Student Visas
Summary
This page provides information on F-1 and J-1 student visas, as well as application processes, transfers in or out of Harvard, and leaves of absence.
All student visas sponsored by Harvard University require both a visa document issued by the Harvard International Office (HIO) and a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the United States, except those for Canadian citizens who only need a visa document and do not need a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate.
The information in this section provides an overview of what to expect when requesting a visa document from Harvard University, applying for a visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and finally, entering the United States.
Your Immigration Responsibilities
It is your responsibility to maintain your F or J status. The HIO is here to help you understand often complex immigration regulations and provide resources to keep you up to date with immigration regulations.
Review the information under Student Visa Options for more details on the the specific requirements for F and J visas. Contact your HIO advisor if you have questions.
Student Visa Options
There are generally two visa categories for studying in the United States: the F-1 student visa and the J-1 student visa. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of State regulations governing both of these visa categories require full-time, in-person study in the United States*. Under the current regulations, both allow various degrees of work permission before and after graduation.
Most admitted full-time international students to Harvard University are eligible for the F-1 visa. Only some students are eligible for the J-1 student visa. Below you will find a list of the major differences between the two visas. Please click on each visa option for more detailed information. Students who are eligible for both the F-1 student visa and the J-1 student visa must communicate which visa category they plan to use for their programs at Harvard to the admissions office of their schools. Some Harvard programs involve online and campus-based program components; students are encouraged to confirm visa sponsorship options with the respective Harvard admissions offices prior to applying in order to receive appropriate and accurate guidance*.
F-1 Student Visa Details
The F-1 visa is intended for non-immigrants wishing to pursue academic studies and/or language training programs for a period of time in the United States.
Initial Registration Requirements
New F-1 students must register with the HIO as soon as possible after arrival in Cambridge/Boston and no later than 30 days after the program start date on their Forms I-20. The HIO must report F-1 arrivals to the government within 30 days of the start date.
Full Course of Study
Every F-1 student must pursue full-time study each semester and make normal progress toward completing the program of study. Each school within Harvard has its own definition of what is considered full-time. Students are advised to consult the registrar's office for the definition of being full-time.
Students must not drop a course and become less than full-time without prior authorization from the HIO. Please note that there are very limited circumstances in which pursuing less than full-time study is allowed.
Students must get authorization from the HIO before taking a leave of absence or medical leave.
Conditions and Restrictions on Student Employment
Students must not engage in unauthorized employment. F-1 students in good standing are eligible for on-campus employment. Employment is limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session, and can increase to full time during official holidays and vacations. A student must obtain prior written authorization from the HIO for other types of employment.
Change of Residential Address
Students must report any change of residential address to the HIO within 10 days of the change. F-1 students may report their address changes in the Change of Address form.
Program Changes
Students must notify the HIO if they will complete their program earlier than expected (earlier than the end date of the Form I-20) or if they change their program of study.
Program Extension
Students who need additional time to complete their programs of study must request and be granted a program extension before the current expiration date/program end date on the Form I-20.
Required Travel Documents
Please review our travel information page before making plans to travel abroad. An F-1 student should bring all required travel documents to the HIO to speak with an advisor if needed.
Students should keep their passport valid for six months into the future at all times.
Grace Period
After successfully completing your program, you are allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days from the program end date on your Form I-20 before either departing the U.S., applying for an I-765 EAD with USCIS in connection with OPT, or transferring to another institution. Different timelines apply if you have voluntarily withdrawn from classes or failed to maintain your F-1 status. Students are not permitted to travel outside the United States and return on F-1 status or to work during the grace period.
Health Insurance
Massachusetts law requires that students enrolled in an institution of higher learning participate in a student health insurance program or in a health benefit plan with comparable coverage. All Harvard students are automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP) and the cost of the plan is applied to their student bill. More information is available on our Healthcare & Insurance page.
J-1 Student Visa Details
The purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and return home to share their experiences. The J-1 visa is generally used for students in specific educational exchange programs such as the Fulbright, DAAD, AmidEast, etc. Educational institutions, such as Harvard University, may also sponsor J-1 visas for students in their degree programs.
