Five-Month Unbroken Absence from the U.S. Terminates Your F-1 Status

If you are a Duke student who held F-1 visa status in the U.S. and you take a leave of absence, THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO YOU. You need to know how your absence from the U.S. affects your visa status and future employment opportunities in the U.S. If you elect to engage in non-Duke sponsored or Duke-approved Study Abroad, THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO YOU AS WELL.

An F-1 student who has been absent from the U.S. for more than five (5) consecutive months is considered by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to have abandoned his/her F-1 status. Reentry into the U.S. as an F-1 student after a five-month or longer absence is considered an initial, completely new, admission and requires the issuance of a new I-20 Form. DO NOT, repeat do not, attempt to use the I-20 form already in your possession. Use only the new I-20 form we will send you.

DHS provides an exception for study abroad programs approved by Duke University. Please schedule a meeting with an advisor in the International Office prior to making your plans in order to confirm your visa status will not be broken. You also will need to make certain you hold a valid I-20 for reentry.

When you return to Duke, you must bring your passport and visa documents to our office for us to check. We will review your documentation for any errors that the Immigration Service may have made when processing your re-entry. The International Office is located at 300 Alexander Avenue in Duke’s Central Campus.

In addition, please be advised that students who have abandoned their F-1 status postpone their eligibility for any benefits (such as practical training employment) which require an individual to be a full-time student in valid nonimmigrant status for nine months. These benefits are unavailable to students who have abandoned their F-1 status until they have completed a new nine-month course of study.

IMPORTANT: If you plan to study abroad, get approval, in writing, from your academic advisor and verify your plans with the International Office before finalizing your plans.

If you have questions about this matter, please contact the Duke International Office. We hope that you have had an enjoyable academic and personal experience abroad, and we look forward to your return to Duke.