to apply
for if extension if he/she meets the following criteria:
· The student has continually
maintained status.
· The need for an extension results
from compelling academic or medical reasons, such as change
of major or research topic, unexpected research problems,
or documented illness. Academic probation or suspension
is not an acceptable reason.
· The student applies for extension within the 30-day period
before his/her I-20 form expires.
Students who do not meet all of the above criteria must either
leave the U.S. or apply for reinstatement.
Application process for extending F-1 status
In order to apply for an extension, you must submit the
following to the Office of International Education –
Immigration Services at least 30 days before your current
I-20 form expires:
· Extension
Request Form, fully
completed by the student and student’s academic adviser.
· Updated proof of financial support.
If VCU provides full funding, we need a new letter of support
from your department. If your funding comes from private
sources, you must provide documentation of financial support
to meet the minimum funding requirements (e.g., bank statements,
letters from home employers, letters from external scholarship
source, etc). These cannot be more than three months old.
Completing the extension process
Please allow at least two weeks for your I-20 Form to be
issued. We will contact you when the new I-20 has been prepared,
at which time you can come to the Office of International
Education to sign the new I-20 and to obtain your copy.
Please note: The entire extension process
must be completed before your current I-20 Form expires or
you will be considered to be in the U.S. illegally. You would
then have to apply to the USCIS to be reinstated to legal
F-1 status.
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