What Happens If You Graduate Later Than the Date Mentioned in Your Residence Permit?

You enrol in a two-year Master’s programme in Europe.

Your original plan looks simple:

September 2025 → Start Master’s

June 2027 → Finish degree

September 2027 → Student residence permit expires

But university does not always follow the original timeline.

Maybe:

• Your Master’s thesis takes longer than expected
• You fail a subject and need a resit
• A compulsory course is offered only next semester
• Your internship is delayed
• Your research takes longer
• You change specialisation
• You take an approved academic break
• Your supervisor asks for substantial thesis revisions

Suddenly your new expected graduation date becomes:

February 2028

but your residence card still says:

Valid until 30 September 2027

What happens now?

Do you have to leave Europe even though your degree is unfinished?

Usually, not necessarily.

In many European countries, international students can apply to extend their student residence permit when their studies legitimately take longer than originally expected.

But the extension is not automatic.

You normally need to apply before your current permit expires and prove that:

You are still genuinely studying + you remain enrolled + your academic progress is acceptable + you continue meeting the relevant residence requirements.

The immigration authority may also want to know whether completing the degree within the additional period is realistic.

Here is what international students need to understand when graduation gets delayed.

First: Your Residence Permit Is Not the Same as Your Degree Duration

Students often assume:

Two-year Master’s = two-year residence permit

That is not always how the system works.

A residence permit may be issued for:

• One year
• Two years
• A shorter period based on passport validity
• A period linked to the expected programme duration

You may therefore need to renew the permit even when your course itself has not changed.

Germany, for example, generally issues study residence permits initially for up to two years and explicitly allows students who have not completed their degree within that period to request a further extension.

Austria commonly requires students to renew their Residence Permit – Student during longer programmes and asks for evidence of continuing enrolment and academic progress.

The Netherlands normally issues its study residence permit for the programme duration plus three months, up to the applicable maximum, but the permit remains valid only while the student continues meeting the study conditions.

So the date printed on your residence card should be treated as:

an immigration deadline

not:

a guaranteed graduation deadline.

What If Your Degree Simply Takes One Extra Semester?

This is one of the most common situations.

Imagine your programme officially requires:

120 ECTS

You have completed:

110 ECTS

but your thesis is worth:

10 ECTS

and will not be completed until the following semester.

This does not automatically mean your immigration pathway has failed.

In countries that allow student residence extensions, you may be able to apply for additional time to finish the remaining requirement.

The important questions will usually be:

Are you still enrolled?

Are you actively working toward completion?

Have you made sufficient academic progress?

Is there a realistic reason why you need additional time?

If the answers are positive, an extra semester can be very different from a student who has spent several years enrolled but completed almost no academic work.

The Most Important Rule: Apply Before Your Current Permit Expires

Do not wait until the card has already expired.

This is probably the most important practical rule in the entire process.

For example, Austria requires a renewal application to be submitted before the current residence permit expires, although the application cannot normally be filed more than three months in advance. If the renewal is filed on time, the student remains lawfully resident in Austria while the decision is pending, even if the old card expires during processing.

Sweden similarly requires students to apply for an extension before the existing permit expires. A timely applicant can remain in Sweden while the extension is being decided.

So if your permit expires:

30 September

do not begin thinking about the problem on:

29 September

Start preparing months earlier.

Why Your Graduation Might Be Delayed

Not all delays are treated equally.

Immigration authorities can distinguish between a legitimate academic delay and a lack of genuine study.

Common reasons include:

1. Master’s Thesis Delay

This is probably one of the most common reasons.

Your:

• Research takes longer
• Data collection is delayed
• Supervisor requests revisions
• Company thesis project is postponed
• Experimental work fails
• Thesis defence is scheduled later

If everything else is complete and only the thesis remains, this can be relatively straightforward to explain.

2. Failed Subject or Resit

You may need to repeat:

6 ECTS

before the university can award the degree.

If the next examination opportunity is several months away, your programme duration may extend automatically.

3. Missing Prerequisite

Imagine:

Advanced Machine Learning

requires:

Statistical Methods

but you did not pass Statistical Methods.

You may have to clear the prerequisite first.

This can delay several courses.

4. Compulsory Module Offered Only Once a Year

Missing one module can sometimes add an entire semester.

