A student who has been in the IELP program for 28 weeks in a row is eligible for a legal break. The legal break will allow you to remain legally in the United States without enrolling in one seven week IELP session. You are expected to return to the IELP the next available session.
Example:
You enroll in Spring I, Spring II, Summer I, Summer II. You may take a legal break and remain in the U.S. for Fall I and would be expected to return to the IELP for Fall II.

  • If you decide that you do not want to come back to the IELP program, you may transfer to another school or prepare to depart the United States.
  • If you want to transfer to another school, you must be able to start at the new school within five months of the last IELP session you attended. In the example above, you would need to begin studies at the new school within five months of the last day of Summer II.
  • If you decide to leave the U.S., you must depart within 60 days of the last day of Summer II, the last session you attended
  • If you do not enroll in the Fall II session and you do not let the IELP know that you are going to leave the U.S. or transfer to another school, your current SEVIS record will be terminated and you will no longer be legally present in the U.S. Please be sure to avoid this by updating the IELP regarding your plans.

While you are on an authorized legal break you are eligible to remain in the U.S. or travel abroad.