International Student Information

International Student Information 

Overview 

The Office of International Affairs (OIA) at the University of Chicago works directly with international students on questions and issues related to their student visas.

The OIA advisors for PSD are listed below:

Visa versus Status

This page from OIA provides an overview of a student’s visa and how it relates to a student’s status in the United States.

Status is the legal category under which the visitor was admitted to the U.S. For degree-seeking students, this commonly is F-1 or J-1 status.

The duration of status is based on the form I-20 or DS-2019. Students whose visas expire while they are in the United States should review the following information from OIA and reach out to their relevant OIA advisor with any questions:

A visa is only an entry document and can expire while you are in the U.S. There is no issue if your visa expires while you are legally present in the U.S.  As long as your status is still valid and you continue to follow all immigration regulations, you can continue to remain in the U.S. even if your visa has expired.  The status does not end when the visa expires.

However, you will require a valid visa anytime you seek entry into the U.S.  If your visa expires and you are traveling internationally, you will need to get a new visa before returning to the U.S.

Students should carefully consider the academic calendar prior to making plans to leave the US to renew a visa. In-person degree-seeking students are expected to attend courses in-person. PhD students should note that remote work is not permitted for teaching or research positions for the University.

Program Extensions

The program end date on a student’s I-20 or DS-2019 should always reflect when you are going to finish registration. If you require additional classes to finish your academic program or are a PhD student who requires additional time to complete your dissertation, you may apply for an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019.

More information about the program extension process is available online.

Extensions of your I-20/DS-2019 must be based on academic necessity only and cannot be based on non-academic factors (like more favorable job prospects or timing for benefit applications). Extensions must be approved in advance by your program and OIA.

Verification of Completion 

International students who plan to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) will need to receive a completed verification of completion form prior to applying for OPT. The verification of completion form and additional details about the application process are available on OIA’s website.

PhD students’ verification of completion forms require signature from the Dean of Students Office. Please email psd-dos@uchicago.edu for assistance.

MS students’ verification of completion forms can be completed by their Student Affairs Administrator.

Quick Links for International Students