How does a non-medical leave of absence affect your F-1 status
Students who need a non-medical leave of absence (also referred to academically as a personal leave of absence), which includes any reason that is not medical, will need to apply to the Office of Global Services as well as to their college/graduate school for a leave of absence. The medical condition of a relative does not constitute a medical leave of absence; a medical leave can be granted only if the student has a medical condition.
Additionally, if a student applies for an Emergency Leave from the We Care Office at Northeastern University (www.northeastern.edu/wecare) they must also apply for a non-medical leave of absence from the Office of Global Services since federal government regulations recognize only medical and non-medical leaves.
All students who take a leave of absence of any kind are responsible for reviewing and understanding institutional policies regarding withdrawing from courses in the Northeastern Course Catalog.
Requesting a Non-Medical Leave of Absence
Students must not drop/withdraw from classes before receiving authorization from OGS for a NMLOA
1 Schedule an appointment with an OGS Advisor
All students seeking a NMLOA should make an appointment with an Office of Global Services (OGS) advisor 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), etc.
To schedule an appointment with an OGS advisor, please call +1-617-373-2310 or visit our front desk on the Boston campus at 354 Richards Hall.
2 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.
3 Complete OGS' NMLOA e-form
Students must 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.