Annual Vacation | International Programs & Services

F-1 and J-1 regulations permit one vacation semester each year. This is an annual exception to the full-time enrollment requirement.

During your annual vacation semester, you can:

Enroll part-time or not at all (Graduate students: Consult with the Graduate School and your academic advisor about enrollment requirements if you are a supported student, as you may not be eligible for a vacation semester)
Work on campus for more than 20 hours per week
Stay in the U.S. or travel internationally, or a combination of both
Study at other schools in the U.S., take online classes, etc.

After your vacation semester, you will be eligible for another annual vacation after 2 consecutive full-time semesters.

Note: Unused vacation semesters do not accumulate or “roll over.” For example, if you enroll full-time for four consecutive semesters, you cannot take two vacation semesters in one academic year. A vacation semester is an optional, “use it or lose it” benefit.

Eligibility for annual vacation

You are eligible for the annual vacation semester if you:

Have completed two consecutive full-time semester prior to the vacation semester
Intend to register full-time following the vacation semester for two consecutive semesters again (unless you qualify for a different part-time exception, such as for medical reasons, final quarter, etc.)
Did not work on campus more than 20 hours per week during the two consecutive full-time semesters prior to the vacation semester
Are not in the first semester of a new degree program
Are not in your final semester; for part-time enrollment permission in your final semester, apply for a Reduced Course Load which is a separate exception to the full-time rule.
If you begin your MTU program in winter or spring semester, you will be eligible for your first summer vacation.

Vacation semesters

Summer
Most students register full-time in the Fall and Spring semesters and take summer as the annual vacation semester.

If summer is your vacation semester, you do not need to request special permission.

Fall and Spring semesters
Sometimes students follow a different enrollment pattern. Students might register full-time in summer and request an “alternative vacation semester” for either the fall or winter semester.

If you take an “alternative vacation semester” you cannot take the following summer as a vacation semester. You must complete two full-time semesters before your next annual vacation semester.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for an annual vacation semester, please fill out our Annual Vacation Request Form.

Once you have completed the Google Form, an IPS staff member will reach out to with their approval notice, or they will ask you to provide additional information.

Campus employment

You are allowed to work on campus (for Michigan Tech) more than 20 hours per week during your annual vacation semester.

Graduate students with supported tuition and stipend positions please contact the Graduate School and your academic advisor regarding their policies.

Staying in the U.S. & travel

During your annual vacation semester, you can remain in the U.S.

You can also travel internationally. If you plan to travel internationally, be sure that you receive a new travel signature from the IPS office before departure, and carry all other required travel documents for when you return to the United States.

Study at Other Schools During Your Vacation Semester

You are allowed to take classes at other schools during your annual vacation semester.

Students must plan to return to Michigan Tech the semester following the vacation semester. There is no need to transfer your SEVIS record to the other school.
Even if you study full-time elsewhere, it will still count as your annual vacation semester because your I-20 and F-1 status is connected to Michigan Tech
Consult your academic adviser to ensure your credits will transfer back to Michigan Tech.
Undergraduate Admissions is the office that evaluates and processes transfer credits after you complete your courses elsewhere. Contact Admissions to learn how to transfer credits back to Michigan Tech at intladm@mtu.edu

Medical insurance

Make sure to have medical insurance when staying in the U.S. during your annual vacation semester

For any questions regarding insurance, please contact the Student Insurance department at studentinsurance@mtu.edu

Graduate Students Reminders

Graduate On-Leave Status

“On-Leave” and “Annual Vacation” are two different policies. On-leave status is a Michigan Tech academic policy only. As an international student, you must also consider immigration policies. To have On-Leave status and remain in the U.S., you must also be eligible for an annual vacation for that particular semester.

You must request On-Leave status if you plan to take your annual vacation in a semester other than summer. This maintains your continuous enrollment at Michigan Tech. Please review the Graduate School’s leave of absence policies.

If you are a J-1 graduate student who plans to request On-Leave status and travel outside of the United States, please contact the IPS Office (ips@mtu.edu).

Summer RA or TA Appointments

Some summer RA or TA appointments require that you are enrolled in certain credits (Graduate School rules–consult your graduate program coordinator for more information). This is generally considered full-time enrollment for summer quarter.

What if you want to work additional on-campus hours (more than 20 hours per week) but you will still enroll because of your RA or TA position?

During your annual vacation semester, you can enroll in classes and take advantage of an alternate vacation semester benefit.

If this is your summer semester situation, you won’t be eligible for another vacation semester until you complete two more full-time quarters.

Michigan Tech Student Services and Benefits

Vacation semester approval is only a notification from IPS to the U.S. government. A vacation semester might affect eligibility for other Michigan Tech services and benefits, unrelated to F-1 status, such as:

On-campus housing
Husky Card services
Transportation Services shuttle services
Building access
On-campus employment
Health Insurance

Contact the offices managing the service or benefit to learn if you lose access if you take a vacation semester.