Extensions

Summary

This page provides information about extending your student, scholar, or student intern visa status.

Generally speaking, your non-immigrant visa status can be extended while you are in the U.S. The word "extension" in immigration terms means that you seek to continue engaging in the same activity as a scholar for which you originally came to the U.S. (same school, same lab, same department, etc.).

Requesting an extension through the HIO will extend your permission to remain in the U.S. The visa stamp in your passport will not automatically be extended. If you travel outside of the U.S. after the visa stamp in your passport expires, you will need to apply for a renewal of your visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country in order to return to the U.S. in status. It is not possible to renew a visa within the U.S.

For more information about extensions and how to request one for your visa status, please see below.

Student Visa Extensions

As a student your maximum extension time permissible is determined by your school's academic policy on length of degree programs, with the exception of "non-degree" students who have a limit of two years in most cases.

F-1 Student

Form I-20 Extension

Students who will not complete their degree programs by the date listed on item #5 of their Form I-20 will need to obtain an extension from the HIO BEFORE the current Form I-20 expires. Failure to extend the Form I-20 in a timely fashion will have negative consequences for the student's immigration status, so students should allow sufficient time for the processing of the extension.

In order to be eligible for an extension of the Form I-20, students must be in good standing and making normal academic progress towards completion of their programs.

Extensions are granted only when a student has continually maintained F-1 status and the delays are caused by compelling academic or medical reasons, such as changes of major or research topics, unexpected research problems, or documented illnesses.

How to Request an Extension of the Form I-20

To extend an I-20 or DS-2019, students must obtain documentation from their schools/departments indicating the new estimated program completion date, and provide proof that they have sufficient funds for the remainder of their program. Students who are using personal funds should obtain a recent bank statement showing the funds available.

Each School has its own procedure for extending the I-20:

If you have questions, please contact your HIO advisor.

Students moving from one Harvard school or program to another within the University should contact both the admissions office of the new school/program and the HIO advisor for that school for information on how to update and extend the Form I-20.

J-1 Student

A J-1 student must apply to the J-1 program sponsor for an extension before the expiration date listed on item #3 of their Form DS-2019 if more time is needed to complete all degree program requirements. Please follow the instructions below on how to request an extension. If a J-1 student is using personal funds, please obtain a recent bank statement.

  • Graduate School of Design – Submit a Visa Document Request Form to the GSD Registrar’s Office
  • Graduate School of Education – Contact the GSE Financial Aid Office
  • Harvard Business School - Contact the HBS Registrar's Office
  • Harvard Divinity School - Contact the HDS Registrar's Office
  • Harvard Kennedy School - Submit a Visa Document Request Form to the HKS Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
  • Harvard Law School LLM & SJD – Contact the Graduate Program Office
  • HMS Master’s students - Contact your program director
  • Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – Follow the instructions on the Chan School website
  • GSAS - Follow the instructions on the GSAS Extension-Update Request Form

Scholar and Student Intern Visa Extensions

Your maximum extension time depends on the visa type. For more visa-specific information, see below.

J-1 Scholar

If J-1 scholars wish to extend their J-1 visa status, their departments must request the extension before the current Form DS-2019 expires (see the dates on section #3 of the DS-2019 form). Extensions are not always possible. The extension requested must be within the limitations of the J visa category. There must be adequate funding to cover the new time period, and the department must support extending the academic appointment with the University.

The HIO sponsors several different categories of J visas and each has different eligibility criteria for extending time in the US. The category type is listed on the DS-2019 in section #4.

  • J-1 Professors and Research Scholars are eligible for aggregate of 5 years
  • J-1 Short Term Scholars have a maximum of 6 months
  • J-1 Student Interns have a maximum of 12 months. For more information see the J-1 Student Intern tab. 

To request an extension, the department hosting the scholar must confirm the scholar's reappointment and funding has been finalized. The department then must send a Notice of Extension form to the HIO prior to the scholar's DS-2019 end date.

After the request is made, the HIO may issue an extended Form DS-2019. The HIO also issues departments a memo months prior to the expiration of the Form DS-2019 asking if an extension will be requested. Departments complete the extension form and return it to the HIO, or contact the HIO advisor directly to request an extension.

J-1 Student Intern

J-1 Student Interns may participate in their internship program in the U.S. for up to 12 months, so long as they remain an enrolled student at their home institution for the entire duration of their internship. If a J-1 Student Intern whose initial internship is less than 12 months wishes to extend their internship, their department must request an extension before the Student Intern's current end date listed on their DS-2019 and DS-7002.

