Critical I-20 Dates

I-20 program start and end dates

The program start date and end date on your I-20 are the most important parts of the document.

Program Start Date

You can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date.

New students should enter by this date.

Program End Date

Your I-20 expires on this date. An expired I-20 is a serious immigration problem! An expired I-20 may cause you to have to quit your degree, and may cause you to lose all student work benefits.

End date extensions are possible, but not guaranteed — keep your I-20 expiration date in mind, and contact ISS early if you realize you need an extension.