Leave of Absence
Medical Leave of Absence Authorization
If illness or a medical condition requires you to take a leave of absence, you should work with your academic department and with the ISSO. You may request a RCL for medical leave of absence or a reduced course load of 1-11 units via the ISSOPortal. Approved medical leave allows you to stay in the U.S. for required treatment and maintain your student immigration status while not enrolled. You may also choose to return home to recover and return to the U.S. to resume your program at a later date.
Non-Medical Program Interruptions
For non-medical interruptions, you must plan ahead with your ISSO advisor. Possible options that will be considered for non-medical leave:
- Enrolling full-time at another U.S. institution that can transfer your immigration status; you must enroll full-time there if you plan to return to BU.
- Applying to change to an eligible immigration status (e.g., B-2 visitor, F-2, or H-4) to stay in the U.S. while not studying.
- Leaving the U.S. promptly.
BU Study Abroad
We encourage students to take advantage of the academic offerings through BU Study Abroad. In most cases, BU can maintain an active SEVIS record for you during a BU program. See reminders about maintaining status during a BU Study Abroad experience. If you choose to study abroad through an external program, you will need to discuss how this will impact your SEVIS record with your ISSO advisor.
Resuming Your Studies at BU
When you are ready to resume studies, you must work with your academic department and the ISSO. You should contact the ISSO about new immigration documents to return to BU at least 2-3 months prior to the term you wish to return.