Eligibility
The J-1 visa program is managed by a shared database called SEVIS. To be eligible for a J-1 visa sponsored by Harvard, one must first meet one of following criteria:
- At least 50% of the cost of tuition and fees comes from sources other than personal funds
- Government funding requires use of J-1 visa
- The J-1 visa (and J-2 for dependents) is obtained using Form DS-2019
Initial Registration Requirements
All new J-1 students must register with the HIO within 30 days of the start date on their Forms DS-2019. A returning student with a new Form DS-2019 must also re-register with the HIO.
Full Course of Study
International students must maintain full-time registration every fall and spring semester. Prior written authorization from an HIO advisor is required in order to take a reduced course load unless it is a student's final semester at Harvard. If students have to interrupt their studies for any reason they must contact their HIO advisors immediately.
Conditions and Restrictions on Student Employment
J-1 students in good standing are eligible to request authorization for on-campus employment. Employment is limited to 20 hours per week when school is in session; they can increase to full time during official holidays and vacations. A student must obtain prior written authorization from the HIO for all types of employment. If a J-1 student is sponsored by an institution other than Harvard, the student must obtain prior written authorization from that organization for all types of employment.
Maintain Required Health Insurance
J-1 students and their J-2 dependents must maintain required health insurance (including basic Medical Health Insurance, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation insurance) throughout their stay in the United States.
Change of Residential Address
Immigration regulations require that all non-citizens report their residential addresses within 10 days of entry to the United States and subsequently report any changes of address within 10 days to the Immigration authorities. Harvard sponsored J-1 students may report their address changes in the Change of Address section of this website.
Students sponsored by other institutions should contact their program sponsors directly.
Program Extension
J-1 students are required to maintain the validity of their Forms DS-2019 throughout the duration of their exchange programs in the United States. They must apply to their program sponsors for an extension of their J-1 status before their current Forms DS-2019 expire.
Change of Major or Degree
J-1 students should discuss a change of major or degree objective with their advisors. Any such changes should be discussed fully with an HIO advisor prior to making changes with a school or academic department.
Early Withdrawal
If for some reason a J-1 student is not able to complete an academic program, they must notify an HIO advisor and receive approval before withdrawing from their academic program at Harvard.
Required Travel Documents
Please review our travel information page before making plans to travel abroad. A J-1 student should bring all required travel documents to the HIO to speak with an advisor if needed.
Grace Period
After completing your program, you are allowed to remain in the U.S. for up to 30 days from the program end date on your Form DS-2019 before either departing the U.S., applying for Academic Training, or transferring to another institution.
Home Residency Requirement & 12/24-month Bars
The J visa carries several bars and requirements that J visa holders and their departments should be aware of. These are referred to as the two-year home residency requirement and the 12- and 24-month bars. Make sure you fully review and follow these requirements.