This is particularly common in programmes with:

• Laboratories
• Field courses
• Specialised seminars

5. Internship Delay

If a compulsory internship forms part of the curriculum, difficulties finding or completing it can delay graduation.

6. Medical or Personal Circumstances

Illness or other serious circumstances can affect academic progress.

Several countries allow documented exceptional circumstances to be considered when assessing residence extensions.

7. Approved Study Leave

A semester break may push the final graduation date later.

However, approved academic leave does not automatically guarantee immigration extension, so this needs to be managed carefully.

One Extra Semester Does Not Automatically Mean You Are a “Failed Student”

This distinction is important.

European Master’s programmes can involve:

• Independent research
• Thesis supervision
• Resits
• Internship requirements
• Flexible electives

Not every student graduates on the exact date originally estimated.

Immigration authorities therefore generally focus less on whether you finished on the advertised date and more on whether you continue to satisfy the conditions for student residence.

A delayed graduation can be manageable.

A lack of academic progress can be much more serious.

Austria: What Happens If Your Master’s Takes Longer?

Austria is a good example because Residence Permit – Student holders normally need to demonstrate academic progress at renewal.

For a standard renewal, OeAD currently requires:

• Confirmation of continuing university enrolment
• Current record of studies
• Proof of academic success

The usual academic-success threshold is:

16 ECTS per academic year

or:

8 semester hours per academic year.

So imagine you originally expected to graduate in:

June 2027

but you need another semester because your thesis is incomplete.

Your permit expires:

September 2027

You can potentially apply to renew your Residence Permit – Student if you continue satisfying the applicable conditions.

Your renewal application could show:

Still enrolled

Previous academic progress

Thesis still pending

Additional semester required

The fact that the original university programme was advertised as two years does not automatically mean Austria refuses all residence after exactly two years.

Austria Example

An Indian student named Aditya enrols in:

MSc Environmental Engineering – Vienna

The degree requires:

120 ECTS

By the end of his fourth semester he has:

110 ECTS

His final thesis is delayed because his research project takes longer.

His Residence Permit – Student expires on:

30 September

The university confirms that he remains enrolled and needs until February to complete the thesis.

Aditya should apply for renewal before 30 September and provide the required academic and residence documentation.

If he submits the renewal properly and on time, Austria considers him lawfully resident while the application is being decided, even if the existing card expires during processing.

What If You Do Not Have 16 ECTS in Austria?

This can be more complicated.

Austria’s 16-ECTS rule is not simply about your final semester.

Authorities look at academic success during the relevant academic period.

If you cannot demonstrate the normal academic progress because of unavoidable and unpredictable circumstances outside your control, exceptions may potentially be considered.

For example, serious illness may be relevant.

The key is evidence.

Keep documents such as:

• Medical certificates
• Hospital records
• University confirmation
• Thesis supervisor letters
• Other supporting documentation

Do not wait until the renewal appointment to start collecting proof.

What If Only Your Thesis Is Left in Austria?

Doctoral and research-heavy students can sometimes demonstrate academic progress differently.

OeAD permits confirmation of academic progress from an academic supervisor in appropriate cases, such as doctoral/PhD study.

For a Master’s student, ask the university what documentation it can provide showing that:

• Coursework has been completed
• Thesis is registered
• Thesis work is ongoing
• Expected completion date is realistic

That documentation can help explain why you remain enrolled despite being close to the end of the programme.

Germany: Additional Study Time Can Be Granted

Germany explicitly recognises that a student may not complete a degree within the initial residence-permit period.

Germany’s official skilled-worker portal states that study residence permits are generally initially issued for two years.

If the degree has not been completed within that period, the student can request an extension for a further two years.

That does not mean every student automatically gets four years.

The immigration authority still considers whether your studies remain genuine and whether successful completion remains realistic.

But it clearly shows:

A two-year Master’s taking longer than two calendar years does not automatically end your German residence rights.

Germany Example

Meera begins:

MSc Computer Science

in October 2025.

Expected completion:

September 2027

She fails two courses and needs an additional semester.

New expected completion:

March 2028

Her initial German student residence permit expires in September 2027.

She can apply to extend the study residence permit rather than abandoning the programme simply because the initial permit period has ended.

But Germany Still Expects Genuine Academic Progress

A student residence permit exists for the purpose of study.

