Leave of Absence Authorization
J-1 Research Scholars who will be out of the country for more than 30 days for business/research, or for more than 60 days for personal travel, should notify the International Services and Engagement Office (ISEO). J-1 scholars can notify ISEO by submitting a J-1 Leave of Absence Request.
- For extended absences of three months or more, J-2 dependents should accompany the J-1 principal.
- Please make sure to submit this request before the leave begins as this request cannot be back dated.
- After receiving the Leave of Absence Request, ISEO staff will input the leave information into the J-1 scholar's SEVIS immigration record to alert immigration officials that the scholar will be outside the U.S. for a duration of time but their J-1 program will remain active. When submitting the request form, confirmation emails will be sent to the department administrator and the scholar's supervisor or PI.
- Please see the requirements for maintaining an active J-1 program below. Keeping your J-1 program active is important when considering the 24-month bar, also discussed below.
- J-1 Short-Term Scholars and J-1 Student Interns are not eligible for a J-1 Leave of Absence. If you are in one of these categories and will be outside the U.S. for a longer duration of time, you can contact ischolars@ucsd.edu with any questions.
Request leave of Absence via iservices.ucsd.edu
NOTE: This Leave of Absence request is pertinent only to International Faculty and Scholar Services for purposes related to SEVIS; for an official leave of absence from UC San Diego, you will need to work with your departmental administrator
In order to maintain an active J-1 program during the leave of absence:
- The J-1 Leave of Absence Request must be submitted in iservices.ucsd.edu prior to the leave.
- The J-1 scholar must engage in on-going collaboration with UC San Diego during the leave.
- The leave of absence must not exceed six months.
- The J-1 scholar must maintain the required level of health insurance coverage.
- If the date of return falls after the expiration of the current J-1 program, a DS-2019 Extension Application will need to be submitted via iServices in addition to the Leave of Absence Request (along with recharge fee).
- If entering the U.S. during leave of absence for a brief period (e.g., attendance at a professional conference), the J-1 scholar must enter in J-1 status (not B-1, WB, etc.); contact your scholar advisor for more information.
All J-1 Exchange Visitors in the Professor or Research Scholar category (Box 4 of your Form DS-2019) are subject to a "24-Month Bar" on "repeat participation" in those categories. Scholars subject to the bar may not return to the U.S. as a J-1 scholar in the Professor or Research Scholar categories for a 24-month period once our office has completed or terminated your program. This 24-Month Bar will be in effect regardless of the duration of the program: whenever an Exchange Program ends and the SEVIS record becomes "inactive," the five-year window is "closed" and you must wait 24 months before beginning a new program as a J Professor or Research Scholar. Unused time from the five-year window may not be saved for use later.
To take advantage of the full five years of the J Research Scholar category, you would need to maintain an "active" SEVIS record if you plan to return to UC San Diego after a period of absence.
Prior to your return to the U.S., please make sure that you have all your required immigration documents for re-entry.
A valid J-1 visa stamp is required for re-entry. Therefore, you may need to contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad to apply for a new visa.
Upon arrival, you are required to check in at ISEO with your immigration documents.