F and J Visa Comparison
| Category | F-1 Student Visa | J-1 Student Visa |
|---|---|---|
Eligibility | All students admitted in full-time, on-campus degree programs are eligible for the F-1 visa | Students are only eligible for the J-1 student visa:
|
On-Campus Work | Students are eligible to work on-campus up to 20 hours/week while school is in session and full time during official school breaks, as long as the employment does not interfere with their educational program. | Students are eligible to work on-campus up to 20 hours/week while school is in session and full time during official school breaks with written authorization from the HIO, as long as the employment does not interfere with their educational program. |
Off-Campus Work Authorization | All off-campus work must be related to your field of study, and requires authorization. Off-campus employment that is not related to the course of study is restricted. Please see below for more information on the various F-1 work authorization options. Please note, F-1 OPT is only available after students spend two full academic semesters in the U.S. in F-1 status: | All off-campus work must be related to your field of study, and requires authorization. Off-campus employment that is not related to the course of study is restricted. Please see below for more information on the J-1 work authorization options: |
Visa Document Details | The HIO will issue a Form I-20 to the student and their dependents (if applicable) and send to the student via email; the Form I-20 will be issued for the length of the degree program. The Form I-20 is needed to initiate the F-1 visa application process. | DS-2019 documents may only be issued for the duration of time for which a student certifies funding. If a student is in a multi-year program and certifies funding for one year, then the HIO-issued DS-2019 document will be for only one year, and the student will have to re-certify funding to extend their visa document for the remainder of the program. Students who have questions about funding totals or certification documents should contact the admissions office at their Harvard School. |
Visa Length Details | The length of U.S. visa duration depends on a variety of factors including reciprocity agreements between countries as well as consular discretion. | |
Dependents (Married Spouses and Children) | Accompanying dependents (spouse and children) receive the F-2 visa and are not allowed to work. F-2 spouses are allowed to enroll in less than full course of study even if that part-time study eventually leads to a degree or certificate. F-2 children may enroll in primary or secondary school. | Accompanying dependents (spouse and children) receive the J-2 visa. Accompanying spouses in J-2 status may apply for work permission in the United States. Be advised that it takes several months to obtain work permission after arriving in the U.S. Accompanying dependents may enroll in a full-time course of study in the United States while in J-2 status. |
Other Information | Depending upon the country and funding sources, a J visa holder may be subject to the two-year home residence requirement. Students who are subject to the requirement must return home for two years before being eligible to apply for an H-1, K-1, L-1 or immigrant visa. All J-1 Students are subject to a 12-month bar before they are eligible to apply for a J-1 Research Scholar visa. Both J-1 and J-2 visa holders are required to have comprehensive health insurance coverage in the United States. | |
Applying for Your Student Visa
The following guide is intended to help students currently outside the U.S. apply for their student visas and enter the U.S. to start their academic degree programs. Review the steps detailed below carefully. Answers to frequently asked questions may also be found in our Visa Application and DS-160 FAQ.
- If you are currently in the United States on a student visa status, please scroll down for further instructions on transferring your student immigration record to Harvard.
- If you are in the United States on any other visa status (i.e. H-1B, J-2, etc.) please contact the HIO for further guidance.
For questions related to international student admissions, financial aid, and degree programs please contact the admissions office of the appropriate school at Harvard.
The HIO has prepared this guide for all incoming international students and scholars to understand the operating status of United States (U.S.) embassies and consulates worldwide, and the best tips we currently have for monitoring and booking a visa appointment.
You may check the operating status of each of the U.S. embassies or consulates in your country through the Department of State’s Visa Appointment Wait Times website. Within a given country, different U.S. embassies or consulates may have a different operating status, so it is best to check each embassy or consulate within your country. A directory of all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide is available online.
You should schedule your visa interview in your country of nationality or residence. If the place of application is based on your residence, you should be prepared to demonstrate residence in that country. If you are a national of a country in which the United States is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations and you are not eligible to apply elsewhere based on residence, you must apply at the designated embassy or consulate for nationals of your country. Please consult the State Department’s website for current designations.
Note Regarding Potential Visa Appointment Booking Protocols
After completing your DS-160 visa application form (see below), you will be able to book your visa interview with your chosen U.S. embassy or consulate.
- If there are no visa appointments currently available to book at the local U.S. embassy or consulate, you will need to keep checking their calendar for more appointment spots to open.
- If there are visa appointments available to book, you should book the earliest appointment possible. If the earliest appointments available are after your arrival date or start date in the U.S., then you will need to follow the U.S. embassy or consulate’s instructions to request an emergency or expedited appointment, or keep checking back to see if more appointment times open in the coming months. Most embassies or consulates have these instructions available on their websites. Please note, different U.S. embassies and consulates have different instructions and different timelines for when they will allow you to submit an expedite request. Failure to follow your U.S. embassy's instructions could result in a denial of your expedite request. If you are unable to find instructions unique to your embassy, please contact your HIO advisor for assistance.
If you have additional questions that are not addressed in this guide, please reach out to your HIO advisor.