An extra semester for:

Thesis + resit

is different from repeatedly extending a programme while making little progress.

The local foreigners authority can consider whether the programme can realistically still be completed.

This is why documentation from the university can be extremely valuable.

Ask for confirmation showing:

Current programme

Credits completed

Remaining requirements

Expected graduation date

A clear completion plan is much stronger than simply saying:

“I need more time.”

Netherlands: Your University Plays a Major Role

The Dutch system works differently because your higher education institution is normally your recognised immigration sponsor.

Your student residence permit is normally valid for:

the duration of your programme + three months

within the applicable maximum.

But the IND also states that the permit remains valid only while you continue meeting the study requirements.

Those requirements include sufficient annual academic progress.

Students generally need to earn at least:

50% of the credits for each academic year.

If your progress is insufficient, the university first considers whether there is a recognised reason.

Without an acceptable reason, the educational institution must report insufficient progress to the IND.

What If Your Dutch Master’s Takes Longer?

A longer programme duration does not necessarily mean you have to leave immediately.

If your study permit is approaching expiry while you still genuinely need additional time to complete the programme, an extension can be applied for.

But your university’s support is particularly important because it is your recognised sponsor.

Before the permit approaches expiry, contact:

International Student Office

or:

Immigration/visa team

at your university.

Ask them to confirm:

• Whether your enrolment can continue
• Whether your study duration is being formally extended
• Whether sufficient study progress has been achieved
• What IND procedure will be used

Do not treat the immigration extension as something completely separate from the university.

The Netherlands: Study Delay and the 50% Rule

Suppose your programme is:

60 ECTS per year

Normally you need at least:

30 ECTS

to satisfy the IND’s general 50% progress requirement for that study year.

Imagine you complete:

48 ECTS

but need another semester for:

12 ECTS

Your delayed graduation does not necessarily indicate insufficient progress.

You have clearly completed substantial academic work.

Now compare that with a student who completes:

10 ECTS

without a recognised reason.

Both students may need additional time.

But their immigration cases are very different.

Sweden: Extension Is Possible, But Progress Requirements Matter

Sweden also allows a student residence permit to be extended when additional study time is necessary.

You need to apply before your current permit expires, and the Migration Agency requires:

• Valid passport
• Admission to full-time studies
• Acceptable academic progress
• Relevant financial and other requirements.

Swedish permits are generally not granted for longer than the actual period of study, although extensions can be requested where the studies continue.

Sweden’s Academic Progress Rules Changed in 2026

For student residence permits granted on or after 11 June 2026, Sweden now generally requires full-time university students to complete:

At least 37.5 credits during the first year

and:

At least 45 credits per year from the second year onward.

Older permits can fall under the previous progress thresholds until the relevant transition rules apply.

Therefore, a delayed graduation alone is not necessarily the problem.

The question is:

Have you made enough progress to justify continuing student residence?

Sweden Example

Rahul’s Master’s was expected to finish in:

June 2027

His residence permit expires shortly afterward.

But a failed compulsory course means graduation moves to:

January 2028

Rahul remains enrolled full-time and has otherwise completed sufficient credits.

He should apply for an extension before the permit expires.

Sweden allows extension applications up to four months before expiry, and a timely applicant can remain in Sweden while a decision is pending.

What If You Are Waiting for Just One Final Result?

This creates an unusual situation.

You may have:

• Completed all exams
• Submitted thesis
• Completed defence
• No classes remaining

but your university has not yet officially awarded the final result.

Are you:

Still a student?

or:

Already a graduate?

Do not decide this yourself.

Immigration authorities may rely on the university’s official confirmation of when your studies are considered completed.

Sweden provides a useful example.

For its post-study job-search permit, the Migration Agency requires the entire programme to have been successfully completed with passing grades.

However, if a student’s current study permit is about to expire before the final passing result is formally available, Sweden advises the student to apply before the permit expires and supplement the application with proof of completion later.

This shows why the exact date of official completion can matter.

Thesis Submission Is Not Always the Same as Graduation

Imagine:

Thesis submitted: 1 June

Thesis defence: 20 June

Final result: 15 July

Degree officially completed: 15 July

Graduation ceremony: November

For immigration purposes, the important date may be:

official completion of degree requirements

rather than:

graduation ceremony

Do not assume you are still a student until convocation.

