Graduate Returning to Rensselaer after a Leave of Absence

Last updated: April 22, 2004

What is a leave of absence?

• A leave of absence covers one semester at a time, with a maximum one-year limit. If you take a leave of absence, the Registrar changes your student status to “Inactive.” This means that you forfeit your campus privileges, including housing, meal plans, email, and library access, etc. In most cases, the time limit to complete your degree is not changed by a leave of absence.

If you would like to request a leave of absence you should talk to your department and then the Graduate Education Office. BUT remember a leave might mean you have to leave the country. For more information about how a Leave of Absence affects your immigration status make an appointment to see Jane Havis or Jaye Vien in the ISSS Office, Academy Hall 4th Floor.

Returning to Rensselaer

If you wish to return to Rensselaer after your leave of absence, you will be required to follow the readmission process.

1. You must fill out a “Graduate Change of Status” form requesting “Returning after an absence”.

2. This form will be sent to your department, ISSS Office, Graduate Education Office and maybe the Health Center for signatures before you will be allowed to return.

3. Your department and the Office of Graduate Education will review your file before readmitting you from a leave, assuring that all admission criteria have been satisfied.

4. At the same time you need to send the ISSS Office a letter telling them what you are doing and request a new Form I-20/DS-2019. You will be required to provide the ISSS Office with new financial documentation showing you can support yourself for the rest of your stay at Rensselaer so a new Form I-20/DS-2019 can be issued.

5. The Registrar’s Office will notify the ISSS Office when the “Change of Status” form is approved and a new I-20/DS-2019 will be issued for you and sent to the address on the “Graduate Change of Status” form.

6. You cannot reenter the country without having completed this process and without the Form I-20/DS-2019 in your hands.

Below is a brief checklist of all the items you need to do to be readmitted to Rensselaer after a leave of absence:

• Your Bursar account must be clear (no pending balance)
• If you took a leave of absence for a Medical issue, a report must be sent from your physician to the Rensselaer Health Center or the Counseling Center. Refer to the letter you received when your leave of absence was approved, or contact the Graduate Education Office if you have questions about the procedures you will need to follow to return to Rensselaer.
• If you were Academically Dismissed, you must talk with the Graduate Education Office to see if it is possible to return.

There are no deadlines for when this has to be completed by. BUT we suggest you start the process 3-4 months before you want to come back. This is because once it is approved it could take some time to get a visa stamp.

Important to Remember

1.  You will not be able to register for classes until you check in with the ISSS Office

2.  You will not be able to enter the U.S. until 30 days before the start date on I-20/DS-2019