Overview
A student that is in an active F-1 or J-1 immigration status maintained by Iowa State University must notify ISSO when they:
- Will discontinue their academic program. This would mean no longer enrolling in a fall or spring semester prior to degree completion.
- Will end the post-completion work authorization (OPT/STEM OPT or Academic Training) and end their current F-1 or J-1 immigration status in the United States.
To notify ISSO, a student must submit the Absence from ISU e-form in Cystart. By submitting this e-form, you are informing ISSO of your plans to end your current immigration status in the United States. This process can be completed entirely online; no in-person component is required.
Absence from ISU Process
Enrolled Students
- It is recommended that you speak with your ISSO advisor about your leave of absence, to discuss what forms need to be submitted and your timeline for departing the United States.
- Submit the Absence from ISU e-form in Cystart once you have confirmed your departure date from the U.S.
- Submit the Student Leave of Absence request in Workday.
- Search "Create Request" in Workday, then select "Student Leave of Absence"
Graduated Students on OPT/STEM OPT or Academic Training
- Submit the Absence from ISU e-form in Cystart once you have confirmed:
- Your employment end date
- Your departure date from the U.S.
- If you are no longer an enrolled Iowa State student, no Workday process is required.
Ending Your F-1/J-1 Immigration Status but Remaining In the United States
- Occasionally, F-1 or J-1 students are unable to continue their F-1 or J-1 immigration status, but they plan to remain in the United States based on another immigration status or application that protects their legal presence in the U.S.
- Submit the Absence from ISU e-form in Cystart once you are certain that you are unable to maintain your current F-1 or J-1 immigration status.
- It is recommended that you speak with your ISSO advisor about ending your current F-1 or J-1 immigration status.
- However, ISSO advisors cannot advise on other immigration statuses in the United States. If you are remaining in the United States after your F-1 or J-1 status ends, you are strongly advised to consult a qualified immigration attorney about your future immigration status options.
Impact of Ending your F-1 or J-1 Immigration Status
Immigration Consequences
Upon processing your Absence from ISU e-form, ISSO will end your F-1 or J-1 immigration status by electronically updating your SEVIS immigration record.
- The status of any F-2 or J-2 dependents will also end.
- Your previously issued I-20s (F-1 students) or DS-2019s (J-1 students) are no longer valid, and cannot be used for re-entry to the United States.
- It is still recommended to keep copies of all previously issued immigration documents, for your personal records.
- If you plan to return to Iowa State in a future semester, eligibility for off-campus employment will be impacted.
- F-1 students must regain their active F-1 status for one academic year before becoming eligible for CPT or OPT
- J-1 students must regain their active J-1 status for at least one semestser before becoming eligible for Academic Training
Leaving the United States
Your ISSO advisor will review your Absence from ISU request to ensure your planned departure from the United States complies with F-1 or J-1 immigration regulations.
- For F-1 students who appropriately notify ISSO of their leave of absence are generally required to depart the United States within 15 days of the termination of the F-1 record.
- If your planned departure date changes, contact ISSO immediately.
- Students who do not appropriately notify ISSO of their leave of absence have no grace period, and must depart the United States immediately after termination of your immigration record.
- For J-1 students, your DS-2019 program end date will be updated to your date of departure from the United States, to reflect the end of your exchange visitor program.
Steps before Departing U.S.
There are many tasks students must complete prior to departing the U.S. These tasks include:
- Inform academic/faculty advisor of upcoming departure
- Move out of current housing:
- If renting off-campus, notify landlord. Financial penalties may exist if you will terminate your leasing contract early.
- If living on-campus, contact the Department of Residence about check-out procedures.
- Cancel and pay final bills, such as university bill
Returning to ISU and the United States
To return to the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student for a future semester, a student will need to request a new I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSO. Review the "Returning to ISU" page on the ISSO website and contact an International Student Advisor with further questions.