If you are considering a leave of absence or withdrawing from the college, please review important information and FAQs from the Dean of Students’ office website.
Leave of Absence
In addition to the Leave of Absence (LOA) processes at the college, there are additional considerations for international students taking a LOA. When an international student on an F-1 visa takes a leave of absence, there are implications for their student visa and SEVIS records. International student visas require full-time enrollment, so when you take a LOA, and are no longer enrolled at the college, your SEVIS record/F-1 status will be terminated for reason "Authorized Early Withdrawal" and your I-20 will no longer valid be valid for entry into the US. Students should plan to depart the US within 15 days of their LOA being finalized.
Alternatives to Taking a LOA
Before deciding to take a LOA, we encourage you to be aware that there are several alternative options to taking a leave of absence. Read more about these options here.
Additionally, international students with documentable medical reasons can request a reduced course load (less than three Reed units) instead of taking a LOA from the college.
F-1 Status and LOAs or Withdrawals
When you pursue a temporary leave or permanent departure from the College, this results in the termination of your SEVIS record/visa. The SEVIS record is terminated with the reason “Authorized Early Withdrawal”. This designation does not adversely affect your immigration record. The SEVIS record is terminated as of the finalized LOA date. Once the SEVIS record is terminated, you have a 15-day grace period in which you must depart the US. You should not overstay this 15-day grace period - if you do, there could be adverse implications for your immigration status or benefits in the future.
If you wish to return to the US at any point during your leave from the College, while you are not enrolled, you must return on another type of visa, like a tourist visa, or a student visa for another college. You cannot re-enter the US with the prior Reed College I-20.
Medical Leave of Absence
Taking a Medical Leave of Absence from the College is an option, and you can read more about that process here. The same implications discussed above apply if you are taking a Medical Leave of Absence from the College. You must be approved for a return from your MLOA, however, and the timing may impact your return to Reed. Read below for more information about returning to Reed, and note that ISS cannot request reactivation of your SEVIS record or issue an initial I-20 until you have been approved to return to the college.
Emergency Absences
As you remain an enrolled student while on an emergency absence from the college, there are no impacts on your visa and SEVIS record. If your Emergency Absence will culminate in a leave of absence, consult the sections above on information you should know about a LOA.
Returning from a LOA/MLOA
Returning to Reed after a leave of fewer than 5 months
Please review the college processes for returning from a LOA/MLOA here. Read below for information about your visa and SEVIS record when returning from a LOA/MLOA.
If the gap in your enrollment and absence from the United States will be fewer than five months, ISS can usually request that your F-1 status be 'reactivated' by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Reactivation allows you to maintain your OPT or CPT work authorization eligibility and use the same I-20 and visa (if not expired). Note that only ISS can request the SEVIS record reactivation. SEVP approves the request and often requires additional documentation from the school and the student to make the change.
If your leave is for fewer than five months, you must:
- Contact ISS by email with your anticipated return date at least one month before you plan to return to Reed. This will give ISS time to request that your record to be reactivated with SEVP.
- Check your email regularly.
- SEVP often requires additional information to reactivate your status (such as a transcript copy, proof of travel, or other documents).
- If additional documents are required, ISS will contact you via your Reed email. SEVP allows a very short response time, so you must submit required documents to us within 1-2 days.
After the request is made, ISS will confirm once your record has been turned back to 'active'. Processing times vary and can take from a minimum of 1 to up to 4 weeks, so it is important to contact ISS well in advance. If you have additional considerations, like a visa appointment scheduled, approaching scheduled flight, we may be able to request that your SEVIS record is activated more quickly. This escalation requires documentation and approval from SEVP. Please contact ISS for more information.
Re-enter the US up to 30 days before classes begin with all required travel documents, including a valid F-1 visa after your record is set back to 'active'.
Note that reactivation times vary. ISS cannot guarantee when your record will be turned back to 'active'. If your record is not approved for 'reactivation' you will need to work with ISS to create a new 'initial' SEVIS record and I-20, see "Returning to Reed after a leave of five months or longer" below for further information.
Returning to Reed after a leave of five months or longer
If there will be more than a five month gap in your enrollment or absence from the United States, you will require a new, SEVIS record and new 'Initial' I-20. This will be a completely new F-1 record with new SEVIS ID number.
If your leave is for more than five months, you must:
- Contact ISS 2-3 months before you plan to return to Reed. This will allow time for the creation and receipt of your new SEVIS record/I-20.
- Complete the International Student Certification of Finances with supporting documentation that you are able to cover one year of your Reed costs.
- Submit the form and support documents via the secure ISS document portal
- Receive your new intial Form I-20 from ISS.
- Pay the $350 SEVIS I-901 fee.
- You may also need to apply for a new F-1 visa. You should contact the consulate or embassy well in advance of your return, and begin the visa application process if required.
Please note that you cannot enter the US more than 30 days before the start date listed on your new initial I-20.
Important Considerations and Reminders
If your record is terminated for "Authorized Early Withdrawal" you should not overstay the 15-day grace period - if you do, there could be adverse implications for your immigration status or benefits in the future.
If you are absent from the US for more than 5 months and return with an "initial" I-20, you will not be eligible for CPT or OPT work authorization until you have completed one academic year of full-time enrollment after your return from your leave. This regulation is especially important to note if you are considering a LOA of over five months in your final year of studies at Reed.
You should not remain in the US with a terminated SEVIS record. If your SEVIS record is terminated for another reason, such as academic or disciplinary suspension, you will not have a grace period to leave and will be expected to depart the US immediately.
Transferring Schools
Transferring to Another College
You can take classes at another college while on a LOA from Reed. If you know at the time of deciding to leave Reed that you have been accepted to and plan to attend another institution in the US directly after Reed, it is possible to transfer your SEVIS record to another college. If you intend to pursue studies at another institution immediately, you can transfer your F-1 program before your SEVIS record is terminated.
To request a transfer of your SEVIS record, send the following to iss@reed.edu:
- Confirmation of acceptance by another school with an F-1 visa program (ie: acceptance email or letter)
- Name and SEVIS school code for the “transfer-in” school
- Desired SEVIS record transfer release date
You must begin your studies at the new school within five months of leaving Reed. If you have not been accepted to another institution yet, you can still apply to another institution, return home, and return to the US on a new F-1 visa and an I-20 from your new school.
You may transfer your SEVIS record back to Reed when you plan to return from your leave. Contact ISS at iss@reed.edu to transfer your SEVIS record.