If you take a leave of absence, withdraw from your program, or are given a suspension, you must contact the ISSO immediately to discuss your immediate plans and any plans you may have to return.

MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE

The only exception that allows you to stay in the United States without transferring to another school or changing to another non-immigrant status is a medical leave of absence. Once your school has approved a medical leave of absence, you must also receive approval from the International Students and Scholars Office. The ISSO requires a letter from your physician stating 1) your medical condition, and 2) advising the ISSO that you are unable to register as a student at the time the leave is granted. If the doctor's letter meets immigration regulations, you are allowed to stay in the United States during the semester as long as you register for the following semester. Under immigration regulations, only one year of medical leave is allowed per degree level and may be authorized in semester increments only.

If you are on a medical leave and depart the United States, you may return using your current documents (valid passport, valid F-1 entry visa and recertified I-20).

WITHDRAWAL, VOLUNTARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE, DISMISSAL, SUSPENSION

For all the above categories, F-1 students are required to depart the United States. Your current F-1 status is "terminated" in the SEVIS database and you will need to request a new initial I-20 to return to the U.S. You will also need to pay a new SEVIS fee and have a valid F-1 entry visa to return. If you are outside the U.S. for more than five months, you must apply for a new F-1 entry visa even if your current F-1 entry visa is still valid.

OBTAINING A NEW I-20

You should request a new I-20 by sending a fax to 212-854-3966. The fax should include the following:

• Letter from your school stating that you are allowed to return to your studies.
• Funding documentation to cover one year of tuition, fees and living expenses
• Address where the new form should be mailed to.

Please note that you will need to pay the SEVIS fee in order to return to the United States. You can do so at the SEVIS I-901 Fee website (https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/). State Department regulations require that you apply for a new F-1 visa, even if your current F-1 visa has not expired, if you have been out of the U.S. for 5 months or more and you have not been registered during this period. You also need a valid passport.

Important Considerations:

• If you wish to make short-term, temporary visits to the U.S. during the period that you are on leave, suspended or withdrawn from the University, you should not enter in F-1 status but rather on a different visa, such as a B-2 visitor's visa. You may enter in Student Status only if you are returning for the purpose of resuming your studies.
  
  
• While on a medical leave in the United States, you are not permitted to engage in any student-based employment in the U.S., whether on-campus or off-campus. If you wish to take a leave of absence to pursue employment or any other activities in the U.S., you will have to change your immigration status accordingly and should speak with an ISSO adviser about your plans.
  

Last reviewed: 10 September 2008 Last modified: 10 September 2008
International Students and Scholars Office
Columbia University