Admissions and Financial Certification
The first few steps of the visa process for international students coming to full-time, in-person programs at Harvard are managed directly by specific schools that you plan to attend. Once you accept an offer of admission into a full-time Harvard program, the admissions or financial aid office at the school requests documentation from you regarding your financial ability to study in the U.S. The financial certification process can be time consuming since you need to compile evidence of guaranteed funding, often from several different sources. The HIO is not directly involved in the admissions and financial certification process. Any questions regarding this process must be directed to the admissions office at your school.
Visa Documents
Once the financial certification is complete, the school's admissions or financial aid office enters your information into a database shared with the HIO. Until this point the HIO does not have records of new students coming to Harvard. The HIO has been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to issue F and J student visa documents, i.e. Form I-20 or DS-2019. In most cases once the school requests the HIO to issue an I-20 or DS-2019 it takes the HIO up to 10 days issue the documents.
Students whose visas are sponsored by another agency, such as Fulbright, AMIDEAST, etc. receive their visa documents directly from the agency.
After obtaining your visa documents, all students must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee. The Department of Homeland Security collects this congressionally-mandated fee to cover the costs of updating SEVIS, a system that enables the U.S. Government to maintain updated information on F and J visa holders.
How to Pay the SEVIS Fee
To pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee, go to www.fmjfee.com. You will need your SEVIS number from your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. The SEVIS number is located on the upper right corner of the Form DS-2019 and upper left corner of the Form I-20.
If you have a credit card you may pay the SEVIS fee online.
If you were born in or are a citizen of Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, or Nigeria you must pay by money order or via Western Union.
Evidence of the SEVIS fee payment in the form of a receipt or a payment verification printout must be presented during your visa application interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate and at many U.S. ports of entry. Please have your SEVIS payment receipt ready upon entry and reentry to the U.S.
Although Canadian citizens are not required to have visas, they are required to present the I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt at a U.S. port of entry as they enter the U.S. Please note that it is not possible to pay the SEVIS fee at the U.S. port of entry. Canadians must pay the SEVIS fee prior to getting to the port of entry.
The DS-160 is an online visa application form that you (and your dependents, if applicable) must complete before applying for an F-1 or J-1 student visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy outside the U.S.
You may access the DS-160 on the U.S. Department of State website. After you have completed the DS-160, you must take these next steps below:
- Print and keep the DS-160 barcode page. (You will not need to print the full application.)
- You must schedule a visa interview appointment. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate does not schedule an appointment for you. Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will be interviewed for country-specific instructions.
- Pay the visa application processing fee. Review country-specific instructions on the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website. Note, the DS-160 visa application fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable. You must pay this fee first before booking a visa appointment. If you need to change the location of your visa interview after paying this fee, you will not be able to transfer your payment and will need to pay a new DS-160 visa application fee before booking an appointment at a new U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
The U.S. Department of State has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions that may be helpful in completing the DS-160, including help for technical issues.
For questions related specifically to your Harvard visa sponsorship, please review the HIO’s DS-160 FAQ.
Receiving a visa document from Harvard (Form I-20 or DS-2019) does not guarantee that you will receive a visa from a U.S. embassy or consulate. In order to schedule an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate you will need to follow the instructions and required documents on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate you will visit. You should schedule your visa interview in your country of nationality or residence. If the place of application is based on your residence, you should be prepared to demonstrate residence in that country. If you are a national of a country in which the United States is not conducting routine nonimmigrant visa operations and you are not eligible to apply elsewhere based on residence, you must apply at the designated embassy or consulate for nationals of your country. Please consult the State Department's website for current designations.
Schedule an appointment for your visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy as soon as possible.
As an applicant for a temporary, non-immigrant visa to enter the United States, you must bring your passport, Form I-20 or DS-2019, SEVIS fee receipt, DS-160 confirmation page, proof of funding, and any additional documentation required by the individual U.S. embassy or consulate you visit when you present your application to the consular official.
Note that your F-2 or J-2 dependents can book their embassy appointments independently from yours, if need be.
