Leave of Absence
To maintain your F-1 or J-1 status as a student, you need to be registered full-time at DePauw. If you need to take a break from classes for a semester or more, then you would need to take a “leave of absence”, which allows for DePauw students to take up to two semesters away from DePauw. Some students, due to health concerns, may need to withdraw from the University for Medical reasons.
This webpage will review important information regarding the impacts on immigration of a leave of absence or withdrawing for medical reasons. More information about taking a leave of absence can be found on the Registrar’s Leave of Absence webpage. More information about withdrawing for medical reasons can be found on the Medical Withdrawal page.
If you have been approved for a leave of absence and are not otherwise maintaining your status in the United States, you have a 15-day grace period and should make immediate plans to leave the United States.
Students considering a medical withdrawal should consult with International Student Affairs about options, including a reduced course load.
In all cases, you should speak to a member of the International Student Affairs team about your individual situation if you have questions about taking a leave and its impact on your stay in or departure from the United States.
The Steps to Taking a Leave of Absence
Start with a conversation with your Academic Advisor.
If you are considering leaving the University for a semester or two, it is important for you to have a conversation with the appropriate academic support to understand the impact of your leave on your academics.
Official Steps:
1. DETERMINE THE TYPE OF LEAVE THAT YOU INTEND TO TAKE
Your unique situation will impact what type of leave is appropriate for you. The CARE Team can assist you in determining which leave meets the needs of your circumstances.
Each type of leave has a set of rules that you must follow so that you can return to DePauw at the end of your leave.
2. Departing the US
You have to leave the United States if you can’t maintain your F-1 or J-1 Status. You should plan on departing within 15 days of taking the leave once it has been processed. Your I-20 or DS-2019 will be terminated, reflecting that you are no longer a student.
If you are outside of the United States for more than 5 months while on leave, you will need to apply for new immigration documentation (I-20 or DS-2019) to be able to reenter the United States in F-1 or J-1 status.
If you are outside of the United States for less than 5 months, reach out to International Student Affairs to see if it’s possible to reactivate your SEVIS record.
Make sure to be in touch with the Registrar’s Office about how to apply for readmission, based on the kind of leave that you take.
3. Returning to DePauw
To return to DePauw as a student, you will need to follow the steps outlined both on DePauw’s Leave of Absence page, Medical Withdrawal page, and its Applying for Readmission page. Refer to the page that describes your situation.
From an immigration perspective, here are key steps that you will need to take to get an updated immigration documentation to return to the United States.
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Reach out to the Office of Financial Aid (financialaid@depauw.edu) to request a letter confirming your scholarship and any financial aid award
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Once you have this letter, send the following pieces of documentation to International Student Affairs (intlstudents@depauw.edu)
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Readmission letter from the Office of the Registrar
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Scholarship confirmation letter (the “Financial Aid letter” noted above)
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Recent bank statement showing the your and/or your family’s ability to cover the tuition, fees, room and board (a scanned copy is sufficient)
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Scan of passport biographical page
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Scan of most recent F-1 or J-1 visa for DePauw
We recommend that returning students begin the readmission process no later than 2 months before the start of the semester to which they plan to return. Early November for the following Spring semester; June for an August return.
Students returning to DePauw may also need to apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa if theirs has already expired.