Checklist
Visa Document Audit Checklist
A quarterly review so nothing expires while you are busy.
30 min per quarter Anyone holding F-1, OPT, H-1B, O-1, or a pending petition Updated August 2026
Document auditExpiry trackerCopies
Status problems are almost always calendar problems. Put a recurring 30-minute block on the first Monday of each quarter and walk this list. If any date sits inside the next 180 days, act that week.
Expiration dates to verify
- Passport expiryRenew when under 12 months remaining.
- Visa stamp expiryMatters for reentry, not for status inside the US.
- I-94 admit-until dateThis is your actual status end date.
- I-20 program end date or H-1B validity end
- EAD card start and end dates
- Travel signature dateValid 12 months, or 6 months while on OPT.
- Driver's license expiryOften tied to your status document.
Records to keep current
- Address on file with your school or employer and USCIS
- Employer name, worksite, and hours as reported to your DSO
- All prior approval noticesI-797, I-140, I-20 history, EAD copies.
- Unemployment day count while on OPT90 days on OPT, 150 total including STEM OPT.
Trigger events that need action within 10 days
- Job change, promotion with new duties, or worksite move
- Legal name or marital status change
- Reduction to part-time hours
- Layoff or terminationStart the grace-period clock the same day.
Do not forget
- ·The I-94 date governs status, not the visa stamp
- ·Any date inside 180 days deserves action this week
- ·Report employment and address changes within 10 days
Related documents
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