January 14, 2015

or not in status for five months. This rule applies to the following students:

The five month rule refers to the termination of a student’s record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) based on the student being away from classes . This rule applies to the following students:

Students who have had their student record terminated (i.e., been out of status) for more than five months; and

Students who have spent more than five months outside of the United States during an absence from school, excluding those participating in authorized study abroad programs.

