Academic Program Changes
Changing Majors/Minors
F-1/J-1 undergraduate students who change majors or add a minor will automatically have their SEVIS record updated with the new information once it has been updated in their university account. If the major or minor fields in your ISSS Portal Personal & Program tab are incorrect, please submit a Request Inquiry .
Starting a New Degree Program
F-1/J-1 students should update ISSS with any changes to degree program by completing the appropriate form.
Discontinuing One Degree and Starting Another
If you are a graduate student and are discontinuing your current degree program (i.e. you will NOT graduate from the program and will no longer pursue that degree) and starting a new degree program, you should submit an Academic Update Request in the ISSS Portal.
Changing Degree Levels
If you are going to complete your current degree program and begin a new degree at another level, you should submit a Change of Level Request in the ISSS Portal. For example, if you are changing from Bachelor's to Master's or Master's to Phd. Please refer to our Change of Level page for more information about how to submit this request.
Starting Another Degree at the Same Level
If you are going to complete your current degree program and begin a new degree at the same level, you should submit a Change of Level Request in the ISSS Portal. For example, if you are changing from a Master's in Business Administration to a Master's in Technology. Please refer to our Change of Level page for more information about how to submit this request.
Progressing from Pathway to Degree
If you are a Pathway student and will progress from your pathway program into your degree program, you should submit a Change of Level Request in the ISSS Portal. Please refer to our Change of Level page for more information about how to submit this request. You will be notified via email that you must also attend a Progression Orientation meeting. During the meeting, ISSS will explain the Change of Level process and how to submit the request.
Extending your Program
F-1/J-1 students who will not complete their program by the program end date listed on their I-20/DS-2019 can request to extend. If you will not complete your program by the end date listed on your I-20/DS-2019, please visit the Extending Your Stay page for further details.
Leaving Before Completing Your Program
F-1/J-1 students should always notify ISSS before discontinuing their program or withdrawing from the University. Please meet with your ISSS Advisor, if you will be withdrawing from the University or leaving before completing your degree.
F-1 students who will be taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from the University will need to submit a Record Termination Request in the ISSS Portal. You should submit this form and have your SEVIS record terminated before you withdraw/drop your classes. Besides notifying ISSS, you should also contact your Academic Advisor and the University Registrar.
Returning from Leave
International students who were previously enrolled and are returning to ISU to complete their degree program after an absence should visit our Returning Students page for full details on how to receive your new I-20 document prior to your return.
Transferring to Another School
F-1/J-1 students who will transfer to another US institution should visit the SEVIS Transfers page for further details. It may be possible for you to transfer your SEVIS record to the new institution.
Completing Your Program
F-1/J-1 students who have applied for graduation should update ISSS by submitting a Graduation Form. After graduation, you have several options. Please visit the Completing Your Program page for details.
Academic Program FAQ
If I need additional time to complete my program, what do I need to do to extend my I-20?
F-1 students are only allowed to extend if they have a compelling academic or medical reason.
You must submit a Program Extension Request before the expiration date of your current I-20 . ISSS recommends you submit your Extension Request at least 2 weeks prior to your current I-20 end date, but no earlier than the semester within which your I-20 will expire. For example, if your end date is currently May 10th, you should apply no earlier than January of the same year and no later than April 25th.
If you do not extend your I-20 document before the expiration date you will be out-of-status and will need to file for reinstatement through USCIS (processing times could take 12+ months) or travel outside of the U.S. and re-enter in order to regain your F-1 status.
You can find the Program Extension Request in your ISSS Portal Control Center. ISSS will review your request and determine whether you are eligible for an extension. If approved, you will receive an updated I-20 document with a new program end date.
NOTE: Students working on campus must bring their extended I-20 document to Human Resources.
See our Extending Your Stay page for full details.
If I want to transfer my SEVIS record to another U.S. university, what should I do?
To request the transfer of your SEVIS record, you must first be officially admitted to another U.S. institution and then submit an F-1 SEVIS Transfer Out Request in the ISSS Portal.
You should also contact the international office at your new school to make sure they are aware you are transferring your SEVIS record. See our SEVIS Transfer Out page for full details.
I am adding a new degree program. What should I do?
You don't need to do anything until you finish all the courses for your current program listed on your I-20. Once you have completed all the coursework for your current program, you will then need to submit a Change of Level Request.