Temporary Absence
Sometimes, international students may need to take a short break from their studies. For example, some students have family emergencies and need to return to their home countries to help. Other students may need to work for a semester to save money and be able to pay for tuition or need time off to think about what they really want to study.
If you have a situation like this, you may want to request a “temporary absence” from the Office of International Programs. The temporary absence allows the OIP to temporarily maintain your student immigration status and your I-20 in an active status while you are outside the United States. You may only be outside the U.S. for up to 5 months.
Here are the rules you must follow during a temporary absence:
• From the time you request the absence, you are allowed only 15 days to depart the U.S. as a student
• You must turn in your I-94 at the port of exit upon leaving the U.S.
• You MAY NOT use your student visa to enter the U.S. during your absence
• You MAY NOT be registered in classes in the U.S. nor live in the U.S. during your absence
• You MUST return to the U.S. within 5 months of submitting your request to the OIP to keep your immigration status and begin classes at the next available session
• You are not allowed to remain in the U.S. during the temporary absence, but you can return within 30 days of the next semester
• Any absence from the U.S. of more than 5 months will require you get a new visa
You are eligible to choose a temporary departure if you are have already begun your studies in the U.S., have an active I-20 / SEVIS record, and are a full-time student.
The temporary departure is not availble to students that have not yet entered the US with their I-20s. In this case, the student should contact the OIP and the admissions office that processed their application to request a deferral of their program start date.
If you are interested in requesting a temporary departure, you need to go to the Office of International Programs to meet with an advisor and fill out the request form. Graduate students must also obtain approval from the UTEP Graduate School.
As mentioned above, you will need to return to the U.S. to continue your studies within 5 months of your absence:
• If you take the fall semester off, you must return and enroll for the spring semester.
• If you take the spring semester off, you must return and enroll during the summer.
Undergraduates: you must enroll in 6 credit hours during the summer.
Graduate students: you must enroll in at least 3 credit hours during the summer
If you studied at UTEP in the spring semester, are planning to be outside the U.S. just for the summer, and you will return to UTEP in the fall semester, you do not need to request a temporary absence for the summer term.
You may choose to take a temporary absence either prior to the start of the semester when you will be absent, OR during the semester in which you will be absent.
You may take multiple temporary absences if necessary. However, you must return to your studies for at least one semester after each absence.
Mexican students: please note that you MAY use your tourist visa / visa laser to enter the U.S. FOR TOURIST PURPOSES ONLY during the temporary absence. If you plan to travel into the interior of the U.S with a tourist visa, you must obtain the appropriate I-94 / permiso with a customs official at the bridge.
Office of International Programs
203 Union East Bldg * (915) 747-5664 * oip@utep.edu * Hours: Monday-Tuesday 8-6 Wednesday-Friday 8-5