Extensions beyond 12 months total are not permitted for J-1 student interns. In addition, the student intern must remain enrolled at their home university for the entirety of the extension period. They cannot graduate from their home university while in the U.S.

The request for extension must come to the HIO from the Harvard department or affiliated hospital sponsoring the student interns. To extend a J-1 Student Internship, the HIO must receive all of the documents below: 

  1. Notice of Extension Form
  2. J-1 Student Intern Intake Form to reflect the updated/extended internship plan
  3. Proof of funding for the additional time ($3,500/month)
  4. Proof of current and future enrollment. The Student Intern must remain enrolled at their home university for the entirety of the extension period. They cannot graduate while in the U.S.

Once complete, all documents can be sent to the HIO via email.  

Important Note:  Future visa options will be very limited if the student intern remains in the U.S. for more than six months and wishes to return to the U.S. within a year of leaving Harvard, due to the 12-month Bar. Student Interns and sponsors must plan accordingly.

Requesting an extension through the HIO will extend the Harvard-issued visa document (Form DS-2019 and DS-7002), and a student intern's permission to remain in the U.S. The visa stamp in their passport will not automatically be extended. If the student intern travels outside of the U.S. after the visa stamp in their passport expires, they will need to apply for a renewal of the visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their country in order to return to the U.S. in J-1 status. It is not possible to renew a visa within the U.S.

H-1B

The H-1B extension process is identical in paperwork requirements as it is for an initial H-1B application. An H-1B extension petition will require a new prevailing wage and a new labor condition application (LCA) along with new supporting documents.  A petition must be filed before the current H-1B status ends in order to allow an individual to maintain status and continue to remain on payroll.

The earliest an extension can be filed with USCIS is 6 months prior to the end date of the current H-1B status. If a petition is filed in a timely manner, an individual in H-1B status is authorized to continue to work and be paid for up to 240 days after the expiration of their current H-1B status. The HIO will send a letter to the appointing department once the extension petition has been filed with USCIS to verify an individual's eligibility for continuing work authorization.

Once the extension petition is approved by USCIS, individuals traveling abroad may need to visit a U.S. embassy or consulate to get a new H-1B visa stamp before returning to the United States. Canadian citizens do not need to obtain H-1B visas in their passports.

O-1

Extensions of O-1 status are available in one year increments. The O-1 extension process requires submission of proof that the employment is ongoing and generally includes updated evidence of extraordinary ability. A petition must be filed before the current O-1 status ends in order to allow an individual to maintain status and remain on payroll.

If a petition is filed in a timely manner, an individual in O-1 status is authorized to continue to work and be paid for up to 240 days after the expiration of the current O-1 status. The HIO will fax a letter to the appointing department once the extension petition has been filed with USCIS to verify an individual's eligibility for continuing work authorization.

Once the extension petition is approved by USCIS, individuals traveling abroad may need to visit a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to get a new O-1 visa before returning to the United States.

TN

Individuals are admitted in TN visa status in three-year increments initially, but the TN status may be renewed indefinitely. The more expeditious way to extend TN visa status or to move to a different employer in TN status is to travel outside the United States and obtain the TN visa status by reentry. The process is identical to that of the original TN application. The longer way to extend TN status is to have the HIO file for an extension application with a USCIS center. It could take up to four months for the process. Although there is no fixed time limit on the TN visa, individuals are required to have a residence abroad which they have no intention of abandoning.

E-3

An individual may hold E-3 visa status for up to two years and can be renewed indefinitely, provided the visa holder is able to demonstrate that they do not intend to remain or work permanently in the United States. Extensions of stay may be granted in increments of up to two years. E-3 visa holders have two options for extending their stay. They may return to Australia and re-apply at the U.S. embassy or consulate with the same documentation that is required for an original application, or have the HIO file for an extension with USCIS. This option does not require the employee to leave the United States, but requires USCIS filing fees, and can take several months.

B & ESTA

In some cases it is possible to extend the B visa beyond the date listed on the I-94. The reason for the extension must remain with in the original temporary objective (see Obtaining a B Visa.) The extension is requested by mail to the USCIS using Form I-539, supporting documents and fee. Harvard affiliates may schedule an appointment with their advisor to discuss eligibility for a B visa extension and how to prepare the application.