USA Graduation Checklist for Nepali Students explains how to confirm degree completion, review the F-1 program end date, resolve student-account and library holds, order records, plan housing and insurance, preserve tax documents and choose an authorised post-study path before deadlines pass. Commencement, degree completion and the Form I-20 program end date can be different events.
Information checked on 24 July 2026 using current ICE, USCIS, IRS and U.S. Department of Education resources. University calendars, fees and immigration requirements can change.
Graduation checks at a glance
| Graduation item | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Degree audit | Every course, credit, grade and program requirement is satisfied |
| Dates | Completion, commencement, transcript and Form I-20 dates are separated |
| Immigration | The DSO confirms OPT, transfer, new-level or departure timing |
| Accounts | Tuition, library, housing, parking and other holds are resolved |
| Records | Transcript, diploma, employment, tax and immigration copies are preserved |
| Services | Housing, insurance, phone, banking and mail changes are scheduled |
| Next step | The chosen study, work or departure plan has written deadlines |
Run the final degree audit
Open the official student portal and compare completed, enrolled and missing requirements with the academic adviser. Check major, minor, concentration, residency, credit and GPA rules.
Do not assume that attending the final class means the degree will be awarded. Record who confirmed completion and when.
Confirm final grades and incomplete work
Review the institution’s deadlines for final grades, incomplete grades, thesis deposits, portfolio reviews and substitutions. Resolve discrepancies through the stated academic process.
A pending requirement can affect the actual completion date, transcript and immigration record.
Separate completion from commencement
Commencement is a ceremony; academic completion is determined by the institution. A student may participate in a ceremony before or after the degree is officially awarded.
Use the registrar’s completion record and the DSO’s Form I-20 information for deadlines, not the ceremony date.
Verify the Form I-20 program end date
Compare the program end date with the expected completion of all degree requirements. Tell the DSO promptly if completion will be earlier or later than the current record.
A DSO may need to shorten or extend the program under the applicable rules; the student should not edit or guess the date.
Meet the DSO before completion
Discuss the intended next step: post-completion OPT, transfer, change of education level, change of status or departure. Bring the Form I-20, passport, I-94 and relevant admission or application records.
Ask for a written timeline and identify which action belongs to the school, USCIS, the student or a new institution.
Review post-completion OPT timing
USCIS guidance says an eligible student may apply no earlier than 90 days before the program end date and no later than 60 days after it, subject to a timely DSO recommendation and filing rules.
Do not begin OPT employment until the EAD is valid and its start date has arrived. A pending application is not permission to work.
Plan a school transfer or new level
If continuing study, obtain admission and coordinate SEVIS action with the current and new DSO. Confirm release date, new start date, travel and employment consequences.
Starting another program at the same school can require a change-of-level process rather than assuming the old Form I-20 continues unchanged.
Understand the grace period
ICE explains that the 60-day F-1 grace period after program completion or post-completion OPT is generally for preparing to depart or taking an eligible next step. It is not general work authorisation.
A status violation, termination or withdrawal can change or remove the expected grace period. Ask the DSO about the specific record.
Stop ordinary on-campus work on time
ICE says an F-1 student generally may not work on campus during the 60-day grace period. Confirm the last authorised work date with the DSO and payroll.
A narrow continuing-program situation may be treated differently, so document the new program and school guidance before working.
Apply to graduate
Complete the registrar’s graduation application by the stated term deadline. Confirm the legal name, degree title, diploma address and ceremony attendance choice.
Keep the submission confirmation and check whether a later change needs a separate form or fee.
Resolve student-account balances
Review tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, parking, health centre and other charges. Ask the correct office about a disputed amount rather than ignoring a hold.
A balance can delay transcripts or diploma services under institutional policy, even when academic requirements are complete.
Clear library and equipment obligations
Return books, laboratory items, keys, access cards, technology loans and department equipment. Save receipts or return confirmations.
Remove personal data from a returned device only through the institution’s approved process.
Check transcript timing
Ask when the final degree notation will appear, which delivery methods are official and how long electronic links remain valid. Do not order too early when the recipient needs the awarded degree.
Keep an unofficial copy for reference, but use the registrar’s official process when an employer or university requires verification.
Confirm diploma delivery
Verify the printed name, delivery address, shipping method, tracking and replacement procedure. International delivery can take longer and may have courier or customs limits.
A diploma is not always the fastest evidence of completion; ask whether an official transcript or registrar letter is available.
Save academic records
Download the final syllabus set, project descriptions, approved portfolio work, advising decisions and degree audit where permitted. Preserve records in more than one secure location.
