F-1 Immigration Vacation Quarter Request
Overview
In order to be eligible for a vacation quarter, you must have been a full-time student for three consecutive quarters and still be planning to continue your studies in the quarter following the vacation quarter. During your vacation quarter you do not have to take any courses but may stay in the U.S. without jeopardizing your F-1 status. You can also travel outside of the U.S. and reenter at any time during your vacation quarter. See below for information about medical insurance during your vacation quarter.
It should be noted that unused vacation quarters do not accumulate or “roll over”. You cannot take two vacation quarters in one year.
Most students are full-time students in Fall, Winter and Spring quarters and then take summer as the annual vacation quarter. However, some students might register full-time for the summer quarter and take their vacation quarter in Fall, Winter or Spring quarters. As you plan it is important to remember that you are not eligible for an additional vacation quarter until you have again enrolled in three consecutive quarters.
If you need to take a quarter off but you are not yet eligible for a vacation quarter, you would need to apply for a Leave of Absence.
You will still need to pay for medical insurance during your annual vacation quarter. However, if you can confirm to the International Education Center that you will be outside the U.S. during your vacation quarter, you may be exempted from paying for medical insurance.
Due to Washington State law, during a vacation quarter you are allowed to work on campus for a maximum of 69 hours/month, and the immigration limitation of maximum 20 hours/week for quarters when you are in-session does not apply.
If you have a CPT internship off-campus during your vacation quarter, you can potentially work more hours with approval, but please verify this with the International Education Center for approval.
Please indicate the quarter for which will be requesting an immigration status vacation quarter. In the event you drop below 12 credits in your current quarter, your vacation request will become void. Please be aware you must enroll full-time in the quarter following your vacation quarter. Additionally, if you do not have an F-1 status (for example, if you study outside the US remotely and do not have a SEVIS record), you do not need to request a vacation quarter.
This form does not withdraw you from classes, and you will need to do that with Records and Registration after you have submitted your request here if you are planning to unenroll during your vacation.
You will receive an email from an International Education Center staff member confirming if your request is approved or denied.
If you are not sure if you qualify, please contact us or log on to our virtual office to chat with us.
To Do Checklist:
- Submit form requesting a vacation quarter
- Contact Records and Registration to withdraw from classes during your vacation
- If you will be out of the U.S. during your vacation quarter, request an exemption from the medical insurance requirement from the International Education Center.