Returning to UW-Madison

Steps to take when returning after a period of non-enrollment

1. Determine whether you need to apply for re-admission:
  • If you are eligible to enroll in courses for the semester of your return, no re-admission is necessary.
  • If you are not eligible to enroll in courses for the semester of your return, you will need to apply for re-admission. Learn more about your readmission process on our website. 
  • Students who are studying abroad through a UW-Madison program and dissertators who are conducting research abroad while maintaining full-time enrollment are not required to complete this form.

2. Request a new I-20:
Requesting an I-20 through the "Return from Leave of Absence" form in the ISS section of the Incoming Students page. ISS will either request that SEVP reactivate your terminated SEVIS record or create a new “Initial Attendance” I-20 for you to return.

Reactivation means you will continue on the same SEVIS ID you had previously. 
  • Your SEVIS record may be eligible to be reactivated if all of the following are true:
    • You have been enrolled in-person at UW-Madison in the last 5 months.
    • You continued to attend your classes up until the date you submitted your withdrawal/out of country requests.
    • You departed the U.S. within 15 days of your SEVIS termination.
    • You have reported to ISS in a timely manor with the Out of Country form. Your SEVIS record needs to be Terminated within 5-10 business days of your withdrawal from UW Madison.
    • ISS is able to request that SEVP reactivate your record at the earliest 60 days before the start of the semester of your return.
  • If reactivation is approved:
    • Your CPT and OPT eligibility will not be reset. You may be eligible for off-campus work permission upon return to your program. 
A new Initial Attendance I-20 means you will be given a new SEVIS record and can no longer you your previous I-20 or record. 
  • If your reactivation request is denied or you are not eligible for reactivation, ISS will automatically create you a new initial attendance I-20. This means:
    • You will be issued a new SEVIS ID.
    • You will also be required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again. More information can be found on this website.
    • You may enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the “start date” listed on the I-20.
    • Your CPT and OPT eligibility will reset. You must be in valid F-1 status for 1 academic year to be eligible for off-campus work permission. 

3. After arriving back on campus:
By completing this signature document, I confirm that I have read and fully understand the above information regarding my return to UW-Madison.
  • If you have been out of the U.S. for more than five months, you are eligible to apply for a new visa. If your visa is still valid, it may be used for re-entry. Your visa must be valid on the day you re-enter the U.S. and upon any subsequent re-entries. However, your visa stamp can expire while you are in the U.S.
  • Your passport must be valid at least six months into the future at the time you enter the U.S. and it must remain valid at all times while you are studying in the U.S. 
  • As soon as you return to campus, you will need to complete ISO and Check-in with ISS by providing copies of your new I-20 as well as your passport, visa stamp, and I-94.  This information is needed to register your arrival in SEVIS, as required by visa regulations.
  • You must be enrolled full time for the semester of your return, even if you return for a summer term. More details about full-time enrollment can be found on the ISS website.