{"id":319,"date":"2020-03-11T09:41:14","date_gmt":"2020-03-11T14:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu.master-7rqtwti-ytf57z7frat4e.us-2.platformsh.site\/isss\/?page_id=319"},"modified":"2026-01-27T13:31:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T19:31:28","slug":"extending-changing-completing-your-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/current-students\/maintaining-your-status\/extending-changing-completing-your-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Extending, changing or completing your program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extending your program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your I-20\/DS-2019 is only valid until you either finish your degree program or your document expires. If your I-20\/DS-2019 is nearing the expiration date and you need more time to finish your degree program, you may request additional time by submitting a request for a new I-20\/Ds2019 to extend your program in <a href=\"https:\/\/mystatus.missouri.edu\/index.cfm?FuseAction=Security.AngLogin\">myStatus<\/a>. You will need to enter your academic adviser&#8217;s email address so they can complete a recommendation. You will also need to upload or submit <a href=\"\/isss\/current-students\/expenses-and-funding\/#documentation\">financial documentation<\/a> to verify that you can afford to live in the U.S. for the additional time you are requesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"9af5711b-5670-4764-b6c4-a6729f821fff\"><span>Program extension for international sponsored students<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"9af5711b-5670-4764-b6c4-a6729f821fff\">\n<p>If you have an I-20\/DS-2019 issued by the University of Missouri, refer to the instructions above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your I-20\/DS-2019 was issued by a source other than Mizzou, you must contact the sponsor for more information about the extension. Your sponsor may ask that your academic adviser or international student adviser sign the necessary forms and verify your financial information. Please consult with the Sponsored Student Program staff when completing these forms.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changing your program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As an international student, you were admitted to the U.S. to work toward a specific educational or professional objective. If you change your objective, you must comply with the standard procedures to remain in status. If any of the following things change, you will need a new I-20\/DS-2019:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Degree program (school\/department)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Degree level (bachelor&#8217;s, master&#8217;s, Ph.D., other)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/isss\/current-students\/expenses-and-funding\/#documentation\">Funding source or amount<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If changing your program means you will need more time to complete the program, you must follow the requirements for program extension above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"0bcf9123-49ae-41a1-aeb2-2ab6d5ef4745\"><span>How to change your degree program (F-1 students only)<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"0bcf9123-49ae-41a1-aeb2-2ab6d5ef4745\">\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Follow Mizzou departmental requirements for changing your field of study.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meet with the departmental adviser of the new major to fill out any necessary forms and go over your new graduation plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send the documents to the dean of the appropriate school\/college for approval.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are a sponsored student, review your sponsor\u2019s guidelines for changing to a different major.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have your academic adviser send the appropriate documentation to the evaluator in International Admissions or the Graduate School. The evaluator may ask for updated&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/current-students\/expenses-and-funding\/#documentation\">financial documentation<\/a>&nbsp;if your current information is more than one year old.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once the evaluator has reviewed and processed the change, all documents will be sent to International Student and Scholar Services. You will receive an email when your new I-20 is ready to be picked up.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"completion\">Completing your program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Completion of studies occurs when you have finished your academic program or your I-20\/DS-2019 expires, whichever happens first. After completing your studies at Mizzou, you have the following options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"5d03e032-d853-47be-ad04-1b70598c8989\"><span>Leave the U.S.<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"5d03e032-d853-47be-ad04-1b70598c8989\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>F-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You have up to 60 days to leave<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You have up to 30 days to leave<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"de30af1a-404d-421c-97d7-4bff23238d26\"><span>Continue your studies at Mizzou<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"de30af1a-404d-421c-97d7-4bff23238d26\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>F-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You have up to 60 days to change your level or program at Mizzou (find instructions above)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You must change your level or program before completing your studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International sponsored students:<\/strong>&nbsp;Your sponsor may need to transfer your SEVIS record before you can continue your studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you change funding source or pursue a new objective, you may need to leave the U.S. before continuing your studies at Mizzou<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"cdcc1abc-36f3-41df-9db2-6ee0366898ab\"><span>Transfer to a different school<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"cdcc1abc-36f3-41df-9db2-6ee0366898ab\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>F-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You have up to 60 days to request a transfer to a new school<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You must request to transfer to a new school before completing your studies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"0af6424c-256c-4636-89a4-1279a3f9055b\"><span>Start working<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"0af6424c-256c-4636-89a4-1279a3f9055b\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>F-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You must&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/current-students\/employment\/optional-practical-training\/\">apply for OPT<\/a>&nbsp;before the end of your 60-day grace period (you should apply three months before you expect to start your employment)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You must&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/current-students\/employment\/academic-training\/\">request Academic Training authorization<\/a>&nbsp;before completing your studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International sponsored students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You should check with your sponsor about your eligibility to work<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-mizzou-accordion miz-accordion\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"miz-button miz-accordion__button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" data-miz-expand=\"daa4e63c-a573-4972-8757-40794b593118\"><span>Change to another visa status<\/span><\/button><div class=\"miz-accordion__content\" id=\"daa4e63c-a573-4972-8757-40794b593118\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>F-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You must apply for a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/current-students\/maintaining-your-status\/reinstating-changing-your-status\/\">change of status<\/a>&nbsp;within 60 days of completing your studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>J-1 students:<\/strong>&nbsp;You must apply for a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/current-students\/maintaining-your-status\/reinstating-changing-your-status\/\">change of status<\/a>&nbsp;before completing your studies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are not sure which option is best for you, meet with an <a href=\"\/isss\/advising\/people\/\">international student adviser<\/a> to discuss your situation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Extending your program Your I-20\/DS-2019 is only valid until you either finish your degree program or your document expires. If your I-20\/DS-2019 is nearing the expiration date and you need more time to finish your degree program, you may request additional time by submitting a request for a new I-20\/Ds2019 to extend your program in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":100,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-319","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/319","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3223,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/319\/revisions\/3223"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/100"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/international.missouri.edu\/isss\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}