F-1 Returning Students
The Kearney International Center (KIC) is delighted about your plans to return to Minnesota State University, Mankato to study. You are considered a returning student if you have interrupted your program of study by:
- Departing the United States to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) for LESS than 5 months
- Departing the United States to take a Leave of Absence (LOA) for MORE than 5 months
- Returning after being Academically Suspended
- Returning at the same-degree level after your OPT period
- Returning after Transferring Out to another U.S. College
- Returning after starting your degree program online, from outside of the United States
Deadlines to Apply:
- Fall term: July 1
- Spring term: November 1
Please identify ONE of the following the best identifies your returning reason for further steps to take and specific reminders:
I am returning after taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) for LESS than 5 months:
Important information:
- There is a health insurance hold on your account. Prepare to make that payment via your e-services before registering for courses.
- Step 1:Read through all the Returning Student information based on the reason for your return.
- Step 2:Meet with your academic department to discuss course schedule for your returning semester and complete the “Tentative Course Schedule” form.
- Step 3:Gather your supporting documentation needed for your return to MSU e-form. Documents needed:
- (1) Financial Affidavit form
- (2) Bank documents (updated within the last 3 months)
- (3) Tentative Course Schedule form
- (4) Copy of passport
- Step 4:Start the Returning student e-form and then upload your supporting documents to the e-form. Once you submit your e-form, it will automatically be placed in the KIC queue for processing.
I am returning after taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) for MORE than 5 months:
Important information:
- If you departed the United States for more than 5 months because you were Academically Suspended from Minnesota State Mankato, please follow the steps for “I am returning after being academically suspended from MSU.”
- There is a health insurance hold on your account. Prepare to make that payment via your e-services before registering for courses.
- Step 1: Read through all the Returning Student information based on the reason for your return.
- Step 2: Meet with your academic department to discuss course schedule for your returning semester and complete the “Tentative Course Schedule” form.
- Step 3: Gather the supporting documentation needed for your return to MSU e-form. Documents needed:
- (1) Financial Affidavit form
- (2) Bank documents (updated within the last 3 months)
- (3) Tentative Course Schedule form
- (4) Copy of passport
- Step 4: Start the Returning Student e-form and then upload your supporting documents to the e-form. Once you submit your e-form, it will automatically be placed in the KIC queue for processing.
I am returning after being Suspended from Minnesota State Mankato:
Important information:
- You must first be academically reinstated, first, before you can move forward with the Returning Student process at the KIC.
- There is a health insurance hold on your account. Prepare to make that payment via your e-services before registering for courses.
- Step 1: Read through all the Returning Student information based on the reason for your return.
- Step 2: Review the Academic Reinstatement process. Then schedule a meeting with your academic department to go through the Academic Reinstatement process.
- Step 3: After you’ve been academically reinstated, meet with your academic department to discuss a tentative course schedule for your returning semester and complete the “Tentative Course Schedule” form.
- Step 4: Gather the supporting documentation needed for your return to MSU e-form. Documents needed:
- (1) Financial Affidavit form
- (2) Bank documents (updated within the last 3 months)
- (3) Tentative Course Schedule form
- (4) Copy of passport
- (5) Copy of your Academic Reinstatement letter
- Step 5: Start the Returning Student e-form and then upload your supporting documents to the e-form. Once you submit your e-form, it will automatically be placed in the KIC queue for processing.
I am returning after Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT:
Important information:
- After your OPT ends you will get a 60-day grace period. If you are interested in coming back at the same undergraduate level, you can begin that process. Please allow at least 3 weeks for the Kearney Center to process your request.
- If you plan to start your new undergraduate program before your OPT ends, you will lose any remaining OPT time.
- Step 1: Read through all the Returning Student information based on the reason for your return.
- Step 2: Meet with your new academic department to have your new major listed in your Minnesota State Mankato record. Once that has been added, please discuss courses to take for your returning semester and complete the “Tentative Course Schedule” form.
- Step 3: Gather the supporting documentation needed for your return to MSU e-form. Documents needed:
- (1) Financial Affidavit form
- (2) Bank documents (updated within the last 3 months)
- (3) Tentative Course Schedule form
- (4) Copy of passport
- (5) Copy of OPT card
- Step 4: Start the Returning Student e-form and then upload your supporting documents to the e-form. Once you submit your e-form, it will automatically be placed in the KIC queue for processing.
I am returning after Transferring Out:
Important information:
- If you transferred out because you were Academically Suspended from Minnesota State Mankato, please follow the steps for “I am returning after being academically suspended from MSU.”
- There is a health insurance hold on your account. Prepare to make that payment via your e-services before registering for courses.
- Step 1:Read through all the Returning Student information based on the reason for your return.
- Step 2: Meet with your academic department to discuss course schedule for your returning semester and complete the “Tentative Course Schedule” form.
- Step 3:Gather your supporting documentation needed for your return to MSU e-form. Documents needed:
- (1) Financial Affidavit form
- (2) Bank documents (updated within the last 3 months)
- (3) Tentative Course Schedule form
- (4) Copy of passport
- (5) Transfer-In form
Step 4: Start the Returning Student e-form and then upload your supporting documents to the e-form. Once you submit your e-form, it will automatically be placed in the KIC queue for processing.
I am returning after starting my degree program online, from outside of the United States:
Important information:
- There is a health insurance hold on your account. Prepare to make that payment via your e-services before registering for courses.
- Step 1: Read through all the Returning Student information based on the reason for your return.
- Step 2: Meet with your academic department to discuss course schedule for your returning semester and complete the “Tentative Course Schedule” form.
- Step 3: Gather your supporting documentation needed for your return to MSU e-form. Documents needed:
- (1) Financial Affidavit
- (2) Bank documents (updated within the last 3 months)
- (3) Tentative Course Schedule form
- (4) Copy of passport
- Step 4: Start the Returning Student e-form and then upload your supporting documents to the e-form. Once you submit your e-form, it will automatically be placed in the KIC queue for processing.
