What is a Non-Medical Leave of Absence?
A Non-Medical Leave of Absence (NMLOA) refers to time during which a student interrupts their studies and departs the U.S. for personal reasons (includes Military Leave). An Emergency Leave (authorized by WeCare) is also considered a NMLOA.
All students who take a leave of absence of any kind are responsible for reviewing and understanding institutional policies regarding leaves of absence in the Northeastern Course Catalog. Students must also follow all of their college/graduate school processes and notify the OGS prior to beginning their leave of absence.
Please review the Student Financial Services (SFS) website to understand your tuition refund eligibility (if any) based on your leave of absence date.
Planning for your Leave of Absence
Understanding How Leave Length Affects Your Return (The 5-month Rule)
The length of your leave of absence is important, particularly regarding how you will return to the U.S. and whether your F-1/J-1 benefits (such as CPT and OPT eligibility) will be affected.
- If your leave is less than 5 months
- You may be eligible for the reactivation of your existing SEVIS record (subject to SEVP approval). For F-1 students, this means that your eligibility for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) will remain unchanged.
- If your leave is more than 5 months
- You will receive a new Initial I-20/DS-2019 to return to study. This means that you will need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee associated with your new SEVIS record and for F-1 students, you will need to spend one academic year in valid status before gaining eligibility for CPT and OPT.
It is important to schedule an appointment with an Designated School Official or DSO (F-1 students) or an Alternate Responsible Officer or ARO (J-1 students) to discuss your circumstances.
For complete details, visit our Returning from a Leave of Absence page.
How to Request a Non-Medical Leave of Absence
Students must complete ALL of the following steps. Please note that steps 2 and 3 should be completed simultaneously.
1 Do not drop or withdraw from your classes prior to OGS confirming your eligibility!
All F/J students must continue to maintain full time enrollment with appropriate on-ground presence until they have been authorized by a DSO or ARO to drop below full-time enrollment requirements.
2 Schedule an appointment with an OGS Advisor and complete OGS' NMLOA e-form
All students seeking a NMLOA should make an appointment with a DSO/ARO in OGS to discuss how the leave will impact their SEVIS status and future eligibility for SEVIS benefits, such as Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), Academic Training (AT), etc.
Students must also complete OGS’ NMLOA e-form and should do this as early as possible. Students will be asked to add their advisor or secondary approver email to the e-form as a secondary approver.
To schedule an appointment with a DSO or ARO, please call +1-617-373-2310 or visit our front desk on the Boston campus at 354 Richards Hall.
3 Submit a personal leave request via the Registrar Forms link in the Student Hub
Students must make official arrangements for taking a leave of absence by submitting a leave request in the Student Hub. To learn more about the process for submitting the request in the Student Hub, review the Registrar’s knowledge-article on leaves of absence.
Students should also communicate and make arrangements with their academic advisor or graduate school office.
4 Depart the U.S.
Students must depart the U.S. for the duration of their NMLOA. You will be advised by a DSO/ARO in OGS about the timeline for departure that you must follow.
How to Return from a NMLOA?
When you are ready to resume your studies at Northeastern, the process for returning will depend on the length of your leave of absence.
- If your leave is less than 5 months, OGS may be able to request reactivation of your existing SEVIS record. Note that reactivation can only be initiated up to 60 days before the start of your return term, which may affect your timeline if you also need to apply for a new visa.
- If your leave is more than 5 months (or reactivation is not available for other reasons), you will be issued a new SEVIS record and Initial Attendance I-20, and will need to pay the SEVIS fee again before returning.
For complete instructions, visit our Returning from a Leave of Absence page.