Study abroad·United States· 8 min read

The F-1 60-Day Grace Period After Your Program Ends

What the F-1 60-day grace period is, when it starts (program end, OPT EAD end, or early termination), what you can and cannot do during it, and how it differs from the 15-day withdrawal window.

Last updated 7 July 2026

Key facts

Grace period length: 60 days after program (and any authorized OPT) completion — verify on the official source
Start (no OPT): Generally the program end date on the Form I-20
Start (with OPT): Generally the OPT EAD end date
Travel: You may not depart and re-enter the U.S. on the grace period
Authorized withdrawal window: Generally 15 days (separate from the 60-day grace period)
Nature of this guide: General information only — not immigration or legal advice

What the 60-day grace period is

When your F-1 program of study — and any authorized practical training that follows it — is complete, U.S. rules give you an additional 60-day period to wind down your time in the United States. This is commonly called the grace period.

Its purpose is narrow: to give you time to prepare to leave the country, or to take one of a few specific next steps that keep you in a lawful status. It is not extra time to work, and it is not a mini-visa.

This is general information, not immigration or legal advice. Rules change — confirm the current grace-period rules on the official USCIS and Study in the States (SEVP) sources and with your Designated School Official (DSO).

The grace period is 60 days.
It is time to prepare to depart or to take a qualifying next step.
It is not additional work authorization.

When the 60 days actually start

The trigger depends on your path. If you finish your studies and do not do post-completion OPT, the 60 days generally run from your program end date on your Form I-20. If you do post-completion OPT, the grace period generally begins when your OPT authorization ends — that is, at the end date on your Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

There is an important exception. If your OPT is cut short — for example, your record is terminated — the shape of your remaining grace period can differ, and in some situations you may have fewer than 60 days or none at all. Do not assume a full 60 days after an early termination.

Because the trigger date is easy to get wrong, verify your specific end date and grace-period length with your DSO before making travel or filing plans.

No OPT: usually 60 days from the program end date on the I-20.
With OPT: usually 60 days from the OPT EAD end date.
Early OPT termination can change or shorten the grace period.

What you CAN do during the grace period

The grace period exists so you can make an orderly transition. Within it, you may prepare for and depart the United States. You may also use the time to take one of several status-preserving steps instead of leaving.

Those steps typically include transferring your SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school, moving to a new program or education level, applying to change to another nonimmigrant status, or otherwise beginning an appropriate next chapter — each subject to its own rules and deadlines.

Each of these has conditions and paperwork of its own, and starting them late in the grace period is risky. If you intend to stay for a next step, talk to your DSO early — ideally well before your program or OPT ends.

Prepare for and depart the United States.
Transfer your SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school.
Change to a new program or education level.
Apply to change to another nonimmigrant status.

What you CANNOT do during the grace period

The grace period has firm limits. You may not work during it — any OPT employment authorization has ended, and the grace period does not carry work authorization of its own.

Crucially, you may not travel abroad and re-enter the United States on your grace period. If you leave the country during these 60 days, the grace period does not let you come back in F-1 status on that basis — it is a period to depart, not to travel.

And if you do not depart or take a qualifying next step, staying past the grace period means being out of status, with consequences for future admissions and visas. Treat the 60 days as a hard deadline, not a cushion.

No employment during the grace period.
No leaving and re-entering the U.S. on the grace period.
Overstaying it puts you out of status.

The 60-day grace period vs. the 15-day withdrawal window

The 60-day grace period is not the only departure window in the F-1 rules, and confusing them causes real problems. If you withdraw from classes with your DSO's authorization before completing your program, you are generally allowed a much shorter 15-day period to leave the United States — not 60 days.

And if your SEVIS record is terminated for a status violation, there may be no grace period at all; you could be expected to depart immediately. The generous 60-day window is specifically for students who complete their program (and any authorized OPT) in good standing.

Because which window applies depends entirely on how your F-1 status ends, always confirm your exact situation and deadline with your DSO rather than assuming you have the full 60 days.

Authorized withdrawal: generally a 15-day departure window.
Program completed in good standing: 60-day grace period.
Termination for a violation: possibly no grace period — depart guidance from your DSO.

How to use your grace period well

Plan backward from your true end date. Know whether your clock runs from your I-20 program end date or your OPT EAD end date, mark day 60, and decide early whether you are departing or pursuing a next step.

If you are leaving, book travel comfortably inside the window and keep records of your departure. If you are staying, start the transfer, change of level, or change-of-status process before the grace period begins where possible, since these steps take time and cannot be rushed at the last minute.

We do not guarantee any outcome — immigration decisions rest with the U.S. government. Use this guide to understand the mechanics, verify your dates on the official source, and let your DSO confirm your plan.

Identify your correct trigger date and count to day 60.
Depart within the window, or start a next-step process early.
Confirm your specific deadline with your DSO.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 60-day grace period let me keep working?

No. The grace period carries no work authorization. If you were on OPT, your employment authorization ends when your OPT ends, and the following 60 days are for preparing to depart or taking a status-preserving next step — not for working. Verify specifics on the official source.

Can I travel outside the U.S. and come back during my grace period?

No. You may not leave and re-enter the United States on the grace period. It is a window to depart or transition, not to travel and return in F-1 status. If you have onward plans that involve travel, discuss timing with your DSO first.

If I do OPT, when do my 60 days begin — after graduation or after OPT?

Generally after OPT. When you complete authorized post-completion OPT, the 60-day grace period begins at the end date on your EAD. If you do not do OPT, it usually runs from your program end date on the I-20. Confirm your exact trigger date with your DSO.

What if my OPT is terminated early — do I still get 60 days?

Not necessarily. An early termination can change or shorten your grace period, and a termination for a status violation may leave no grace period at all. Do not assume a full 60 days after an early end — check your specific situation with your DSO and the official source immediately.

How is the 60-day grace period different from the 15-day window I have heard about?

The 15-day departure window generally applies when you withdraw from classes with DSO authorization before finishing your program. The 60-day grace period applies when you complete your program (and any authorized OPT) in good standing. Which one applies depends on how your status ends.

Can I use the grace period to transfer to another school?

Yes — transferring your SEVIS record to another SEVP-certified school is one of the qualifying next steps during the grace period, alongside changing education level or applying to change status. Each has its own rules and deadlines, so start early with your DSO.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: Study in the States (SEVP) — Understand your Post-completion Grace Period; USCIS Policy Manual — Change of Status, Extension of Stay, and Length of Stay; ICE — SEVIS Employment.

Last verified: 7 July 2026.