If you need to withdraw from courses at CCA for the current semester or take a leave of absence for a future semester, or both, you must follow all college procedures to complete the withdrawal and/or leave of absence.

Information on withdrawing from all courses or taking a leave of absence can be found in the Student Handbook.

If you have questions about either process, set up an appointment with an ISAP advisor.

Students can apply for an official leave of absence from CCA for one semester or one academic year. A leave of absence is requested by completing the leave of absence form and obtaining all required signatures. Once your leave of absence is approved, you will be dropped from all courses for which you are registered in the leave semester, which could include the current semester.

Impact on F-1 status and SEVIS record:

On the first day of classes for semester of your leave, ISAP will report to Immigration that you are no longer taking classes at CCA, which means we have to terminate your F-1 record in the SEVIS system. This cancels your current CCA I-20. Your F-1 status ends when your SEVIS record is terminated and you need to plan to either transfer to another SEVIS approved school or leave the United States immediately. You cannot stay in the United States and maintain valid F-1 status if you are not taking classes during a required semester (fall or spring).

Impact on Curricular Practical Training (CPT) / Optional Practical Training (OPT) eligibility:

Immigration regulations require that a student be in F-1 status for at least one full academic year before being eligible for CPT or OPT. Withdrawing or taking a leave of absence, or both, creates a break in your F-1 status. This means that your “time-clock” for being eligible for CPT or OPT resets. This means that after returning to CCA you must maintain F-1 status continuously for at least two semesters before becoming eligible for CPT or OPT again.

Return to CCA:

When you are ready to return to CCA, ISAP will work with you to issue a new I-20 to enter the US. See information below about your F-1 non-immigrant status to return to CCA.

Download the appropriate leave of absence form from the Resources section on this portal page.

Undergraduate students : Complete the top portion of the form and email to isap@cca.edu. We will work with your program advisor to complete all next steps.

Graduate students : Complete the top portion of the form. Obtain the approval signature from your Department Chair or Program Manager, then send to isap@cca.edu for next steps.

Once you have submitted the Leave of Absence form, and submitted it to the Student Records Office and you have been withdrawn from your courses, your SEVIS record will be terminated. Your F-1 status ends when your SEVIS record is terminated and you need to plan to either transfer to another SEVIS approved school or leave the United States immediately to order to avoid accruing unlawful presence.

If you will transfer to another school instead of leaving the U.S., you must submit a Request to Transfer SEVIS Record before your SEVIS record is terminated. Please review the information about how to request the transfer of your SEVIS record on our SEVIS transfer portal page.

When you are ready to return to CCA, contact ISAP. You will be required to provide a new I-20 Request form and updated financial documentation before being issued a new I-20 to return to CCA. In some cases, you may need to work with the Office of Student Records to reactivate your student record by completing the Return to Active Status form. You can check with ISAP to see if that form is required.

To allow enough time for issuance of your I-20 and application for a new visa (should you need one), contact ISAP at least 60 days before the start of the semester in which you will return to CCA.

Eligibility for CPT and OPT after returning to CCA

Immigration regulations require that a student be in F-1 status for at least one full academic year before being eligible for CPT or OPT. Withdrawing or taking a leave of absence, or both, creates a break in your F-1 status. This means that your “time-clock” for being eligible for CPT or OPT resets. This means that after returning to CCA you must maintain F-1 status continuously for at least two semesters before becoming eligible for CPT or OPT again.