As an F-1 or J-1 student, you qualify for an annual vacation of four months after completing one academic year of full-time enrollment.

An academic year is defined as eight months of continuous class instruction during:

• two full semesters — fall and winter OR

• one full semester and both spring and summer terms.

Policy considerations if you are a new or transfer student

New Initial I-20 Student (one time exception to the eight-month requirement)

• If you began your studies winter semester with a new initial I-20 SEVIS record, you are eligible for a spring and summer vacation.
• If you began your studies spring semester with a new initial I-20 SEVIS record, you are eligible for a summer vacation.
  
  • Please refer to the infographic link below to see if you are eligible for a spring/summer vacation.
  • Before taking a fall or winter vacation period, you must submit a Vacation Request E-form from our eForm portal. You must have been enrolled full-time for the previous eight months.

Transfer Student

If you transferred to BYU after having been enrolled full-time at another U.S. college or university, you may count your immediate prior enrollment towards meeting the eight-month eligibility requirement. For example, if you attended fall semester at another school and transferred here starting winter, you would qualify for a spring and summer vacation since you would have been enrolled for eight continuous months previous.

• Please refer to the infographic link below to see if you are eligible for a spring/summer vacation.
• Before taking a fall or winter vacation period, you must submit a Vacation Request E-form from our eForm portal. You must have been enrolled full-time for the previous eight months

Critical vacation information related to employment, enrollment, and graduation:

• Federal regulations prohibit you from graduating/completing your program while on vacation. You must register for on-campus classes during your final semester or term. Likewise, you must enroll in classes during the next available enrollment period after your annual vacation.
• You may enroll in classes if you choose. If so, you do not have to be enrolled full-time.
• You may work more than 20 hours per week, even if you are enrolled in some classes. All off-campus employment must be authorized first through International Student and Scholar Services.
• If you choose to take your annual vacation during fall or winter semester, you must apply to International Student and Scholar Services by submitting a Vacation Request E-form. This requires that you have been in full-time attendance for eight months prior to your vacation and intend to be enrolled full-time afterward.

Please refer to section 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations § 214.2(f)(5)(iii) to see these regulations on annual vacation.