Leave of Absence (LOA)

updated 08/01/2025

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Overview

A Leave of Absence (LOA) is a temporary break from academic studies due to personal, financial, or health-related reasons. In addition to declaring a LOA with their academic department, F-1 and J-1 international students are required to submit the OIS Leave of Absence Request to the Office of International Services (OIS) to ensure their SEVIS record is properly updated. Please refer to the “Application Instructions” section below for details.

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Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a LOA, students must:

  • Be in good academic and immigration standing
  • Intend to return and resume their studies at USC
  • Depart the U.S. and remain abroad for the entire duration of the approved LOA semester(s)
    • Re-entering the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visa or through the Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) during the LOA is strongly discouraged and may result in the cancellation of the student’s F-1/J-1 visa.
  • Receive approval from both their academic department* and OIS prior to the start of the semester
    *Viterbi graduate students must receive approval from Viterbi Graduate Academic Services and Programs (VGASP)
Ineligible Reasons for a Leave of Absence:
First-Semester Students

Students in their first semester are not eligible for a LOA. They must contact their academic department (or VGASP for Viterbi graduate students) and OIS to explore other options, such as a health deferral or updating their admission to the next semester. If they drop or withdraw from all classes, they must leave the U.S. within 15-days to avoid violating their F-1 or J-1 status.

Late Semester Withdrawals

Students who withdraw from classes after the semester’s add/drop deadline are not eligible for a LOA. Their SEVIS record will be terminated for “Authorized Early Withdrawal” and they will need to depart the U.S. and request an Initial Attendance I-20/DS-2019 to return in a future semester.

Students who need to remain in the U.S. for Health Reasons

Students who must remain in the U.S. for ongoing medical treatment and do not plan to enroll in classes are not eligible for a leave of absence. They must submit a Medical Reduced Course Load request instead.

Switching Degree Programs

Students cannot request a LOA to switch to another USC degree program or major.

Employment

Students cannot take a LOA to work in the U.S. Employment (on- or off-campus) is not permitted while on a school-approved leave.

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Application Instructions

Step 1: Student Contacts Academic Department to Confirm LOA Eligibility for Academic Purposes

  • Graduate students: Contact academic department directly; Viterbi graduate students must consult their plans with Viterbi Graduate Academic Services and Programs (VGASP).
    • Students with an assistantship should discuss whether their assistantship will be available upon returning to USC.
    • Students who need more than four semesters of a LOA must receive approval from the USC Graduate School. Contact gradsch@usc.edu

Step 2: Student Submits OIS Leave of Absence (LOA) Request in Trojan International

LOA Filing Deadline

OIS must receive the completed LOA Request, signed by student’s academic advisor, by the first day of the semester. Failure to submit the LOA Request on time may result in a negative SEVIS termination which will impact the ability to legally remain in the U.S. Students who are unsure about their options must speak with an OIS advisor during Drop-In Advising before withdrawing from classes.

Processing Time

Once the academic (or VGASP) advisor completes the OIS LOA Request, it will be automatically routed back to OIS for processing. The OIS processing time is 10-business days. Students will receive a confirmation email from OIS once their LOA Request has been approved.

Registration Hold

An STU55 hold will be placed on the student’s account once OIS approves the LOA request. This type of hold prevents students from making any changes to their class schedule (adding/dropping classes) while on the approved LOA. It cannot be removed until student re-enters the U.S. and reports to OIS.

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SEVIS Record Termination and Departure from U.S.

To comply with immigration regulations, OIS is required to inform SEVP of the student’s LOA, by terminating the student’s SEVIS record for “Authorized Early Withdrawal” on the last add/drop date of the semester. Students must depart the U.S. within 15 days of this date.

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Returning from a Leave of Absence

Students returning from a LOA to resume their academic program must request to regain their immigration status. Depending on the criteria detailed below, students will need to obtain an Initial Attendance Form I-20/DS-2019 or a SEVIS Reactivation from OIS prior to returning to the U.S. and resuming their studies.

F-1 Students

Option 1 (for eligible students only): Reactivation of F-1 SEVIS Record

Students who meet the eligibility criteria listed below may request that their terminated SEVIS record be reactivated allowing them to retain their original SEVIS ID number. Any time spent in F-1 status on the reactivated SEVIS record before the LOA will count toward the one academic year requirement for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Option Practical Training (OPT) eligibility.

Eligibility

F-1 students returning from a LOA may be eligible for reactivation of their SEVIS record if they:

  • Submitted their LOA request to OIS on or before the first day of the semester;
  • Remained abroad for the entire duration of their LOA; and
  • Have been out of status for less than five months.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) ultimately determines whether the reactivation of the SEVIS record is warranted. If SEVP denies the reactivation request, student will need to request an Initial I-20 to return to the U.S., which will affect eligibility for CPT/OPT. OIS cannot guarantee approval for the SEVIS reactivation.

