Less than 5 months

• If you take a leave of absence (except for reasons such as an exclusion, probation, conduct matters, etc.) and spend fewer than 5 months outside the United States (in between your full-time enrollment at Emory), your ISSS advisor may submit a request to DHS to reactivate your SEVIS record after you're readmitted to your academic program.
• DHS will deny reactivation of your previous SEVIS record if the gap between the date you last attended classes and the start date of next semester when you will resume classes is more than 5 months. 
• DHS processing times could be weeks or months, so plan ahead. You will not have to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again, and can use a valid F-1 visa for requesting re-entry to the US.
• If you are taking a leave starting fall, carefully read the summer enrollment requirements as DHS will deny SEVIS record reactivation requests if the student was last enrolled in May and wants to return in following January even if the length of time spent outside the US was less than 5 months.  

More than 5 months

• If you're outside the US for 5 months or more, your ISSS advisor has to create a new SEVIS record when you wish to return. 
• You'll need to provide new financial documentation to your ISSS advisor before the new I-20 is issued.
• You'll need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again and possibly apply for a new F-1 visa even if you current F-1 visa will be valid at the time of your return to Emory. ISSS recommends that you contact your preferred US consulate to determine if you will be required to apply for a new F-1 visa after ISSS has created a new SEVIS record for you and has issued you a new I-20. Whether or not you will need a new F-1 visa is up to the discretion of the consulate where you apply for the visa. 
• Important: If you take a leave of absence, you will lose any time you had previously accrued toward the requirement for practical training.
  • Per practical training regulations, F-1 students must be enrolled for a full academic year (one fall term and one spring term) before they are eligible for practical training. The summer term does not count towards the one academic year requirement. 
  • For example, students who take a leave for a fall semester must be enrolled full-time in F-1 status for one spring term and the following fall before they are eligible to apply for CPT or OPT. 
  • Note: there are limited exceptions to this regulation for graduate students requesting CPT.

First, you'll need to be readmitted to your program by the dean of your school. After that:

1. ISSS will send you an email with a link to the Return From Leave I-20 Request in ISSS Link. Fill out the e-form and upload scanned copies of the following:
   1. A copy of your passport photo page
   2. Financial documentation showing proof of funding for the remainder of your academic program or for one academic year, whichever is less
   3. Completed financial sponsor form (if you have a financial sponsor and your name does not appear on the financial documents)
2. Once we receive all the required documents, an ISSS advisor will issue you a new form I-20
3. Enter the US in F-1 status no more than 30 days prior to your new I-20 start date
4. Log in to ISSS Link to complete the immigration check-in process and upload copies of all your immigration documents
5. Once you arrive on campus, attend the ISSS immigration session during orientation