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F-1 international students who find themselves in a situation where they have to temporarily or permanently leave the U.S. and suspend their studies may request a Leave of Absence (LOA). Immigration regulations allow students to be out of the U.S. for up to 5 months and return on the currently issued Form I-20, if the leave is approved and if the return is properly coordinated with a DSO. If the student is outside of the U.S. for more than 5 months, the student will need to obtain new immigration documents prior to returning to the U.S. 

Details and Instructions for Leave of Absence (LOA)

Before you leave the U.S.

  1. Complete the online LOA Request Form
  2. Wait to receive an email from a DSO with the final decision and instructions. If your LOA is approved, your I-20/SEVIS record will be temporarily deactivated for "Early Authorized Withdrawal"
  3. Drop your courses for the given semester, unless you have been authorized to continue an online course from outside of the U.S.
  4. You must depart the U.S. within 15 days after the approval of your LOA. 

For Re-entry after Leave of Absence (Start this process at least 90 days before you plan to return to the U.S.)

  1. Contact the DSO who assisted you with your Leave of Absence. Write an email/letter requesting readmission and include a copy of your travel itinerary indicating when you will be returning to the U.S.
  2. The DSO will submit a reactivation request to SEVP to have your status returned to “Active”. This may take up to 30 days. The DSO will contact you once your SEVIS record has been returned to “Active” status.
  3. Re-enter the United States with your updated Form I-20, valid passport, and valid F-1 visa.

Before you leave the U.S.

  1. Complete the online LOA Request Form
  2. Wait to receive an email from a DSO with the final decision and instructions. If your LOA is approved, your I-20 will be deactivated for "Early Authorized Withdrawal"
  3. Drop your courses for the given semester, unless you have been authorized to continue an online course from outside of the U.S.
  4. You must depart the U.S. within 15 days after the deactivation of your I-20/SEVIS record. 

For Re-entry after Leave of Absence (Start this process at least 90 days before you plan to return to the U.S.)

  1. Contact the DSO who assisted you with your Leave of Absence. Write an email/letter requesting readmission and include a copy of your travel itinerary indicating when you will be returning to the U.S. The DSO will give you a list of documents you must submit (such as a new bank statement)
  2. DSO will issue a new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID. You will have to pay the SEVIS fee for your new SEVIS record. Note: your old I-20/SEVIS record is no longer valid at that point. 
  3. Re-enter the United States with your new Form I-20, valid passport, and valid F-1 visa. Note: if you have been absent of the U.S. for more than 5 months, you may need to obtain a new F-1 visa (please contact the U.S. embassy in your home country to verify).