Can I get back to the U.S.?

Long story short, I was admitted in the U.S. in the spring semester, and I left on the 8th may(last day of the semester) for my summer vacation with a travel signature in my I-20 that I requested in April. While reviewing "the study in the us" website, I saw that I need to finish a full academic year before I can take an annual vacation. I look in the handbook and it citied 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(5)(iii) so I look it up and it says.

"(iii) Annual vacation. An F-1 student at an academic institution is considered to be in status during the annual (or summer) vacation if the student is eligible and intends to register for the next term. A student attending a school on a quarter or trimester calendar who takes only one vacation a year during any one of the quarters or trimesters instead of during the summer is considered to be in status during that vacation, if the student has completed the equivalent of an academic year prior to taking the vacation."

but 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(f)(4) says

"(4) Temporary absence. An F-1 student returning to the United States from a temporary absence of five months or less may be readmitted for attendance at an SEVP-certified educational institution, if the student presents:
(i) A current Form I-20 or successor form properly endorsed by the DSO for reentry if there has been no substantive change to the most recent Form I-20 or successor form information; or
(ii) An updated Form I-20 or successor form if there has been a substantive change in the information on the student's most recent Form I-20 or successor form, such as in the case of a student who has changed the major area of study, who intends to transfer to another SEVP-certified institution, or who has advanced to a higher level of study."

Basically I have a flight back on the 20 of august and my program starts on the 24.

Can I get back to the U.S.?

Posted Aug 4, 2026, 8:46 AM UTC

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