The Visa Interview
During your visa appointment, you will have a brief interview. You must be able to prove your eligibility for a non-immigrant visa (F-1 or J-1) by presenting financial information along with the rest of your documents. You should also be prepared to answer questions regarding the length of your intended stay in the U.S. and how you will use your academic experience gained in the U.S. when you return to your home country. Consular officials expect to see evidence of your ties to your home country, such as family, property, employment, bank accounts, etc. If the consular official determines that you are not eligible for a non-immigrant visa because you have not presented satisfactory evidence that you intend to return to your home country, they are likely to deny your visa application. There is usually no recourse to the visa denial unless you are able to present new information. You may also be asked to present evidence that you have maintained legal immigration status if you have worked, studied, or resided in the U.S. previously.
Additional points to consider when applying for a U.S. visa can be found in this resource from NAFSA.
Visa Wait Times, Delays, and Denials
Visa processing times can vary widely. Depending on your field of study and your country of origin, you could be put through administrative processing, a form of security check, which could delay the entire visa application process. Please keep that in mind when applying for a visa.
If you are told during your visa interview that your application will be subject to a security check or administrative processing, you must alert your HIO Advisor as soon as possible. You may find more information about this process in our Administrative Processing FAQ.
Document Checklist
- Passport, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements).
- Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page.
- Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview.
- I-901 fee payment receipt.
- Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
- Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students), be sure to physically sign the bottom of page 1.
- Acceptance letter, issued by the Admission Office
- Financial documentation, this should match the information on your I-20 or DS-2019. Some examples include:
- Award letter of scholarship, fellowships, etc.
- Financial aid
- Loans, loan certifications, etc.
- Bank statements (family or personal funds)
- Affidavit of Support if you are sponsored by a friend or family member
- Employer sponsorship letter
- Sponsorship letter from an organization, institution, etc.
- Evidence that you do not intend to immigrate to the US. "Ties" to your home country are the things that connect you to your hometown, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, owning a house or apartment, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc.
- Dependents may accompany you to the US (spouse and/ or child under the age of 21) if an I-20 or DS-2019 has been issued to each individual. Each individual who needs a visa must submit a separate DS-160 application. Dependents can apply at the same time as the F-1/J-1 student or at a later date. Be sure to have your dependent bring:
- Valid passport
- F-2, Form I-20 or J-2, Form DS-2019
- Birth and/ or marriage certificate
- Financial documents (see above)
- Copy of the paid F-1’s I-901 fee
- Photo (see above)
If you hold an F or J visa status, the U.S. immigration regulations allow you to enter the U.S. no more than 30 days prior to the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or Item 3 of your Form DS-2019.
Transfers and Change of Level
This section is intended to help students currently in the United States on a student visa status transfer their F-1 or J-1 student immigration records to Harvard or from Harvard to another institution.
If you are in the United States on any other visa status (i.e. H-1B, J-2, etc.) please contact the HIO for further guidance.
F-1 or J-1 students who have been admitted to Harvard and are coming from another institution may be considered F-1 or J-1 program transfers, which are not necessarily the same as an academic transfer.
An F-1 student may transfer their SEVIS record to Harvard if they are beginning classes at Harvard within five months of the program completion date on their current Form I-20. Please note that transfers may be restricted for J-1 students depending on their academic program levels.
If you have questions about your F-1 or J-1 transfer eligibility please direct them to the international office at your current institution, and ask them to assist you with the completion of the Harvard Transfer-In Form. For more details about the F-1 or J-1 transfer process, please follow these steps:
Step 1: Admissions and Financial Certification
Once you accept an offer of admission into a Harvard program, the admissions or financial aid office at the school requests documentation from you regarding your financial ability to study in the U.S. The financial certification process can be time consuming since you need to compile evidence of guaranteed funding, often from several different sources. The HIO is not directly involved in the admissions and financial certification process.
Step 2: Complete the Transfer-In Form
To initiate the transfer of your F-1 or J-1 immigration record, you must complete the Transfer In to Harvard form with your international student advisor at your current school. You must request that your SEVIS record be electronically released from your current school to Harvard. You will submit the completed and signed Transfer-In Form to your Harvard admissions office along with your financial certification.
