Temporary and Long-Term Leaves from the University for Current International Students

F-1 students are required to be enrolled full-time to maintain their F-1 status.

If you need some time away from the university where you are not enrolled in classes before you complete your degree, there are a few options available.

• Medical Reduced Course Load
  If you have a physical or mental health issue that is preventing you from enrolling for a semester, you may be eligible for a medical reduced course load. An approved medical reduced course load would allow you to maintain your F-1 status without any enrollment.
  
  For more information about the medical reduced course load requirements, please review the information on the ISSS Reduced Course Loads page.
  
  CU Denver students: Please speak with Case Management about the academic process for a medical withdrawal from the university.
  
  CU Anschutz students: Please speak with your department, school, or college about the academic process for a medical withdrawal from the university.
  
• Authorized Early Withdrawal
  If you need to stop your enrollment and will depart the U.S., you can request an Authorized Early Withdrawal (AEW). An authorized early withdrawal will allow ISSS to close your F-1 records for a positive reason.
  
  If your leave from the university is less than 5 months and you request the AEW before you depart the U.S., ISSS can reactivate your previous SEVIS record. Reactivation allows you to return without having to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again.
  
  If your leave is more than 5 months or you depart the U.S. before requesting the AEW, you must request a new I-20 and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again.
  
  If you are not planning to return to CU Denver or CU Anschutz after you depart the U.S., an AEW shows you maintained F-1 status until you left the U.S.
  
  Please request your AEW before you drop or withdraw from your classes and before you depart the U.S. If you do not, you will lose the opportunity to use the 5-month reactivation window.
  
  You can request an AEW by completing the Leave of Absence and Authorized Early Withdrawal Request form in MyISSS. You can find the form in the F-1 Student Services section.
  
  Please speak with your academic advisor or department about the process for an academic withdrawal from the university.

J-1 students are required to be enrolled full-time to maintain their J-1 status.

If you need some time away from the university where you are not enrolled in classes before you complete your degree, there are a few options available.

• Medical Reduced Course Load
  If you have a physical or mental health issue that is preventing you from enrolling for a semester, you may be eligible for a medical reduced course load. An approved medical reduced course load would allow you to maintain your J-1 status without any enrollment.
  
  For more information about the medical reduced course load requirements, please review the information on the ISSS Reduced Course Loads page.
  
  CU Denver students: Please speak with Case Management about the academic process for a medical withdrawal from the university.
  
  CU Anschutz students: Please speak with your department, school, or college about the academic process for a medical withdrawal from the university.
  
• Leave of Absence and Program Shortening
  If you need to stop your enrollment and will depart the U.S., you can request a Leave of Absence from ISSS. A request for a leave of absence will allow ISSS to close your J-1 records for a positive reason.
  
  Please request the Leave of Absence before you drop or withdraw from your classes and before you depart the U.S. If you do not, ISSS may need to close your J-1 record for a negative reason.
  
  After you confirm when you will depart the U.S., ISSS will shorten the program end date on your DS-2019. After we shorten the program end date, you will have 30 days to depart the U.S. If you do not depart before your 30-day grace period ends, you may be in the U.S. without a valid immigration status.
  
  If you decide to return to complete your degree in J-1 status, you must request a new DS-2019 and pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again. You may also need to apply for a new J-1 visa.
  
  You can request a Leave of Absence by completing the Leave of Absence and Early Departure Request form in MyISSS. You can find the form in the J-1 Student Services section.
  
  Please speak with your academic advisor or department about the process for an academic withdrawal from the university.

If you have decided to study at another university, you must receive a new I-20 to continue your F-1 status at the new school.

F-1 students who are already maintaining status in the U.S. usually request a SEVIS Transfer to continue their status at the new school.

You must follow the rules to maintain F-1 status at CU Denver or CU Anschutz until your new school has received your SEVIS Record.

You must provide ISSS with the following information for a successful SEVIS Transfer request:

• The Acceptance or Admissions Letter from the New School
• The SEVIS School Code for the New School
• Your Preferred SEVIS Release Date

The SEVIS Release Date is the day when the new school receives your SEVIS Record.

The new school cannot create your new I-20 until they receive your SEVIS Record on the SEVIS Release date.

When you choose your SEVIS Release Date, you should keep the following requirements in mind:

• Your SEVIS Release date should be after you finish your CU Denver or CU Anschutz academic requirements for the semester.
  • If you transfer in the middle of the semester, you must remain enrolled in your CU Denver or CU Anschutz classes until your SEVIS Release date.
• Your SEVIS Release Date should be no later than the start of the semester at your new school.
• You can have no more than a 5-month gap between the end of your CU Denver or CU Anschutz studies and the start of your new program.
  • The 5-month period starts on the earlier of these two dates:
    • Your SEVIS Release Date
    • The final date that you were enrolled in classes at CU Denver or CU Anschutz.

When you have the required documents and information for your SEVIS Transfer, you can submit the SEVIS Transfer Out Form in MyISSS. You can find the form in the F-1 Student Services section.

If you have decided to study at another university, you must receive a new DS-2019 to continue your J-1 status at the new school.

J-1 students who are already maintaining status in the U.S. usually request a SEVIS Transfer to continue their status at the new school.

You can only transfer if you will remain in the same J-1 category at your new school.  J-1 degree students can change to a higher degree level at their new school. J-1 non-degree students must exit the U.S. and apply for a new J-1 visa to start as a J-1 degree student at a new school.

You must follow the rules to maintain J-1 status at CU Denver or CU Anschutz until your new school has received your SEVIS Record.

You must provide ISSS with the following information for a successful SEVIS Transfer request:

• The Acceptance or Admissions Letter from the New School
• The SEVIS Program Code for the New School
• Your Preferred SEVIS Release Date

The SEVIS Release Date is the day when the new school receives your SEVIS Record.

The new school cannot create your new DS-2019 until they receive your SEVIS Record on the SEVIS Release date.

When you choose your SEVIS Release Date, you should keep the following requirements in mind:

• Your SEVIS Release date should be after you finish your CU Denver or CU Anschutz academic requirements for the semester.
  • If you transfer in the middle of the semester, you must remain enrolled in your CU Denver or CU Anschutz classes until your SEVIS Release date.
• Your SEVIS Release Date should be no later than the start of the semester at your new school.
• You can have no gap between the end of your CU Denver or CU Anschutz studies and the start of your new program.
  • If there is a gap between the semesters, J-1 students may be able to use Academic Training to bridge the gap.

When you have the required documents and information for your SEVIS Transfer, you can submit the SEVIS Transfer Out Form in MyISSS. You can find the form in the J-1 Student Services section.

For information about preparing for graduation, please visit our Graduation page.

Visit the Graduation Page