Academic Leave of Absence

Immigration regulations require that students maintain continuous full-time enrollment during required terms in order to maintain F-1 or J-1 student status. If you take a leave of absence, and thus are not a registered student, your SEVIS record will be terminated for “authorized early withdrawal” and your F-1/J-1 status will end. Unless you apply for a change of status or transfer, you cannot remain in the U.S. beyond 15 days of filing the leave of absence paperwork (except if authorized for a medical leave of absence).
 
In order to take an authorized leave of absence, you must:

  • Meet with a Slutzker Center advisor to discuss your
    plans.

  • Complete a Leave of Absence Form in your academic department.

  • Submit a copy of your completed Leave of Absence Form to the Slutzker Center.
Once Your Leave of Absence is Authorized by the University:

  1. The Slutzker Center will terminate* your SEVIS record for “authorized early withdrawal; you will have 15 days to depart the U.S.

    * SEVIS flags all records in terminated status regardless of the reason for the termination. When trying to enter the U.S., a student with a flagged record is typically sent to secondary inspection (a more thorough screening) at the port of entry. Please follow the procedure indicated in step two to have the flag removed.

  2. Once you exit the U.S., you must submit a copy of your passport ID page and the page that has the home country entry stamp to confirm your departure.

    E-mail (lescis@syr.edu) or fax (315-443-3091) document copies with “Exited
    U.S. on LOA” as the subject of the correspondence.

To Resume Studies at SU/ESF:
  • Please follow the readmission instructions in order to be readmitted into your academic program.

  • Once the Slutzker Center receives notification that you have been readmitted, you will receive a new initial I-20 for entry to the U.S.

    You will have to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again; Following Department of State guidance, the Slutzker Center recommends that you also obtain a ;new student visa (even if your current visa is valid) as you may be denied entry to the U.S. on yourprior student visa.
Impact of Taking a Leave of Absence on Practical Training Eligibility

Since students returning from a leave of absence enter the U.S. on a new initial I-20, they are required to complete another full academic year in status in order to be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). If you plan to apply for practical training, you should be enrolled as a full-time student for at least 2 semesters prior to your anticipated CPT/OPT start date.