Leave Notification

OISS Notification

• Meet with an OISS advisor to discuss your leave request.
• Complete and submit the Leave Notification Form.
  • Include your flight itinerary in English.
• If your leave request is approved:
  • F-1 students: OISS will terminate your SEVIS record. You will have 15 days to leave the U.S.
  • J-1 students: OISS will shorten the end date on your DS-2019. You will have 30 days to leave the U.S.
• The OISS advisor will email you with the termination notification and authorization for you to drop your classes for the leave semester if needed.

University Notification

• If you do not intend to return, undergraduate students should notify Admissions and Records of their departure and graduate students should notify the Graduate School of their departure either in person or through email.
• If you will be gone for no more than 1 academic year (fall and/or spring, excluding summer) and intend to return to the University, you must notify the University in order to keep your MyNEVADA record active. This is in addition to completing the leave notification for OISS.
  • Undergraduate students: submit the Leave of Absence Request (PDF) or Leave of absence request form [DocuSign PowerForm] to Admissions and Records
  • Graduate students: submit the Leave of Absence DocuSign Powerform for graduate students to the Graduate School
  • The completed form must be submitted by the end of the late registration period of the semester you are requesting to go on leave.
  • If the the Leave of Absence is approved, you will not be required to reapply for admission or pay a reapplication fee and will have the opportunity to register/enroll with continuing students for the semester in which you intend to return to the University.
  • If you do not complete the undergraduate or graduate leave of absence form or if it is denied, you will have to reapply as a returning student and submit any supporting documents.
• GRADUATE STUDENTS: Time spent on an approved leave is included in the time required to complete your graduate degree. 6 calendar years for a Master’s program and 8 calendar years for a Doctoral program.

Returning to the University

• If your MyNEVADA record is not active, you will need to reapply to the University. Readmission is not guaranteed. We cannot issue an I-20/DS-2019 until you are readmitted so we suggest reapplying early to allow time to process your I-20/DS-2019.
• F-1 students
  • If you will resume your studies in the U.S. within 5 months or less from the date your SEVIS record is terminated, your SEVIS record may be reactivated so you may keep the same SEVIS ID and any employment privileges.
    • OISS cannot request to reactivate your SEVIS record more than 60 days before the beginning of the semester you will return unless you have a visa appointment.
    • SEVIS record reactivation may take up to 2 weeks to be processed.
    • Enroll in classes for the semester you will be returning.
    • If your MyNEVADA record is not active, you will need to reapply to the University. Readmission is not guaranteed. You must wait until your admission is approved in order to enroll in classes.
  • If you will be out of the country for more than 5 months from the date your SEVIS record is terminated, you will get a new SEVIS record with a new SEVIS ID and have to pay the SEVIS fee again. This means that your previous employment privileges will no longer be valid. You will have to be a full-time student for one academic year to get these privileges again.
    • To request a new I-20, submit the Student I-20/DS-2019 Request Form with "Returning Student" as the reason and supporting financial documents as noted in the request form.
• J-1 students
  • You will get a new SEVIS record with a new SEVIS ID and have to pay the SEVIS fee again. This means that your previous employment privileges will no longer be valid. You will have to be a full-time student for one academic year to get these privileges again.
  • To request a new DS-2019, submit the Student I-20/DS-2019 Request Form with "Returning Student" as the reason and supporting financial documents as noted in the request form.
• Once your SEVIS record is reactivated or a new SEVIS record is created, OISS will issue a new I-20/DS-2019 for you to use to reenter the country.
  • F-1 students: If you are out of the country for 5 months or less and the travel signature on your previous I-20 is still valid, you will not need a new I-20 to be sent to you.
• Do not attempt to enter the U.S. without your new I-20/DS-2019 if a new one is issued.
• Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of your return.
• Your visa must be valid upon your return.
  • You may use your previous visa is it will be valid when you enter the U.S.
• You will be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again if you get a new SEVIS record.

COMPLETE YOUR OISS NOTIFICATION

• LOGIN to submit the Leave Notification Form- DO NOT CREATE A NEW REQUEST IF YOU ALREADY STARTED ANOTHER APPLICATION.