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Eligibility
Funding Requirements
Application Process
FAQs

F-1 students can remain in the United States until the expiration date of their I-20 or the completion of their program of study [plus applicable grace period and OPT, if eligible]. If you are unable to complete your program by the end date listed on your I-20, you must apply for an extension of your I-20 before it expires to remain in lawful status in the U.S.  

Eligibility for an I-20 Extension

To be eligible, students must meet the following general criteria: 

  • Must be maintaining their F-1 status 
  • Must be making normal academic progress in their degree 
  • Must have academic requirements remaining for degree completion  
  • Must provide compelling academic or medical reasons for an extension 
  • Must enroll in SIS for the extension period requested [if extending for 1 semester/term, must have at least 1 in-person course to enroll in] 
  • Must apply before the expiration date of their current I-20

Changing to a new JHU Program

If you are a student changing to another degree program within Johns Hopkins University, beginning a second Master’s degree, or transferring to another JHU school, you will instead need to review the information for Changing Programs at JHU. 

Important Deadlines

Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Students – a program extension request should be submitted in the last semester listed on your I-20, at least 30 days before the expiration date of your current I-20.  

  • Program End Date: The I-20 expiration date, or program end date, can be found on page 1 of the I-20. Your I-20 may have an estimated end date. It is strongly recommended to apply in advance to ensure you are able to maintain your F-1 status  

Doctoral Students – may request a program extension up to one year in advance if you anticipate needing additional time to complete your degree (e.g., for research or dissertation writing). The request must be submitted at least 30 days before your current I-20 expires.

Funding Requirements

OIS must verify that you have sufficient funds for the requested extension period before we can process your request. You must provide evidence of funding that meets or exceeds the estimated expenses for your program. The estimates on our website are for an entire academic year.   

  • If you are extending for only 1 semester you may provide half of the listed amount
    • BSPH students extending for 1 term may provide ¼ of the estimated expenses
    • MPH students extending for 1 term may provide 1/5 of the estimated expenses 
    • Students in programs with a 12-month academic year [refer to the Financials section on your current I-20] can provide 1/3 of the estimated expenses
  • Financial documents must be issued within the last 3 months
  • Examples of acceptable funding documents include:  
    • Bank statement showing account holder’s name, date, and balance 
    • Letter from a bank confirming the account balance OR that there are sufficient funds in the account to meet the estimated costs 
    • Letter on sponsor letterhead (for government funding or other scholarships) stating amount of funding that will be provided 
    • Letter on JHU letterhead [for funding from JHU]
    • See additional examples of acceptable funding documents here 
  • For dependent spouses and children, add $3,600 per dependent for each semester 
  • You and your sponsor must complete an affidavit of support for bank statements that are not in your name

Doctoral Students: If you will continue to receive departmental funding, you must secure an updated letter confirming that you have continued funding through the extension period.  

Application Process

  1. Gather documentation of financial support in the appropriate amount
  2. Download and save a copy of your most recent Form I-94
  3. Submit the ‘F-1 Student Extension Request’ eForm in iHopkins. To submit your request:
    • Go to http://ihopkins.jhu.edu 
    • Login with your active JHED ID and password
    • Once logged in, click on “F-1 Student Services” in the menu on the left, then click on “F-1 Student Extension Request” eForm 
    • Enter all required information and upload all required documentation. After you submit, the eForm will be routed to your Academic Advisor/Designated Approver for final approval
    • After OIS approves your extension, you will receive an email notification to download your updated I-20 from iHopkins  

Frequently Asked Questions

My F-1 visa is expired; can I still extend my I-20?

Yes, you may request an I-20 extension even if the visa stamp in your passport has expired or will expire soon. Your visa is a travel document needed to enter the U.S., but does not determine how long you may remain inside the U.S.  If you plan on traveling internationally, information on visa renewal is found here.  

How do I extend my I-20 if I am changing my program/moving to another school within JHU?

If you are admitted to another school at JHU, or changing into a new program, you may be eligible for an Intercampus Transfer/Change of Level I-20. Refer to our page on Changing Programs at JHU. 

Can I extend my I-20 if I am currently enrolled part-time with a Final Term Reduced Course Load authorization?

If you are authorized for a Final Term RCL, you and your advisor previously confirmed that you were on track to graduate with less than full-time enrollment. Extensions can only be granted due to unexpected, extenuating circumstances (e.g. you fail a course). Contact OIS before your I-20 expires if you believe you qualify for a program extension.  

I only have 1 semester remaining in my program and plan to enroll part-time in my final semester. What do I need to extend my I-20?

You must have at least one in-person course remaining to request an I-20 extension. You can reduce the estimated expenses for your program when submitting your financial documentation in iHopkins [see the Funding section above for details]. In your final semester you will also need to request a Reduced Course Load authorization. 

I am a doctoral student who has completed all of my coursework with only my thesis/dissertation remaining. Can I extend my I-20?

If you are still working on completing your thesis/dissertation and will enroll full-time in SIS (typically for Dissertation Research or equivalent) you may request an I-20 extension by following the instructions on this page. You must confirm with your department that you will be enrolled for the extended period you are requesting and will need to upload recent funding to support your extension. You may also be eligible to apply for post-completion OPT at this stage, if interested. Reach out to OIS with any questions.  

Is it possible to extend my I-20 if am done with my degree requirements but wish to take additional, optional courses?

OIS cannot grant an I-20 program extension to take optional courses beyond your degree requirements.  Extension requests should only be submitted if you are unable to complete your requirements by the end date specified on your I-20.  

I only need to extend for 1 or 2 classes; can I show evidence of less funding for my I-20 extension?

Our estimated expenses list tuition estimates for a full academic year in your program. If you are only extending for 1 semester/term you may provide documentation for less than the funding amount listed (see the Funding Requirements section above for details). You may also refer to your school’s website on tuition amounts per credit/course to determine your tuition estimate for the extension period. You must also provide evidence that you can cover the estimated living expenses.