F-1 SEVIS Record Reactivation Request Instructions
Step 1: Submit Reactivation Request
Step 2: OIS Review and SEVIS Update
  • OIS will review the Reactivation Request and submit a correction to SEVP on student’s behalf.
  • Allow SEVP up to 30 days to review the Reactivation Request.
Step 3: Receive Updated I-20 from OIS
  • If SEVP approves the Reactivation Request, OIS will sign the I-20 for travel and email it to student’s USC email.
Step 4: Check Visa Validity
  • If the visa is still valid and unexpired, students may be able to use it along with their new Form I-20 (with the same SEVIS ID) to enter the U.S.
  • If the F‑1 visa has expired, students must apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate using the new Form I-20.
  • OIS cannot verify visa validity. Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that issued the visa to confirm before traveling.
  • Canadian citizens are exempt from the F‑1 visa requirement.
Step 5: Travel to the U.S.
  • Students can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the semester start date.
Step 6: Report to OIS
  • After arriving in the U.S., students must report to OIS by completing the Immigration Status (ISV) process in Trojan International. ISV must be completed to avoid a negative SEVIS termination.
    • Required uploads include copies of:
      • Updated and signed USC I-20
      • Valid Passport
      • Most recent I-94 (click “Get Most Recent I-94”)
      • Travel history (click “View Travel History”)
      • Valid F-1 visa stamp
  • OIS will remove the STU55 hold within three business days after ISV is submitted, provided all required documents are complete and acceptable.
Step 7: Register for Classes
  • Students must register during their assigned time on Web Registration.
  • Full-time enrollment in degree-required courses is required, even for a summer session return:
    • Undergraduate: 12 units
    • Graduate/Certificate: 8 units
    • Ph.D./Doctoral with assistantship: 6 units

Option 2: Initial Attendance Form I-20

Students who are ineligible for a SEVIS reactivation must request an Initial Attendance Form I-20 from OIS to resume their studies at USC. This type of I-20 creates a new SEVIS ID number and requires students to fulfill two academic semesters (fall and spring) upon return to regain eligibility for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). Time spent in F-1 status before the LOA does not count toward the one academic year requirement for CPT/OPT eligibility when returning with an Initial I-20. Degree programs with internship or practicum requirements may be exempt from the one academic year requirement for CPT only. There is no exception for the one academic year requirement for OPT.

Eligibility

Students must request an Initial Attendance Form I-20 if they:

  • Submitted their LOA after the first day of the semester
  • Were out of status for more than five months
  • Re-entered the U.S. after their SEVIS record was terminated (even on a different visa)
  • Are notified by OIS that they are ineligible for a SEVIS record reactivation
Steps to Return to the U.S. with an Initial Attendance Form I-20
Step 1: Submit the Initial I-20 Request Form
  • Log in to Trojan International and submit the Return to USC: Initial I-20 Request
    • Upload proof of financial support that meets USC’s requirements:
      • Issued within one year of the semester start date
      • Shows sufficient funds for remaining tuition and living expenses
        • Students with dependents must include:
          • $13,403 for a spouse$6,701 per child
        • Students with only one semester remaining must show:
          • Proof of tuition for final semester living expenses ($2,000/month)
          • Dependent costs, if applicable
  • The request will be routed to the student’s academic (or VGASP) advisor for review
  • After the advisor responds, OIS will begin processing the request
  • Once approved, the signed I-20 will be emailed to the student’s USC email account
Step 2: Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee
  • Students must pay the mandatory I-901 SEVIS Fee using the SEVIS ID listed on the Initial I-20
  • USC’s SEVIS School Code is listed under the “School Code and Approval Date” section on Page 1 of the I-20
  • Pay the fee online at fmjfee.com
Step 3: Check Visa validity
  • If the visa is still valid and unexpired, students may be able to use it along with their new Form I-20 (with the same SEVIS ID) to enter the U.S.
  • If the F‑1 visa has expired, students must apply for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate using the new Form I-20.
  • OIS cannot verify visa validity. Contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate that issued the visa to confirm before traveling.
  • Canadian citizens are exempt from the F‑1 visa requirement.
Step 4: Travel to the U.S.
  • Students can enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the semester start date listed on the Initial Attendance Form I-20.
Step 5: Report to OIS
  • Upon arrival in the U.S., students must complete the Immigration Status Verification (ISV) process in Trojan International. This is required to remove the STU55 hold, which blocks course registration.
    • Students must upload copies of:
      • Signed USC Form I-20
      • Valid passport
      • Most recent I-94 (click “Get Most Recent I-94”)
      • Travel history (click “View Travel History”)
      • Valid F-1 visa stamp
  • OIS will remove the STU55 hold within 3 business days after ISV is submitted, provided all required documents are complete and acceptable.
  • Failure to complete ISV will result in a negative SEVIS termination and loss of F-1 status in the U.S.
Step 6: Register for Classes
  • Students must register via Web Registration during their scheduled appointment time.
  • Full-time enrollment in degree-required courses is mandatory, even if returning in summer session
    • Undergraduate: 12 units
    • Graduate/Graduate Certificate: 8 units
    • Ph.D. / Doctorate with assistantship: 6 units

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J-1 Students

J-1 students must contact a J-1 advisor at OIS before returning from a Leave of Absence. To begin the process, please email j1student@usc.edu to request guidance and next steps.

For any additional questions regarding a LOA, please speak with an OIS advisor during OIS Drop-In Advising.

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