Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

Requesting Leave of Absence

International students may find that they need to take a leave of absence (LOA) from school for a variety of reasons, including personal or family leaves, medical leaves.

A leave of absence is not the same as a suspension or expulsion, in which you are required to stop studying temporarily or permanently due to reasons such as required academic withdrawals or conduct violations. Leaves are generally voluntary and do not remove your eligibility to return to school at a later time.

In some cases, you may be eligible for an enrollment exception or vacation quarter. However, if you are not eligible for either of these and need to take time away from your studies, you will need to apply for an immigration Leave of Absence.

If you are planning to take a leave, you must notify your SCHOOL and the International Affairs Office BEFORE you leave.

In most cases, going on a LOA requires you to leave the US. Depending on the type and the length of the leave, different immigration procedures may be required.

Procedures:

1. Consult with your Academic Dean (undergraduate students) or program (graduate students)
2. Inform the International Affairs Office of your intentions so that you can get guidance on immigration procedures and requirements
3. Please complete the “Leave of Absence Request Form”, have it signed by the school administration and ask them to officially send the form to Vice-Chancellery for Education and Students Affairs, along with the International Affairs Office.

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The required procedures will vary depending on the type and reason for the leave, and the expected duration of the leave.