International Students and Scholars Office

Students in F-1 or J-1 status are required to register full time each semester in order to maintain status. If you need to interrupt your studies, by taking a leave of absence or withdrawing from Brandeis University, please consult with your ISSO Advisor before making a final decision. It is important to discuss how these actions may affect your immigration status and work eligibility.

When taking an LOA, students will have the following options:

• Depart the U.S. with 15 days of the LOA effective date
• Be accepted to another U.S. school and request a transfer of your SEVIS record to the new school.
• Request a Reduced Course Load due to medical reasons
• Change to another immigration status (if eligible)

Taking a LOA or withdrawing from the University may affect your off campus work authorization eligibility upon return to the University. Students who reenter the U.S. after a LOA will need to return in “Initial Status” and will need to be enrolled for at least two consecutive semesters of study before being eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Process

• Contact your Academic Advisor (undergraduate students) or Program Advisor (graduate students) to discuss the university process and procedures.
• Once the LOA or Withdrawal is approved, your SEVIS record will be terminated and updated in SEVIS to reflect the reason for the interruption of studies.

Process to Return

• Once you have been approved by your Academic Advisor or Department to return to Brandeis University, submit a Return from Leave of Absence request through the ISSO Portal.
• Your ISSO advisor will provide you with a new Form I-20 with a start date of the semester you plan to return.
• Since you will be returning to the U.S. in “Initial Status”, you will not be eligible to enter the U.S. more than 30 days from the start date listed on your Form I-20.

If you are completing or leaving your current Brandeis program and you have been accepted to another U.S. school, you may be eligible to transfer your F-1 SEVIS record to your new school. The SEVIS transfer is initiated by Brandeis University and is completed in SEVIS by the new school.

Eligibility Requirements

• You been accepted at another U.S. school
• You have been maintaining your F-1 visa status
• Your new program begins within 5 months of completing your Brandeis program
• You request a SEVIS Transfer within 60 days of your program completion date. This could be 60 days from your degree completion date or 60 days from your OPT completion date.

How to Request a SEVIS Transfer

• Login to the ISSO Portal, go to the Requests & Documents tab and click on the Transfer Out icon. This is the official mechanism to notify ISSO of your intent to transfer.
• In the Transfer Out request, you will need to:
  • Upload your letter of admission to the new school and the new school's transfer-in form (if any).
  • Indicate your SEVIS Release Date. The SEVIS Record Release Date can be any date from your graduation/completion date up to 60 days after that date.
  • If you are eligible for the transfer, your SEVIS record will be released to your new school on the SEVIS Record Release Date you indicate.
  • Your new school will complete your F-1 transfer in SEVIS and issue you a new Form I-20.