Taking a Temporary Leave or Withdrawing from SF State

• Complete the F-1 Status Time Off Request Form (TORF)

• Complete the F-1 Status Time Off Request Form (TORF) 
• Students will receive a confirmation email from the F-1 international student advisors within 5 business days.
• Students are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from all the classes in the Student Center. Submitting TORF does not mean all the classes will be dropped by SF State.  
• Students must leave the U.S. within 15 days after submitting their TORF. Their SEVIS record will be terminated and their current I-20s will not be valid for entry in the future.  
• Students who are taking off two consecutive semesters must re-apply for admissions.

F-1 students who plan to take one semester off AND will be physically out of the U.S. for more than five months must request new I-20s to return to the U.S. 

Step 1: Request a temporary leave

• Complete the F-1 Status Time Off Request Form (TORF) 

• Students will receive a confirmation email from the F-1 international student advisors within 5 business days.
• Students are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from all the classes in the Student Center. Submitting TORF does not mean all the classes will be dropped by SF State.  
• Students must leave the U.S. within 15 days after submitting their TORF. Their SEVIS record will be terminated and their current I-20s will not be valid for entry in the future. 

Step 2: Request a new initial attendance I-20

See the instruction under "Request a Travel Signature (For students who do not have active I-20 from SF State)" posted at Travel

Step 3: Register for classes

• Clear all registration holds and register classes during their enrollment appointment.

Step 4: Notify the F-1 international student advisors upon arrival into the U.S.

• Students must notify the F-1 international student advisors within 30 days of their arrival in the U.S.
• We will collect the required documentation from students for SEVIS reporting

F-1 students who meet the following conditions may request their terminated I-20 to be reactivated:

• The student will be physically out of the U.S. for less than 5 months

AND

• The gap between the last day of attendance and the first day of next semester is less than 5 months

If students meet both of the above conditions, they must inform the F-1 international student advisors to reactivate their SEVIS record before returning to the U.S. Students who have expired F-1 visas must provide the F-1 international student advisors this information because the following procedures may not apply to them.

See two scenarios below:

Step 1: Request a temporary leave:

• Complete the F-1 Status Time Off Request Form (TORF)

• Students will receive a confirmation email from the F-1 international student advisors within 5 business days.
• Students are responsible for dropping or withdrawing from all the classes in the Student Center. Submitting TORF does not mean all the classes will be dropped by SF State.  
• Students must leave the U.S. within 15 days after submitting their TORF. Their SEVIS record will be terminated and their current I-20s will not be valid for entry in the future. 

Step 2: Register for classes

• Clear all registration holds and register classes during their enrollment appointment.

Step 3: Request SEVIS record to be set back to "Active" status

• Inform the F-1 international student advisors of their return date at least 60 days before the “First Day of Instruction” indicated on the University Academic Calendar.  
• Email a signed Financial Affidavit Form and a bank letter verifying students or their sponsor have sufficient funds to support their study in the U.S. for at least one academic year to f1@sfsu.edu. They can find the minimum amount of funds that they are required to show on the Financial Affidavit. We accept digital signatures, scanned copies, and high-resolution/clear pictures of the completed form. Include their full name and SF State student ID in their email.
• The F-1 international student advisors send a request to U.S. Immigration to reactivate their SEVIS record. It might take approximately 3 weeks for the request to be approved.
• Students will be notified by the F-1 international student advisors as soon as their SEVIS record is in Active status. They will be able to return to the U.S. with their I-20

*If students enter the U.S. on a different visa (ex. Tourist visa) during their temporary leave, their SEVIS record can’t be reactivated and they will have to follow the procedure for temporary leave for more than 5 months.

Step 4: Notify the F-1 international student advisors upon arrival into the U.S.

Students must email f1@sfsu.edu when they return to the U.S.  If they fail to inform the F-1 international student advisors of their return promptly, their I-20 will be canceled and they will be considered out of status.

• Students can take fully online courses full-time or part-time outside the U.S. but they will not be in F-1 status (Enrollment will count towards their degree progress). 

Step 1: Withdraw from classes

Students can withdraw from all the classes AFTER they meet with an F-1 international student advisor and obtain TORF approval.  Follow the instruction at Dropping and Withdrawing | SF State Registrar's Office (sfsu.edu)

Step 2: Tuition refund (if eligible)

Complete the Refund Request for Tuition and Fees form.  Submit this form to the Bursar’s counter at One Stop, Student Service Building or first floor of the Administration Building.  Only request refund AFTER students withdraw from all the classes.

Step 3: Cancel health insurance

Student may only request refund AFTER they withdraw from all the classes and physically outside the U.S. No insurance refund will be given after drop/add deadline.

See Health Insurance Requirement & U.S. Health Care for insurance refund policy.