My current DS-2019 expires next year, and I really need to take an absence of leave after it expires, a year or two. I don't think I will be able to finish all the work required to complete my degree within this one year, but I am planning to do as much as possible before my absence of leave in my home country, so that i have something to work on during that time. I'm planning to get back into US to graduate and then do APT or OPT afterwards in either new J1 or F1 status. Would such an absence of leave count towards the fulfillment of 2-year home residency requirement? Would getting back in the US in a new status be feasible at all? Thank you.