The ISA can authorize a Reduced Course Load (RCL) – below 3 credits (or, if necessary, no course load) due to a temporary illness or medical condition when recommended by a medical provider who has been treating you. If the recommendation is that you take no classes at all, you can remain in the U.S. for medical treatment or return to your home country. You SEVIS record will not be negatively impacted.
In order to authorize an RCL based on a medical condition, you must provide documentation to the ISA preferably before you take action. It is not possible to provide this authorization retroactively. The required documentation is in addition to any documentation you provide to the Dean of Students Office. Per regulations, the medical documentation you provide to the ISA must be from the licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist who has been treating you. See RCL Medical form [pdf].
Medical RCL’s are generally approved for an entire semester (or to the end of a semester if approved after the term begins). Regulations permit you up to one year – 365 days – of medical RCL during your program.