I-20 Extension and Shorten
I-20 Extension Requests
- If you believe that your academic program will not be complete by your Program End Date listed on your I-20, you need to complete an I-20 Extension Request form. To do so:
- Log-in to MyElmhurst Portal
- Click on Etrieve Forms
- Log-in with Okta (blue circle icon)
- Find and click on the “I-20 Extension Request” form
- Submit the Student Request section of the form
- You will be required to submit new financial documents consisting of a bank statement (or statements) to cover the projected costs of the extension period and an Affidavit of Support/Sponsor Form if you are submitting a sponsor’s document
- Your Academic Advisor/Program Director will be prompted to complete the Academic Verification section of the form to verify the academic need for the request
Please note – students need a valid academic reason to be authorized for an I-20 extension. Students cannot request to extend their I-20 unless it’s to complete major degree requirements.
I-20 Shorten Requests
- If you believe that your academic program will be complete before your Program End Date listed on your I-20, you need to complete an I-20 Shorten Request form.
- Apply for graduation before submitting your request form
- Log-in to MyElmhurst Portal
- Click on Etrieve Forms
- Log-in with Okta (blue circle icon)
- Find and click on the “I-20 Shorten Request” form
- Submit the Student Request section of the form
- Your Academic Advisor/Program Director will be prompted to complete the Academic Verification section of the form to verify the early completion of your academic program.
Remember – it is your responsibility to ensure that the correct Program End Date is reflected on your I-20. Failure to request an I-20 extension in time to allow for processing before your program end date will result in the end of your SEVIS status. Similarly, failure to request an I-20 shorten will result in your SEVIS status being inaccurate, which could cause issues for any future immigration requests.