Completing the Program

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System will automatically change the status of an exchange visitor and, if applicable, his/her dependents, from "active" to "inactive" the day following the date of program completion. If the exchange visitor’s sponsoring department knows in advance that the visitor will be leaving the program before the completion date entered on the Form DS-2019, the department should notify IS as soon as it is known when the visitor’s program will end so that the program end date can be revised in SEVIS.

Exchange visitors are allowed a 30-day grace period from the date their program ends (expiration date on Form DS-2019) to prepare to leave the United States. During the grace period, exchange visitors are not allowed to continue participation in program activities. Visitors who end their program prior to the expiration date entered on Form DS-2019 are not granted the grace period and must depart the United States immediately.