Absence from the United States

If you are going to be leaving the United States for less than five months, you may return to the United States with your current I-20 with a valid travel signature within five months of your departure from the United States to continue your study at Syracuse University. If you were taking a leave of absence, please follow the readmission instructions to be readmitted into your academic program.

Five-month rule:

If you are going to be leaving the United States for more than five months, you must obtain an initial I-20 from the Slutzker Center for International Services. You will be assigned a new SEVIS ID number. You must study in the United States for one academic year again to be eligible for Practical Training (Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training).

  • If you were taking a leave of absence, please follow the readmission instructions.
  • If you are participating in the SU Abroad program, you are exempt from the five-month rule. Approximately one month after the beginning of the semester that you are studying abroad (Fall or Spring), you will receive an updated I-20 with a special remark about the five-month rule exemption.*
  • If you are a graduate student and researching outside the United States for more than five months for your degree program, you are exempt from the five-month rule as long as you are registered as a full-time student during the academic year. Please notify the Slutzker Center prior to your departure from the United States. When you know of your return schedule, please request the Slutzker Center to issue an updated I-20 with a special remark about the five-month rule exemption. Also, please ask your academic department to issue a letter of explanation to state that you have been researching outside the United States for your degree program and are expected to return to Syracuse University to complete the program.*

* Please observe the following guidance for addresses in order to maintain your F-1 and SEVIS status.

  1. In the address section of your MySlice,
    • CURRENT address = must be a U.S. address
    • SEVIS FOREIGN address = must be a non-U.S. address
    • PERMANENT address = can be either U.S. or non-US address

  2. While abroad, you will need to maintain a CURRENT "local" U.S. address. This address is required for your SEVIS I-20 to remain valid even if you are outside of the U.S. You may update your current address through MySlice. NOTE: Do not enter a non-U.S. address in the current address field.

  3. Upon return to Syracuse, use MySlice to update your new current address. When you do so, please follow the guidance in Section 1 to keep your SEVIS record valid.