Completing Study
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” ~Henry Miller, Writer
When you finish your program at SFSU, there are several steps to take before leaving the U.S. or starting your next plan.
Prepare to Return Home
Pay Any Remaining Bills
- Log in to your Student Center to check for unpaid tuition, housing, library or parking fees.
Close or Transfer Accounts
- Bank accounts: Contact your bank to close or transfer funds.
- Phone plans: Cancel your U.S. phone plan or explore ways to keep your number online.
- Utilities: Cancel or transfer bills (water, electricity, internet, etc.) to avoid future charges.
Personal Items
- Decide what to sell, donate or ship home.
- Ask shipping companies about costs, delivery time and insurance.
Housing
- Give your landlord at least 30 days’ notice before moving out.
- Schedule a final walk-through to discuss your security deposit.
Stay Connected
- Keep in touch with friends, faculty and staff.
- Join the SFSU Alumni Network or Gator Connect to stay involved and build your career network.
Furniture, car, clothing, and other personal belongings
Before leaving the U.S., decide which personal belongings you will keep, sell, donate, store, or ship to your home country. If you plan to use an international shipping service, compare costs, insurance options, package size and weight limits, and estimated delivery times before making arrangements.
Books and academic materials
- Consider selling textbooks to friends, classmates, or the SFSU Bookstore, which may purchase certain used textbooks through its buyback program.
- If you plan to attend graduate school in the future, consider keeping copies of important academic work, research papers, portfolios, or writing samples. Some graduate programs may request writing samples or examples of previous academic work as part of the application process.
Tip: Before departing the U.S., back up important files and coursework to a secure cloud storage service or external drive so you can access them in the future.
Friends
The friendships you build at SFSU can become lifelong personal and professional connections. As graduation approaches, take time to stay in touch with classmates, roommates, and friends. Whether you remain in the U.S. or return home, these relationships can become part of a global network that supports both your personal and professional goals.
SFSU alumni and professional networks
Your connection to SFSU does not end when you graduate. The SFSU Alumni Association provides opportunities to stay connected with the university and fellow alumni around the world.
If you would like to support future students or expand your professional network, consider joining Gator Connect, an online platform that connects alumni with current students for career conversations, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
Faculty and staff
Take a moment to reflect on the faculty and staff members who supported you during your time at SFSU. Whether they contributed to your academic success, professional development, or personal growth, consider reaching out to thank them and stay connected.
Maintaining these relationships can be valuable in the future, especially if you need academic or professional references for graduate school, employment, or other opportunities.
F-1 International Students
If you plan to complete your program in Fall 2026, your I-20 program end date will be adjusted to January 8, 2027 at the end of the Fall 2026 semester.
- You will not be eligible to work on campus beyond January 8, 2027.
- The current grace period is 60 days, so you will be able to remain in the U.S. until March 9, 2027.
If you have applied or plan to apply for OPT
- Once you apply for OPT, you may remain in the U.S. while your OPT application is pending.
- If you plan to travel after graduation and before or during OPT, review International Student Travel page.
If you plan to pursue another academic program in the U.S.
- If you will begin another academic program in the U.S. after graduating from SFSU, you must transfer your I-20/SEVIS record to the new program. Review I-20 Transfer Procedures.
If you do not plan to apply for OPT or transfer to another school
- No action is required regarding your F-1 status.
- You should make plans to depart the U.S. before your 60-day grace period ends.
- At the end of the grace period, your SEVIS record and I-20 will automatically change from Active to Completed status.
How long can you continue to work on campus?
- Your on-campus employment authorization ends when you complete your program.
- You may not continue working on campus during your grace period, even if you have applied for OPT.
Traveling during the grace period
- You may travel within the U.S. during your grace period. A travel signature on your I-20 is not required for domestic travel.
- If you leave the U.S. during your grace period, your grace period ends immediately.
Making sure you are eligible to graduate
As you prepare to complete your degree, take time to review your graduation requirements, update your records, and plan for life after SFSU. Taking care of these important steps now can help ensure a smooth graduation process and avoid delays.
See graduation application information:
- Undergraduate students: visit Graduation | San Francisco State University
- Graduate students: visit Graduate Studies | San Francisco State University
Save copies of your academic records
Before graduating, take steps to preserve important records and documents that you may need in the future.
- SFSU student email accounts will be deactivated after one year.
- Access to university systems may be limited after graduation.
- Download copies of important documents, including unofficial transcripts, for your personal records.
- If you need transcripts after your student access ends, you will need to order official transcripts through SFSU and pay any applicable fees.
Taking a few minutes to save your records and update your information before graduation can save significant time and effort later.