Likewise, do not assume you are a graduate merely because you uploaded your thesis.

Ask the university:

“What is my official programme completion date?”

Your Graduation Ceremony Usually Does Not Determine Your Residence Status

This is another common misunderstanding.

Many universities hold graduation ceremonies months after students technically complete their degrees.

For example:

Final degree completed: July

Graduation ceremony: December

You normally do not need student residence until December simply because you want to attend convocation.

Immigration authorities are interested in when the academic programme was completed—not necessarily when you wear the graduation gown.

Once your studies are formally completed, you may need to move to the appropriate:

• Post-study job-search permit
• Work permit
• Graduate residence status

rather than continuing indefinitely as a student.

Can You Use the Post-Study Work Permit Before You Actually Finish?

Usually, special graduate pathways require successful completion.

For example:

Germany

The graduate job-search residence permit of up to 18 months becomes available after successful completion of a German degree.

Austria

The one-time 12-month extension for searching for work or starting a business is available after successful completion of qualifying studies.

Sweden

The post-study job-search route requires the whole programme to have been completed with passing grades.

Therefore:

Thesis still pending → usually still student pathway

Degree successfully completed → graduate pathway may begin

Do not switch too early.

What If You Already Have a Job Offer?

Imagine your degree is delayed by one semester, but you receive a full-time offer.

You now have two possible questions:

Can I extend my student permit until I graduate?

or:

Can I switch to a work permit before graduation?

The answer depends on the country and on whether you already have a completed qualification that supports the work permit.

Germany, for example, can allow students to change from study residence to qualified employment before completing the current degree under certain circumstances.

Other graduate-specific routes may require you to finish the degree first.

Do not abandon the final semester until you understand what immigration benefits graduation would give you.

What If You Need Only One Resit?

Suppose:

119 ECTS completed

1 subject failed

Next resit in four months

Technically, you have not graduated.

Your student residence may therefore still need to cover those four months.

Ask the university for:

• Enrolment confirmation
• Transcript
• Confirmation that the resit is necessary for graduation
• Expected examination date

That provides a clear explanation for why additional residence time is needed.

What If You Keep Failing the Same Subject?

This can become more difficult.

There is an important difference between:

One extra attempt

and:

Several years of repeated unsuccessful study

Immigration authorities may eventually question whether successful completion remains realistic.

Your university may also have maximum examination-attempt rules.

So if repeated failure is delaying graduation, you need to understand both:

University progression rules

and:

Immigration renewal rules

before assuming another extension will always be granted.

What If Your Thesis Supervisor Delays You?

Keep evidence.

For example:

Email from supervisor

stating:

• More research is required
• Thesis timeline has changed
• New expected completion date

or:

University confirmation

showing that the thesis remains active.

This helps demonstrate that the delayed graduation is connected to genuine academic work.

It is much stronger than arriving at immigration with only:

“My thesis is taking longer.”

What If the University Itself Causes the Delay?

Examples include:

• Compulsory module cancelled
• Examination postponed
• Supervisor unavailable
• Internship placement delayed
• Administrative problem

Ask the university to document it.

A formal letter saying:

“The student requires an additional semester because Module X was unavailable during the scheduled semester”

can clearly distinguish institutional delay from poor academic progress.

What About Illness?

If serious illness causes your degree to take longer, keep:

• Medical certificate
• Hospital records
• University accommodation approval
• Approved study leave
• Evidence showing how studies were affected

Austria and Sweden both explicitly allow documented circumstances such as illness to be relevant when normal academic progress has not been achieved.

Again:

Delay + documentation

is very different from:

Delay + no explanation

Does Taking Longer Affect Your Post-Study Period?

Usually, the post-study period begins after successful completion—not based on the original date printed in the university brochure.

For example:

You were supposed to graduate:

June 2027

but actually complete:

February 2028

Your graduate job-search pathway generally becomes relevant when you actually complete the qualification, assuming you satisfy the country’s requirements.

So an extra semester does not necessarily reduce your graduate job-search period simply because you graduated later than expected.

But you must keep your student residence status valid until actual completion.

That is the key.

Can Your Permit Expire While the Renewal Is Processing?

Yes.

This is possible even if you applied correctly.

For example:

Residence card expires: 30 September

Renewal submitted: 20 August

Decision still pending: October

In Austria, a timely renewal application means you remain lawfully resident while the authorities decide the application, despite the expiry of the old card.

