Late Arrival and Deferral

In order to support academic success students should arrive in the US before the first day of classes. Students should try to enter the US by the Initial Session start date on their I-20. Unless the student is experiencing extenuating circumstances such as a brief visa delay or short term health concerns, entering after this date is strongly discouraged.

Graduate students who wish to pursue a late arrival need approval from your academic department. How late an academic department can allow you to enter differs from program to program based on courses offered, required orientation, assistantship duties, English provisions etc. 

If the department can accommodate your late arrival, the department must write a letter to the student with the latest reporting date to the University. ISSS recommends this date not be any later 2 weeks after the first day of classes for graduate students, or 1 week after the first day of classes for undergraduate students. This letter should state the following:

• How late (specific date) the department is willing to let the student start the semester.

• That the student is pre-registered for full-time course enrollment and that the department is confident the student will be able to catch up with his/her classes.

• If applicable, that the student’s late arrival will not negatively impact his/her eligibility for, and ability to do, his/her graduate assistantship (GA/TA/RA position).

Students should contact their academic department to discuss the late arrival option and request them to issue a letter. The department should send you a copy of the letter via email. Please email a copy of this letter to the ISSS office at isss-admissions@umd.edu. Carry this letter, along with your other immigration documentation to show at the port of entry. Your I-20 or DS2019 arrival date is not amended, it is this letter along with your I-20 that will permit you to enter beyond the I-20/DS2019 start date.

Please make sure to log into Iterp and complete your “Intent Form” letting ISSS know your delayed arrival date. The form opens 30 days before the start of classes. 

Students who will be delayed entering the US beyond drop/add should consider requesting a deferral to a new term.  

Graduate Students

• Deferrals are not guaranteed, and not available in all programs.

• Graduate school requires a deferral request 30 days before the start of the semester.  If you have not already been approved for a deferral, reach out to your academic department to see if a deferral is possible.

• For students that are deferred for 1 semester by the Graduate School, ISSS will update your I-20/DS-2019 documents and email you the updated document.

• For students that are deferred for 2 semesters (1 year) by the Graduate School, your current immigraiton document will be terminated and you  will complete a new I-20/DS2019 application the following year. ISSS will email you once the application is open. 

• Log into Iterp and complete your “Intent Form” letting ISSS know your plans for deferral. The form opens 30 days before the start of classes. 

Undergraduate Students

• Deferrals are not guaranteed, students may request one by submitting the form through undergraduate admissions.

• For students that are deferred for 1 semester by Undergraduate Admissions, ISSS will update your I-20/DS-2019 documents and email you the updated document.

• For students that are deferred for 2 semesters (1 year) by Undergraduate Admissions, your current immigraiton document will be terminated and you will complete a new I-20/DS2019 application the following year. ISSS will email you once the application is open. 

• Log into Iterp and complete your “Intent Form” letting ISSS know your plans for deferral. The form opens 30 days before the start of classes. 

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