ISSS Calendar for Academic Year 25/26
- William Vittetoe
This is a calendar of important dates for International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). This includes compliance deadlines, immigration filing deadlines, semester dates, and workshops.
International Student (F-1 and J-1) Dates
Fall Semester | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
August 16, 2025 | Mandatory Immigration Orientation (start of program) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
August 18, 2025 | Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
September 1, 2025 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and Fall Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
September 17, 2025 | Last day for Fall Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
September 11, 2025 | Filing of OPT Applications with USCIS open for Students Graduating in Fall 2025 (ISSS cannot Guarantee USCIS Acceptance of OPT Applications) | USCIS Filing Deadline |
October 11, 2025 | Last Day for Students Graduating in Summer 2025 to file a complete OPT Application with USCIS (Earlier Submission Recommended; ISSS cannot Guarantee USCIS Acceptance of OPT Applications) | USCIS Filing Deadline |
December 10, 2025 | End of Fall (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
Spring Semester | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
January 16, 2026 | Mandatory Immigration Orientation (start of program) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
January 20, 2026 | Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
February 2, 2026 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and Spring Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
February 8, 2026 | Last Day for Students Graduating in Fall 2025 to file a complete OPT Application with USCIS (Earlier Submission Recommended; ISSS cannot Guarantee USCIS Acceptance of OPT Applications) | USCIS Filing Deadline |
February 19, 2026 | Last day for Fall Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
February 13, 2026 | Filing of OPT Applications with USCIS open for Students Graduating in Spring 2026 (ISSS cannot Guarantee USCIS Acceptance of OPT Applications) | USCIS Filing Deadline |
May 14, 2026 | End of Spring (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
Summer Semester | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
June 19, 2026 | Mandatory Immigration Orientation (start of program) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
May 13, 2026 | Filing of OPT Applications with USCIS open for Students Graduating in Summer 2026 (ISSS cannot Guarantee USCIS Acceptance of OPT Applications) | USCIS Filing Deadline |
June 22, 2026 | Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
July 6, 2026 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and Summer Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
July 6, 2025 | Mandatory Immigration Orientation (start of program) for Session II | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
July 7, 2026 | Summer Session II Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
July 13, 2026 | Last Day for Students Graduating in Spring 2026 to file a complete OPT Application with USCIS (Earlier Submission Recommended; ISSS cannot Guarantee USCIS Acceptance of OPT Applications) | USCIS Filing Deadline |
July 20, 2026 | Deadline for Summer Session II Full-Time Enrollment and Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
July 20, 2026 | Last day for Fall Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
August 11, 2026 | End of Summer (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
International Scholar, Staff, Faculty, Researcher, and Post-Doc Dates
Fall Semester | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
August 1st, 2025 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
September 5, 2025 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
October 3, 2025 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
November 7, 2025 | Deadline for Complete H-1B Submission for Spring without Penalty | $500 Fee Penalty Deadline |
November 7, 2025 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
December 5, 2025 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
Spring Semester | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
February 6, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
March 6, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
April 3, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
May 1, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
Summer Semester | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
June 5, 2026 | Deadline for Complete H-1B Submission for Fall without Penalty | $500 Fee Penalty Deadline |
June 5, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Meet and Greet for International Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers | Optional Engagement for J-1 Exchange Visitors and H-1B Staff, Faculty, Post-docs, and Researchers |
Training Workshops for Students
Fall Semester | ||
Date | Description | Target Audience |
September 15, 2025 at 3pm in the International House | Planning for the Future: Post-Graduation Visa Workshop for International Students | F-1 and J-1 Students |
Spring Semester | ||
February 17, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Planning for the Future: Post-Graduation Visa Workshop for International Students | F-1 and J-1 Students |
February 23, 2026 at 3pm in the International House | Tax Workshop: the Basics of Non-Resident Taxes for Students | F-1 and J-1 Students |
Training Workshops for University of Tennessee Departments
Summer 2025 Semester | ||
Date | Description | Target Audience |
July 16, 2025 at 3pm (online) | Exchange Visitor and Employment-Based Visa Sponsorship Training | Stakeholders Hiring or Sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B visas, and Permanent Residency |
Fall 2025 Semester | ||
Date | Description | Target Audience |
November 19, 2025 at 2:30pm (online) | Exchange Visitor and Employment-Based Visa Sponsorship Training | Stakeholders Hiring or Sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B visas, and Permanent Residency |
Spring 2026 Semester | ||
Date | Description | Target Audience |
March 17, 2026 at 3pm (online) | Exchange Visitor and Employment-Based Visa Sponsorship Training | Stakeholders Hiring or Sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B visas, and Permanent Residency |
Summer 2026 Semester | ||
Date | Description | Target Audience |
July 15, 2026 at 3pm (online) | Exchange Visitor and Employment-Based Visa Sponsorship Training | Stakeholders Hiring or Sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B visas, and Permanent Residency |
English Language Institute (ELI) Dates
Fall Session I | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
August 13, 2025 | ELI Start of Program | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
August 18, 2025 | ELI Fall I Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
August 25, 2025 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and ELI Fall I Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
September 17, 2025 | Last day for Fall Session I Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
October 1, 2025 | ELI End of Fall I Session (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
Fall Session II | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
October 13, 2025 | ELI Start of Program | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
October 15, 2025 | ELI Fall II Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
October 28, 2024 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and ELI Fall II Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
November 14, 2025 | Last day for Fall Session II Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
December 10, 2025 | ELI End of Fall II Session (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
Spring Session I | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
January 14, 2026 | ELI Start of Program | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
January 20, 2026 | ELI Spring I Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
February 2, 2026 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and ELI Spring I Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
February 19, 2026 | Last day for Spring I Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
March 4, 2026 | ELI End of Spring I Session (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
Spring Session II | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
March 18, 2026 | ELI Start of Program | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
March 23, 2026 | ELI Spring II Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
April 6, 2026 | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and ELI Spring II Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
April 22, 2026 | Last day for Spring Session II Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
May 13, 2026 | ELI End of Spring II Session (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
Summer Session | ||
Date | Description | Type of Deadline |
TBD | ELI Start of Program | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Issuance Date |
TBD | ELI Summer Session Start of Classes (initial session date) | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |
TBD | Deadline for Full-Time Enrollment and ELI Summer Session Deferrals | Compliance Deadline |
TBD | Last day for Summer Session Students to Physically Arrive and Check In | Compliance Deadline |
TBD | ELI End of Summer Session (end session date) and Extension Deadline | Compliance Deadline and I-20 Registration Date |