Sweden similarly allows a timely extension applicant to remain while waiting for the decision.

However, an expired card can create separate issues for:

international travel and re-entry.

Do not book a trip home simply because your underlying stay remains lawful.

Check your country’s interim travel documentation requirements first.

Do You Need to Show Financial Resources Again?

Usually, residence renewal can involve proving that you continue meeting financial requirements.

Taking one additional semester therefore has a financial immigration cost beyond simply paying more rent.

You may need to demonstrate resources for:

• Living costs
• Accommodation
• Insurance

depending on the country.

For Germany, for example, proof of sufficient funds remains part of student residence requirements. Current federal guidance lists a blocked-account amount of €11,904 for 2026 as one method of demonstrating funds for a standard study application.

Do not assume your original financial proof permanently covers every future extension.

The Hidden Cost of Graduating Late

An extra semester can mean:

Extra rent

Insurance

Food

Transport

University fees

Residence renewal costs

For example, an additional six months could easily become several thousand euros in living expenses.

So if your degree starts falling behind schedule, calculate the financial impact early.

Sometimes completing a difficult resit immediately is not simply about academics.

It can prevent an entire additional semester of living costs.

Does Graduating Late Hurt Your Career?

Usually, one additional semester is not a major career issue by itself.

Employers are generally more interested in:

• Your qualification
• Skills
• Internships
• Projects
• Work experience

than whether a two-year Master’s took exactly four semesters.

However, be prepared to explain significant delays where relevant.

A reasonable explanation such as:

“My industry thesis project required an additional research semester”

is very different from an unexplained multi-year delay.

Does It Affect Permanent Residence Later?

Potentially, but the answer is highly country-specific.

Student residence may count:

• Fully
• Partially
• Differently

toward certain long-term residence routes.

Spending an extra year on student status rather than employment status can therefore affect how quickly you reach another immigration milestone.

But this should not lead you to abandon a degree simply to start the clock on a work permit.

First complete the immigration calculation for the specific country.

Your Best Strategy: Create a Graduation Extension File

As soon as you realise you will graduate late, collect:

University Documents

• Current enrolment confirmation
• Transcript
• Remaining credit requirements
• Thesis registration
• Expected completion date
• Supervisor letter where useful

Residence Documents

• Passport
• Current residence card
• Previous residence decisions

Financial Documents

• Bank statements
• Scholarship proof
• Sponsorship documentation

Insurance

• Current health-insurance confirmation

Evidence Explaining Delay

• Medical documents
• Thesis correspondence
• University letters
• Resit schedule
• Internship confirmation

Do not assemble this file during the final week before expiry.

A Practical Timeline

Imagine your permit expires:

30 September 2027

and you now expect to graduate:

February 2028

May

You realise another semester is necessary.

Ask the university for confirmation.

June

Calculate:

• Credits completed
• Remaining requirements
• Expected completion date

July

Prepare:

• Financial documents
• Insurance
• Passport
• Academic evidence

When Your Renewal Window Opens

Apply as early as reasonably possible under your country’s procedure.

Before 30 September

Make sure the extension has been formally submitted.

Not:

“I started filling the form.”

But:

“The authority received my application.”

Following Semester

Complete:

• Thesis
• Resit
• Remaining modules

After Successful Completion

Move into the appropriate graduate:

• Job-search
• Work
• Entrepreneur

residence pathway where eligible.

Country Comparison

Country	Can Study Residence Be Extended If Graduation Is Delayed?	Key Issue
Austria	Yes, if renewal conditions are met	Continuing enrolment + normally 16 ECTS/8 semester hours academic success
Germany	Yes	Study permit can be extended when degree is not finished within initial period
Netherlands	Yes, subject to sponsor/IND requirements	Must remain in full-time study and normally achieve at least 50% annual credits
Sweden	Yes	Must remain admitted to full-time study and meet applicable progress requirements

The details are different.

But the principle is remarkably similar:

A reasonable delay can be manageable. An expired residence permit cannot simply be ignored.

8 Common Mistakes International Students Should Avoid

Mistake 1: Assuming the University Will Extend Your Residence Permit

Your university can extend your academic timeline.

Only the immigration authority can extend your residence permission.

Mistake 2: Waiting Until the Permit Expires

Always investigate renewal beforehand.