Step 3: Issuing Form I-20 or DS-2019
Once the financial certification is complete, the school's admissions or financial aid office enters your information into a database shared with the HIO. Until this point the HIO does not have records of new students coming to Harvard. The HIO has been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State to issue F and J student visa documents, i.e. Form I-20 and DS-2019.
The HIO cannot issue a Form I-20 or DS-2019 until the financial certification process with your school is complete, AND the SEVIS release date passes. Once the SEVIS record is released and all other admissions materials have been submitted, the new Form I-20 or DS-2019 from Harvard will be processed and sent to you by the admissions office.
Step 4: Visa Application
You are not required to pay the SEVIS fee again if you are transferring your F-1 or J-1 record to Harvard.
For F-1 students, if your current F-1 visa in your passport has not expired, you may continue to use it for international travel until the visa expiration date. If, however, your F-1 visa has expired, and you have plans to travel internationally, you must apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.
For J-1 students, you must apply for a new J-1 visa in your passport in order to travel internationally and reenter the U.S., even if your current J-1 visa has not expired.
See Travel and Re-entry below for more information.
If you are currently on F-1 or J-1 visa sponsored by Harvard University (either graduating students or students on Post-Completion OPT) and are admitted to a new program at Harvard, you may be eligible for a Change of Level. This may occur, for example, if you are graduating from Harvard College, and will begin a Master’s program at Harvard in the upcoming fall semester. An F-1 student may request a change of level to their Harvard SEVIS if they are beginning classes at Harvard within five months of the program completion date on their current Form I-20.
If you have questions about your F-1 or J-1 change of level eligibility, please contact your HIO advisor. For more details about the F-1 or J-1 change of level process, please follow these steps:
- You will first need to complete your new school’s financial certification process. During the process, you should indicate that you are currently in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status at Harvard.
- Once your financial certification is submitted and approved, the HIO will be able to issue a new Form I-20 or DS-2019 to cover your upcoming program.
- Your SEVIS number will remain the same, meaning you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again. If your current F-1 visa has not expired, you do not need to apply for a new visa. You will need to apply for a new J-1 visa even if your current J-1 visa has not expired. See Travel and Re-entry below for more information.
As a transfer or a change of level student, you may travel outside the U.S. during the transfer or change of level process under the following circumstances:
- You will need a printed copy of your newly-issued Harvard Form I-20 or DS-2019 to re-enter the U.S. if the transfer has already been processed.
- You do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again.
- If your current F-1 visa has not expired, you do not need to apply for a new visa. You may continue using your current F-1 visa until your program ends or the visa expires, whichever is sooner.
- You will need to apply for a new J-1 visa even if your current J-1 visa has not expired.
- If your current F-1 or J-1 visa stamp has expired, please review our instructions for renewing a visa.
- You may enter the U.S. with your immigration documents at any time prior to the start date of your program.
- Once you have been issued your new Harvard Form I-20 or DS-2019, you may begin working on campus at Harvard if you are expected to.
You must register your arrival with the HIO as soon as you arrive or no later than 15 days from the start date on your Form I-20 or DS-2019, otherwise your SEVIS record will become invalid. As a student you will not be permitted to register for classes at your school without first registering with the HIO.
F-1 students who have made a commitment to attend another institution must inform their HIO advisors and request that their SEVIS records be electronically released to the new school. It is advised that students discuss their travel plans and new program start dates with the HIO advisor before settling on a SEVIS transfer release date.
J-1 students in good standing may transfer to another educational institution only to complete the same educational objective for which they were admitted. Transfers are processed through SEVIS record updates by both the current and new schools. Students should consult the Responsible Officer (RO)/Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) at both institutions, provide proof of admission to the new school, and choose a transfer date. Transfer requests must be made no later than the end of the grace period.
Harvard-sponsored J-1 students planning to transfer should contact their HIO advisors immediately after admission to a full-time degree program at another U.S. institution.
Update Your Contact Information
Students leaving or transferring must update their contact information with the HIO, their Harvard school/department, and the Student Payroll Office before departure.
