A student should request a leave of absence if he/she needs to travel outside of the USA for an important reason before he/she is eligible to take an official vacation and this travel involves missing classes.
Important: If your request for a leave of absence is approved, your SEVIS record will be terminated (i.e., your I-20 record will be closed) and you may need a new visa.
Steps to request a leave of absence:
1. Complete the Request for Time Away from ELI Studies form online.
You must complete the Time Away from ELI Studies form at least 2–3 weeks before you plan to travel
2. Wait for the ELI to process your form.
The ELI will begin processing all Time Away from ELI Studies requests within 72 hours, but it may take us up to one week to process. Therefore, it is important to submit your request as soon as you know of your plans to travel.
3. Receive the ELI’s decision about your travel by email.
After we have finished processing your travel form, we will send an email to you.
- If your travel is approved, the email will give you instructions about what to do next (see below).
- If your travel is denied, then we will give you the reason for the denial and information about what you can do to have your travel plans approved.
Steps to return to the U.S.
4. Review the instructions from the UD Center for Global Programs and Services.
When your SEVIS is terminated by the CGPS for a leave of absence, you will receive an email with instructions on how to return to the United States. Please read that email carefully and contact the CGPS (oiss@udel.edu) if you have any questions.
5. Contact the ELI Financial Office to request a bill for your next session.
Contact the ELI Financial Office at elibilling@udel.edu and ask them for a “half-session bill.” Students who plan to miss one session are required to pay one-half of the tuition fees as a deposit for the session when they will return.
Important Note: Students are not permitted to return late from their travels. Any student who tries to return to the ELI later than the return date that was authorized will not be allowed to return to the ELI. Instead, the student will be required to skip a session. This often results in a Leave of Absence and termination of the student’s I-20 form and visa!
Questions
Do you have a question about the Leave of Absence policy or procedures? Contact us at ud-eli@udel.edu. If you have questions about whether you are eligible for a leave of absence or how it will affect your visa status, please contact the CGPS at oiss@udel.edu.