Vacations & Travel

Vacation Policy

A Vacation is defined as a Session during which a qualifying F-1 Student is not required to enroll in classes (excluding designated school holidays and weekends). Prior to beginning a Vacation, a qualifying Student must fulfill the following requirements:

  1. Completed two (2) full, consecutive Semesters
  2. Maintained valid F-1 status, per School and USCIS policies
  3. Fulfill all outstanding financial obligations
  4. Notify ESL Administration of intent to take Vacation by filling out Vacation Request Form, including:
    1. Intended begin and end dates for the Vacation (including next intended Enrollment date)
    2. General plans (i.e. travel domestically and/or internationally, etc.)

Per USCIS (United States Customs & Immigration Service), a leave of absence is limited to 60 calendar days in any 12-month period or one-half the published program length (1 year is the published program length), whichever is shorter. Multiple Vacation periods may be permitted upon ESL Administration approval if the total days of Vacation do not exceed these parameters. Failure to satisfy the requirements of this policy will result in Termination of the Student’s F-1 record.