Do not retain confidential research, student, patient, client or employer data without authorisation.
Preserve immigration records
Keep every Form I-20, visa copy, passport identity page, I-94, EAD, USCIS receipt and decision, employment offer and DSO communication. Store readable copies and the originals securely.
Older documents can be important for future applications even after a SEVIS record changes.
Collect employment records
Save offer letters, job descriptions, pay statements, W-2 or other tax forms, supervisor contacts and authorised employment dates. Ask how a future verification request should be directed.
Do not keep proprietary work files as proof; employment documents should respect confidentiality.
Plan health-insurance transition
Confirm the exact last day of student coverage, claims deadlines, prescription needs and options tied to employment, another program or departure. Coverage rules differ by plan.
Do not assume the policy ends at commencement or continues through the full summer.
Close or transfer housing properly
Read move-out date, cleaning, key return, inspection, deposit, forwarding-address and utility rules. Photograph condition and keep the signed handover record.
Arrange temporary housing only after confirming immigration, work or travel timing.
Update a reliable mailing address
Use the university, employer, bank, tax agency and delivery providers’ official processes. Keep mail access for diplomas, tax forms, refunds and government notices.
For F-1 reporting, ask the DSO which address changes must be reported and through which system.
Review bank, phone and subscriptions
Decide which accounts must remain available for refunds, tax payments or ongoing U.S. obligations. Check closure, international access, two-factor authentication and final-bill rules.
Do not close the only account that can receive a legitimate refund before confirming the payment method.
Prepare for U.S. tax filing
Graduation or departure does not erase tax obligations. Preserve SSN or ITIN records, W-2, 1042-S, scholarship, payroll and prior-return documents.
IRS guidance says a required annual return may still need to be filed after departure; tax residence and forms depend on individual facts.
Return leased or borrowed property
Schedule vehicle, furniture, storage, internet equipment and other returns according to the contract. Record condition, tracking and final payment.
Do not leave an informal transfer to a friend when the contract requires the provider’s approval.
Make a travel and document plan
Check passport validity, visa and re-entry implications, current Form I-20 travel endorsement, tickets and baggage rules with the DSO and relevant authorities.
Travel after program completion can have consequences different from travel during active study or approved OPT.
Create a 90-day graduation calendar
List academic, immigration, housing, insurance, account, tax and travel deadlines from 90 days before completion through the chosen next step. Put the controlling source beside each date.
Review the calendar weekly and update it only after an official confirmation rather than relying on another student’s timeline.
Graduation warning signs
- Commencement is treated as the legal or immigration completion date
- The Form I-20 end date is never checked with the DSO
- On-campus work continues into a grace period without confirmation
- A transcript is ordered before the degree notation appears
- Housing, insurance or student accounts end on an assumed date
- Tax and immigration records exist only in an expiring school account
- A next step has no written filing, start or departure deadline
Graduation workflow
- Confirm completion. Finish the degree audit and final requirements.
- Check dates. Separate completion, ceremony and Form I-20 dates.
- Choose the path. Plan OPT, transfer, new level or departure.
- Clear obligations. Resolve accounts, library and equipment.
- Order records. Time transcripts and diploma correctly.
- Close services. Coordinate housing, insurance and utilities.
- Preserve evidence. Secure academic, tax and immigration files.
Frequently asked questions
Is the commencement ceremony my F-1 program end date?
Not necessarily. Confirm academic completion with the registrar and the Form I-20 date with the DSO.
Can I keep working on campus during the 60-day grace period?
Generally no. ICE describes the grace period as preparation for departure or an eligible next step, not ordinary work authorisation.
When should I order my final transcript?
Order after confirming that final grades and the awarded-degree notation appear when the recipient requires proof of graduation.
Does leaving the USA end my tax responsibilities?
No. Preserve tax documents and check IRS filing requirements for the relevant year and tax-residency facts.
What records should I keep after graduation?
Keep academic, immigration, employment, tax, housing and account evidence in secure, durable storage.
Official sources
- ICE: F-1 employment and the post-completion grace period
- USCIS Policy Manual: post-completion OPT timing
- Study in the States: international student life cycle
- IRS: taxation of nonresident aliens
- U.S. Department of Education: FERPA for students
USA graduation planning support in Nepal
For a visible review of program choice, progression and the U.S. study route, use MKS Education study in the USA guidance. For GRE, GMAT, SAT, IELTS or PTE preparation connected with admission to a later program, compare current options at MKS Prep. The registrar, designated school official, USCIS and relevant service provider remain the final sources for academic records, status and deadlines.