F-1 & J-1 students who do not complete their program of study by the expiration date noted on their I-20 or DS-2019 form must apply for a program extension before the I-20/DS-2019 expiration date. Failure to extend your stay could jeopardize your legal status and require that you depart the U.S. or file with USCIS for reinstatement of your student status.
Applying for an Extension
PhD students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences who have not completed the dissertation by the end of the sixth year of study may request a period of extended registration from the Graduate School. Below are the steps you should take. Keep in mind that in order to maintain status your immigration document must be extended before its current end date. Please, apply in a timely manner to allow enough time for GSAS to approve your request and for OISS to extend your immigration record.
- Apply for 7th or 8th year Extended Registration and obtain academic approval for the extension from your Director of Graduate Studies. Please note that the application will require you to submit your most recent dissertation progress report.
- Upon approval you and your OISS Adviser will receive an email notification from the Graduate School.
- Contact your OISS adviser and submit evidence of funding to support the extension.
- Funding must be sufficient to cover tuition,fees, and living expenses for the extended period of registration for you and your dependents.
- If funded by Yale, please contact GSAS Financial Aid to obtain an updated letter of funding.
- If additional funding is needed you can submit a personal bank statement or proof of financial support from a sponsor.
- Your OISS adviser will review your request. If there are questions, you will be contacted via email.
- OISS will issue a new immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) to reflect the end date of the approved extended period and the new funding. You should keep this document along with any previously issued immigration documents for your records.
In rare circumstances, Master's students may apply for an extended period of stay.
- You must meet with your academic adviser, your DGS and ultimately gain approval from the Associate Dean of the Graduate School.
- Upon approval you will receive a letter from the Graduate School approving the request for extension.
- Be in contact with your OISS adviser. Forward this approval letter to them, and submit evidence of funding to support the extension.
- This evidence of funding may consist of an award letter, Yale assistantship letter, and/or bank or investment statement.
- The amount of financial support required will need to be sufficient to cover tuition and fees and living expenses for the first year of the extended period. If the extended period is just for one semester, only one semester's funding evidence will be required. This budget amount will vary based on your program of study.
- If funded by Yale, please contact GSAS Financial Aid to obtain an updated letter of funding
- Your OISS adviser will review your request. If there are questions, you will be contacted via email.
- OISS will issue a new immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) to reflect the end date of the approved extended period and the new funding. You should keep this document along with any previously issued immigration documents for your records.
- Confirm with your academic adviser or dean that you are eligible for an academic extension.
- Connect with your OISS adviser to confirm immigration extension eligibility.
- If you meet the academic and immigration requirements, follow instructions from your OISS adviser to submit evidence necessary to document the extension. Funding evidence can include:
- This may consist of an award letter, Yale assistantship letter, and/or bank or investment statement.
- The amount of financial support required will need to be sufficient to cover tuition or continuing registration fees and living expenses for the extended period. If the extended period is just for one semester, only one semester's funding evidence will be required. This budget amount will vary based on your program of study.
- Once your OISS adviser has reviewed your documentation, we will issue a new immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) to reflect the end date of the approved extended period and the new funding. You should keep this document along with any previously issued immigration documents for your records.
Before you request an extension to your program of study, please make sure to meet with your academic adviser or dean to discuss your plans, as well as your OISS adviser.
To create and submit your Program Extension (F-1) Request, you should open a Chrome (recommended) or Firefox browser and use this link to log into OISS Connect.
If you are returning to work on your request, log in to connect.oiss.yale.edu to edit your pending request on your profile page.
You will be prompted for your NetID and password, and then should click “Apply Now” and select the 'Request, (current year)' option.
Prepare your evidence of funds:
- This evidence of funding may consist of an award letter, Yale assistantship letter, and/or bank or investment statement. All bank statements must have been issued within the last 6 months.
- The amount of financial support required will need to be sufficient to cover tuition and fees and living expenses for the first year of the extended period. If the extended period is just for one semester, only one semester's funding evidence will be required. This budget amount will vary based on your program of study. If you are unsure of what this amount should be, please contact your OISS adviser.
- Any documentation, such as parents' bank statements, that do not have your name on it must be accompanied by a signed and dated letter or other affidavit of support statement which confirms that the person listed on the bank statement will support you during your studies at Yale.
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Please upload your evidence of funds as a single PDF.
Your OISS adviser will review your request. If there are questions, you will be contacted via email.
Your OISS adviser will issue a new I-20 to reflect the end date of the approved extended period and the new funding. You should keep this I-20 along with any previously issued I-20s for your records.
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Non-Degree students are Visiting Assistants in Research (VAR), Exchange Scholars, and Visiting Students. These students must first speak to the faculty member they are visiting or working with to see if they support the extension. The student can apply for an extension through the GSAS website. If approved, the Graduate School will notify OISS of the extension approval and OISS will issue a new extended DS-2019.