Leave of Absence
Whether you are considering taking a personal leave, a medical leave, withdraw from your program or are being asked by your program to take a leave, you must consult your HIO advisor to discuss the immigration impact of the leave before taking the leave.
If you choose to take a leave for personal reasons or if you are asked by your school to take a leave, you are not permitted to remain in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 student status during your leave. HIO is required by federal regulations to terminate your F-1 or J-1 status in SEVIS within 15 days of your official leave. The Form I-20 or DS-2019 you currently hold will no longer be valid. You are not permitted to use your F-1 or J-1 visa for reentries to the U.S. For brief visits to the U.S. during your leave (e.g., meeting with faculty or visiting friends), you must use a B1/B2 Visitors Visa or the Visa Waiver if applicable.
Returning from your leave
To return from a leave, you must request a new I-20 or DS-2019 as your SEVIS record would have been terminated due to your leave. To request a new I-20 or DS-2019, follow the instructions below:
- Work with the appropriate office at your school to go through the process of financial recertification and they will work with the HIO to issue a new visa document.
- Make arrangements with your school to have the new I-20 or DS-2019 mailed to you.
- Once you get the I-20 or DS-2019, you must pay the SEVIS fee. F-2 or J-2 dependents (when applicable) are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.
- Apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa (see instructions above) at a U.S. embassy or consulate if your current F-1 or J-1 visa will have expired at the time of your reentry to the U.S. unless you are a Canadian citizen in which case you do not need to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa.
- Register with the HIO once you arrive on campus (no more than 30 days prior to the start date listed on your I-20 or DS-2019)
- Please note, upon your return from leave of absence you will be issued a new, initial SEVIS record.
Attention F-1 students
In order to be eligible to apply to work off-campus employment authorization such as CPT or OPT, you must be a full-time student in F-1 status for at least one academic year after you return from your leave of absence.
As an international student in F-1 or J-1 status, if you receive permission from HIO for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) or Leave of Absence (LOA) due to medical reasons, you are permitted to keep your F-1 or J-1 status active and remain legally in the U.S.
For F-1 students, only twelve months of medical leave or reduced course load is allowed by the F-1 regulation, and HIO can only authorize this type of leave for one semester at a time. There is no specific time limit for J-1 students. To get permission for a medical leave or reduced course load in order to remain in the U.S, you must:
- Contact the appropriate office at your school directly to request the leave.
- Submit the request to your HIO advisor with a letter from your physician meeting the following requirements:
- on medical office letterhead and dated
- states your name and your date of birth
- states that either reduced course load or zero course load is recommended for you for a specific semester due to a temporary illness or medical condition
- signed by a licensed medical doctor, or licensed clinical psychologist
3. Receive your updated I-20 or DS-2019 (Once your request is approved, you will get a new I-20 or DS-2019 from HIO)
Please note:
- If you will need more time to finish your degree because of your leave of absence or reduced course load, you will also need to apply for an extension before your I-20 or DS-2019 expires.
- If you need to extend your medical leave of absence or reduced course load for another semester, you must submit a new permission request along with new supporting documents to your HIO advisor by the beginning of the next semester.
- If you no longer need Medical RCL permission after you have been approved, then you must contact your HIO advisor immediately so that we may update your record to reflect your continued eligibility for the appropriate amount of Medical RCL at your degree level.
- If you choose to spend your medical leave outside the U.S., you may not need to request RCL. Please contact your HIO advisor for guidance and advice.
*Pursuant to federal visa regulations, student visa sponsorship is only available for full-time, on-campus programs. Any students enrolled in part-time programs, or any online-only programs, are not eligible for F-1 or J-1 student visa sponsorship from Harvard University and are not permitted to enter the U.S. in a student visa status. Individuals are also prohibited from entering the U.S. using a B1/B2 visa or ESTA with the intention of studying online from within the U.S. Entering the U.S. on a B1/B2 or ESTA with the intention to study remotely would violate your tourist visa status; may result in a denial of entry to the U.S.; and may have a negative impact on obtaining future immigration statuses in the U.S.