Mistake 3: Thinking You Automatically Become Eligible for a Graduate Permit

You generally need to successfully complete the qualification first.

Mistake 4: Keeping No Proof of Why Your Degree Is Delayed

Get university or medical documentation where appropriate.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Academic Progress Requirements

Simply remaining enrolled may not be enough.

Countries can require minimum academic progress.

Mistake 6: Confusing Thesis Submission With Graduation

Your official completion date may be later.

Mistake 7: Assuming the Graduation Ceremony Determines Your Status

The academic completion date is usually much more relevant than convocation.

Mistake 8: Travelling With an Expired Card While Renewal Is Pending

Lawful stay during processing does not automatically mean your expired residence card is valid for international re-entry.

What Should You Ask Your University?

If you know your graduation is delayed, ask:

What is my new expected completion date?

Will I remain fully enrolled during the additional semester?

How many ECTS are still outstanding?

Can you provide a confirmation for immigration?

Is my thesis officially registered?

When is my next resit?

When will I officially be considered graduated?

Get written answers where possible.

What Should You Ask Immigration?

Ask:

When can I apply for extension?

What academic-progress evidence is required?

How much financial proof do I need?

Do I need updated insurance?

What happens if my existing card expires during processing?

Can I continue working under student rules?

Can I travel while renewal is pending?

How long can my student permit be extended?

Your friend’s situation may not be identical.

Use the rules applying to your own permit.

A Simple Example

Consider an Indian student named Neha.

She enrols in:

MSc Artificial Intelligence in Europe

Official programme length:

2 years

Original expected graduation:

June 2027

Student residence permit expiry:

September 2027

Neha completes:

114 out of 120 ECTS

but fails one compulsory 6-ECTS subject.

The next resit is:

January 2028

Her new graduation date becomes:

February 2028

Neha should not:

Stay until January using an expired September residence card

and hope everything is fine.

She should:

Remain enrolled

↓

Get confirmation of the remaining resit

↓

Check academic-progress requirements

↓

Apply for residence extension before September

↓

Complete the subject

↓

Receive degree

↓

Move to the relevant post-study residence pathway

The delayed graduation itself is not necessarily the problem.

Failing to manage the immigration extension is.

What If You Realise You Cannot Finish at All?

That becomes a different situation.

If:

• University terminates your enrolment
• You exceed maximum exam attempts
• You decide to abandon the degree
• Completion is no longer realistic

you should not keep applying for student extensions as though the programme is continuing normally.

You may need to investigate:

• Another programme
• Another university
• Work residence
• Vocational training
• Another qualifying residence category
• Departure

A residence extension is intended to help students complete genuine ongoing studies, not preserve student status indefinitely.

The Bottom Line

Graduating later than the original date mentioned in your programme or residence planning does not automatically mean you have to leave Europe without completing your degree.

Many European countries allow student residence permits to be extended when additional study time is genuinely necessary.

But the extension is not automatic.

You generally need to show:

Continuing enrolment + genuine academic progress + remaining study requirements + financial resources + insurance + a realistic path to graduation

In Austria, a normal Residence Permit – Student renewal requires continuing enrolment and generally proof of at least 16 ECTS or eight semester hours of academic success per academic year. A timely renewal also keeps the student lawfully resident while the application is being processed.

In Germany, official guidance specifically states that if a student has not completed their degree during the initial study residence period, they can request an extension for further study.

In the Netherlands, the residence permit normally covers the programme duration plus three months, but the student must continue meeting the conditions of study and generally obtain at least 50% of the annual credits.

In Sweden, students can apply for an extension when their studies continue, but they must apply before the existing permit expires and demonstrate acceptable academic progress. For permits subject to the rules introduced in June 2026, the standard progress requirement is generally 37.5 credits in the first study year and 45 credits in subsequent years.

So if your Master’s takes five semesters instead of four, the first question should not be:

“Am I in trouble because I am graduating late?”

It should be:

“What do I need to do now to keep my student residence valid until I actually graduate?”

At Span International, we help students understand the complete study-abroad journey—from university selection and applications to visa guidance and the residence requirements that continue after arriving in Europe.

The date in a university brochure is an expected study timeline.

Your residence permit has a legal deadline—and if your academics take longer, that deadline needs to be managed before it arrives.