Leave of Absence & Withdrawal

More Than 5 Months

Students who take a leave of absence and are outside the US for 5 months or more are required to:

• Be readmitted to Emory
• Provide ISSS with new financial documentation and request a new SEVIS record and I-20 (see "Return from Leave Procedure" below)
• Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again
• Apply for a new F-1 visa (if applicable)
  • Some students need to apply for a new F-1 visa even if their current F-1 visa will be valid at the time they will return to Emory.
  • ISSS recommends that students contact their preferred US consulate to determine if they will be required to apply for a new F-1 visa after ISSS has created a new SEVIS record and has issued a new I-20.
  • Whether or not a student will need a new F-1 visa is up to the discretion of the consulate where they apply for the visa.
• Be enrolled for another full academic year (one fall term and one spring term) before being eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
  • F-1 students who take a leave for 5 months or more will lose the time they previously accrued toward the practical training requirement.
  • Summer term does not count towards the one academic year requirement.
    • For example, students who take a leave for a fall semester must be enrolled full-time in F-1 status for one spring term and the following fall before they are eligible to apply for CPT or OPT.
    • There are limited exceptions to this requirement for graduate students requesting CPT.

Less Than 5 Months

Students who take a leave of absence (except for reasons such as an exclusion, probation, conduct matters, etc.) and spend fewer than 5 months outside the United States (in between full-time enrollment at Emory), may be eligible for a SEVIS record reactivation:

• After the student has been readmitted to Emory, the student's ISSS advisor can submit a reactivation request to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS processing times vary. Students should plan ahead as it can take from several weeks to months.
• If DHS approves the reactivation, the advantages include not needing to:
  • obtain a new SEVIS record and I-20 (unless the student requires an updated travel signature)
  • pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again
  • obtain a new F-1 visa (unless the current visa will be expired at the time the student returns to the US)
  • accrue another full academic year (one fall term and one spring term) before being eligible for practical training.
• Even if the student was physically outside the US for less than 5 months, DHS may still deny a reactivation request under the following circumstances:
  • If there is more than 5 months between the date the student last attended classes and the start date of the next semester when they will resume classes
  • If the student was last enrolled in May and wants to return the following January even if the length of time spent outside the US was less than 5 months. Students taking a leave starting fall should carefully read the summer enrollment requirements. 

To officially request a leave of absence from ISSS and be provided with an "Authorized Early Withdrawal", students must complete the following:

1. Log into ISSS Link and submit the Leave of Absence e-form (located under the "General Student Services" tab)
2. The student's ISSS advisor will review the request within 5 business days. If the student is eligible for an "Authorized Early Withdrawal," the ISSS advisor will "close" the student's SEVIS record and e-mail the student to notify them.
3. After receiving the approval e-mail from their ISSS advisor, the student must:
   • Depart the US within 15 days of having their SEVIS record "closed"
   • Make sure they do not have any courses scheduled for any current or future semesters

To return from a leave of absence, students must complete the following:

1. Contact their academic department/program (see "School Contacts" below) for readmission instructions
2. Reach out to their ISSS advisor after readmission
   • The ISSS advisor will e-mail the student instructions on how to access and submit the Return from Leave I-20 Request in ISSS Link.
   • This e-form cannot be accessed through the regular ISSS Link login.
3. Complete the Return from Leave I-20 Request. In the e-form, the student will need to provide the following:
   • Passport copy
   • Financial Documentation
     • I-20/DS-2019 Estimated Expenses for all Emory programs
     • Financial Requirements and Sponsor Form
4. The student's ISSS advisor will review the request within 5 business days and contact the student with any questions.
   • If the student is eligible for a reactivation of their "closed" SEVIS record, ISSS will submit a request to DHS. If approved by DHS, the student will be notified through e-mail. The student may use their most recent I-20 to return to the US. If an updated travel signature is required, the student can request one by submitting a Travel Information Update e-form in ISSS Link.
   • If the student requires a new SEVIS record, a new I-20 will be created and e-mailed to the student.
5. For students with new SEVIS records only:
   • Follow ISSS' Student Pre-Arrival Checklist for information about paying the SEVIS fee, applying for a new visa, and making travel arrangements.
     • Note: The student cannot enter the US more than 30 days prior to their new I-20 start date.
   • Complete ISSS' Student Post-Arrival Checklist for guidance on completing international student check-in. 

For ISSS purposes, a voluntary withdrawal is treated the same as a leave of absence. F-1 students interested in withdrawing should review and follow the regulations, policies, and procedures outlined in the "F-1 Leave of Absence" section (above).

J-1 students interested in withdrawing from Emory must discuss the change with their Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). J-1 students who are sponsored by Emory, should contact their ISSS advisor. J-1 students sponsored by another organization (e.g. Fulbright) should contact their program sponsor. 

In rare circumstances, a student is terminated from their program for academic reasons. If this occurs, the student must leave the US as soon as they are notified of the termination. In this case, a voluntary withdrawal is not possible. Per the regulations, ISSS must terminate the student's SEVIS record.

Students who are at risk of being terminated from their academic program should discuss their situation with their ISSS advisor as soon as possible. ISSS advisors can help the student understand and prepare for the immigration-related effects of the termination. 

Some doctoral students in the Laney Graduate School have the ability to apply for a terminal master's degree if they are leaving their PhD program early. Students interested in applying for a terminal master's should contact their ISSS advisor before the change takes place. If the student is eligible, they will be provided with an updated immigration document and advised on their end of program options (e.g. post-completion employment authorization, SEVIS transfer to attend another institution, departing the US, etc.).