Leave of Absence
International students who are interested in taking an academic or medical leave of absence from the University of Colorado Boulder should review the linked webpages to understand the F-1 regulatory restrictions and requirements.
Applying for a Leave of Absence with ISSS
To request a leave of absence with ISSS you must complete the (ISSS) Leave of Absence or Withdrawal E-Form available in MyISSS portal.
In most cases, a non-immigrant student cannot remain in the United States in F-1 visa status if they are not enrolled full-time.
If you plan to take a leave of absence from ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, you must do one of the following:
- Depart the United States,
- Apply for a change of status to another immigration classification, or
- Transfer your SEVIS record to another school.
Note: If you have F-2 dependents, they must also depart the U.S. or apply for a change of status if the F-1 student is on a leave of absence.
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Academic Leave and Withdrawal Policies
For information about ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder's withdrawal policies, please review the Office of the Registrar’s:
- Leave of Absence webpage
- Withdrawal webpage
Graduate, Law and MBA Students
In addition to submitting the ISSS e-form, you must also apply for an academic leave of absence from the Graduate School if you will withdraw from or not enroll in classes for a fall or spring semester.ÌýGraduate students who do not apply for a leave of absence will be discontinued and must reapply to the university in order to return to ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder.
Before you initiate the formal ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder or withdrawal process with the Office of the Registrar, you must consult with ISSS and receive an immigration-based approval for the leave of absence.
- (ISSS) Leave of Absence or Withdrawal E-Form (available in MyISSS portal)
Medical Leave
If you are experiencing medical issues and are considering a leave of absence, please speak with an ISSS advisor about the Medical Reduced Course Load (RCL) option.