Can I Renew My Student Visa In The Us

Your F-1 student visa is expiring and you are wondering if you can renew it. If you are planning to stay in the US after your visa expires, don’t panic. You have options and there may be a way to renew your current visa. In this article, I will provide information relating to the options that you have to stay in the United States after your visa expires. Options for Renewing an Expired Student Visa

Can I Renew My Student Visa In The Us

Many international students that study in the US for more than 9 months may be eligible to apply for a student visa renewal. Here are the steps you’ll need to do to get a new student visa or renew your existing one.

If you are a foreign student, I’m sure you have heard there is a great life waiting for you in the US. But exactly how can you get over here to experience it? The U.S. government welcomes foreign students to study here. There are basically two types of visas that let them do so: the F-1 student visa and the M-1 vocational student visa.

Renewing Your U.S. Visa

To enter the U.S., all international students, with the exception of those from Canada, must have a valid visa upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry. To renew your visa, you must contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country to make arrangements for your visa renewal appointment.

As of Aug. 25, 2020, the U.S. Department of State does not require an in-person interview for visa renewals of nonimmigrant visas that expire within 24 months. This policy is in effect until Dec. 31, 2021. You are encouraged to review the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for detailed information and instructions on applying for a visa without an interview.

You must apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate while abroad. You are not able to obtain a new visa from within the U.S.

Recommended Documentation

The ISSO recommends that you have the following documents when appearing for your visa renewal appointment:

• Valid Passport (which is not due to expire for at least 6 months)
• Copies of all your I-20s or DS-2019s
• Enrollment Verification Letter
• Financial documents which provide proof of sufficient funds as specified on your I-20 / DS-2019
  • If you are receiving funding from Brandeis, make sure to obtain an up to date letter from Student Financial Services or your department which specifies your scholarship, fellowship, loan or financial assistance.
  • Bank statements provided to the embassy officials must be original documents.
  • Any bank statement other than your personal account, must be accompanied by a signed sponsorship letter from the bank account holder.

Be prepared to answer questions regarding your plans for returning home after completion of your program. The embassy official may want to know about your plans for returning home after graduation.

Once you are in the U.S. and have been granted your F-1 or J-1 status, you may remain in the U.S. as long as you maintain that status regardless of the expiration date on your entry visa stamp. In other words, if you do not plan on traveling in and out of the U.S. for the duration of your F-1 or J-1 status, you will not have to renew the visa stamp.

Administrative Processing Guidelines

What is Administrative Processing?

Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on individual circumstances of each case. Visa applicants are reminded to apply early for their visa, well in advance of the anticipated travel date.

To help prepare for administrative processing, the ISSO recommends including a research plan with your visa application materials, which would include:

• Your name, degree level or academic appointment title, the number of years you have been in your current academic program or post-doc position, and amount and source of your funding