Changing or Adding an Academic Program

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Students with an F-1 or J-1 visa who want to make changes to their degree programs must meet with a student advisor at Bechtel and request a new I-20 or DS-2019 in Bechtel Connect. This applies to students who are:

Changing degree levels
Changing departments
Adding a new degree program
Adding a co-term program

This is not an automatic process. Students must request a new I-20 or DS-2019

How to Request a New I-20/DS-2019

To request a new I-20 or DS-2019 reflecting changes in degree level, department, or degree program, submit a completed I-20 or DS-2019 request online in Bechtel Connect along with required proof of funding at least two weeks before the new program begins.

If you are planning to start a new degree program after completing the degree program currently noted on your document please submit a New Degree Level request in Bechtel Connect at least two weeks before completing your current program.
If you are planning to start a new degree program after discontinuing the degree program currently noted on your document, submit a Program Information Update request in Bechtel Connect at least two weeks before discontinuing your current program.

Application Process

Speak with your advisor/department for approval.
Submit your Change of Degree Level (F-1 or J-1) request through Bechtel Connect.

You must include documentation showing proof of funding for your new/changed program. See F or J Visa Financial Budgets for funding amounts and Proof of Funding for documentation requirements. Your request will first be routed to your academic advisor for approval.

Once submitted, let your advisor know that your request is awaiting their online approval.
After your advisor or student services representative approves your request, it will be automatically forwarded to Bechtel, and the status will change to "submitted".

Bechtel’s processing time for the request is one to two weeks.

Coterm Students

If you are interested in doing Optional Practical Training (OPT) based on your undergraduate program, you should not apply for a new I-20 for your new education level until after your OPT at the undergraduate level has been completed. Once you are issued a new I-20 for a new degree level, you are no longer eligible to participate in OPT based on your undergraduate program. If you do engage in OPT based on your undergraduate degree, you will need to request a new graduate-level I-20 two weeks before the completion of your OPT.

Coterm FAQs

I am a Coterm student, and my undergraduate degree on my I-20 expires this quarter. Do I need to request a new I-20 to reflect my graduate degree?
- Your I-20 at the undergraduate degree level can be extended only if you have undergraduate degree requirements left to complete.
  
  If you are finishing all your degree requirements for the undergraduate degree in the current quarter, we cannot extend your I-20 under the undergraduate degree.
  
  You must request a change of degree level I-20 if you will not work under post-OPT after you graduate this quarter and instead plan to continue with your graduate degree.
If I complete all my requirements for both my undergraduate degree and graduate degree programs this quarter, when should I request the new graduate-level I-20?
- If you are Coterm and are graduating with both degrees simultaneously, you need to request a change of degree level I-20 at least one month before your current undergraduate I-20 expires so that you complete your programs with a graduate-level I-20.
Why can’t I extend my undergraduate I-20 since I have not graduated yet?
- Immigration law prohibits the undergraduate-based extension when you have no more required undergraduate coursework to complete to graduate.
How much time do I have to request a new I-20 since I am not currently in the U.S.?
- You may request a change of degree level I-20 as soon as you have completed your undergraduate degree requirements and no later than one month before your current undergraduate I-20 expires. This allows for both your advisor to approve your request and for Bechtel to issue the I-20. You must always use the latest I-20 to re-enter the U.S.
If my undergraduate and graduate degrees are in different fields of study, can I work in both fields of study if I confer my undergraduate degree this quarter, and my graduate degree two or three quarters later?
- If you confer your undergraduate degree this quarter, and a graduate degree two or three quarters later, immigration law will not permit you to work (OPT) in the undergraduate degree field that you conferred previously.
If my undergraduate and graduate degrees are in different fields of study, can I work in both fields of study if both my degrees are conferred at the same time?
- If both degrees are conferred at the same time, you are permitted to work (OPT) in both fields upon graduation.
If I graduate with both the undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same time, will I qualify for two 12-month periods of post-OPT based on my graduate I-20?
- No, you only qualify for 12 months of post-OPT. If your graduate degree is STEM-based, you are eligible for an additional 24 months based on the STEM-based degree.
If I graduate with my undergraduate degree this quarter, and take a leave of absence from my graduate degree for a year, am I permitted to do post-OPT for my undergraduate degree and subsequently do post-OPT for the graduate degree when I return and graduate two or three quarters later?
- Yes! You may do 12 months of post-OPT and if you are in a STEM field, you may also request the two-year STEM extension based on the undergraduate degree. Later, based on the new graduate I-20 you qualify for an additional 12 months of post-OPT and the two-year STEM extension (if you are in a STEM-based program).
When should I be requesting my graduate I-20 if I am on OPT for my undergraduate degree?
- You should apply two weeks before finishing your undergraduate-based OPT. When you submit the request for the new I-20, specify your last day of employment. Note that once you request the graduate-based I-20, you should no longer work on the undergraduate-authorized OPT even if your Employment Authorization Document / EAD is still valid). NOTE: Immigration rules prohibit you from taking classes for a degree while on post-OPT.
What happens if I graduate with both degrees, but do not request the graduate level I-20?
- You will forfeit your ability to work based on your graduate degree! Do NOT make that mistake!
What if I graduate with a coterm degree, but do not ask for a graduate I-20; will I qualify for post-OPT for another Master’s degree at another time?
- Yes, in that scenario you qualify to do post-OPT if you had never requested and have never been approved for OPT based on the earlier Master's degree.
What is the funding amount I need to verify to request a new graduate-based I-20?
- Please review the financial budget information at F or J Visa Financial Budgets.

Changing or Adding an Academic Program

Main navigation

How to Request a New I-20/DS-2019

Application Process

Coterm Students

Coterm FAQs