If a student fails to complete his or her course of study program within the time period mentioned in the Form I-20 (it is a United States Department of Homeland Security document issued by colleges, universities, and vocational schools that provides supporting information for the issuance of a student visa or change of status [F, J and M non-immigrant statuses). Since the introduction of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the form also includes the student tracking number (SEVIS number) for the student and program], he/she may extend the date by sending an application to the DSO.

Students can obtain an extension if they have constantly maintained status. The reasons for the delay should also be compelling academic or medical reasons. If the DSO finds the student eligible for extension, he/she has to update SEVIS and issue a new Form I-20 that indicates the new end date of the study program.

If the DSO does not find the student eligible for extension or if the student filed his/her application after the program end date, the student is labeled 'out of status' and has to give a fresh application for the reinstatement to valid student status to the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). The USCIS may grant reinstatement under the following circumstances:

1. The student should not have been out of status for more than five months at the time of the application. Otherwise the student should be able to prove that he/she could not file the application within the stipulated period due to exceptional circumstances.

2. The student does not have a record of willful and recurring violations of USCIS regulations.

3. The student is pursuing or intends to pursue immediately a full course of study at the school that issued the Form I-20.

4. The student has not engaged in any unlawful employment.

5. The student cannot be deported on any grounds other than the ground related to breach of nonimmigrant student status

6. The student should be able to establish that the violation of status was in connection with the student's course load that would have been within a DSO's power to authorize; and failure to approve the reinstatement would result in extreme hardship to the student.

A student who needs to be reinstated has to issue a request to the USCIS on Form I-539, supported by a Form I-20 issued by the institute where the student plans to pursue his study post reinstatement. Also required are the student's Form I-94 (the departure record which indicated the duration of status) and a statement establishing eligibility for reinstatement based on the above conditions, as well as the filing fee of $200. Once the USCIS approves the student's reinstatement his/her Form I-20 and the record on SEVIS will be updated to show the new status.

Shilpi Ganguly is a blogger who frequently writes on various topics. Find more of her tips on studying abroad. http://www.eliteindian.com/