The following documents are recommended to take to your visa interview:

-Valid passport (expiration date should be at least 6 months in the future)

-Original I-20 signed by International Advisor (DSO)

-Proof of financial support

-Academic transcripts

-Visa renewal letter from International Advisor  (Go to status letter request form)

-Proof of relationship of dependents (only if you have dependents)

Frequently Asked Questions

Adapted from SEVP Operating Instructions

Can I stay in the United States if my student visa has expired?

Yes, as long as you are a student in good standing and have not violated your status, you may legally remain in the United States with an expired F-1 visa.

Can I renew my student visa while in the United States?

No, for more information about visa applications visit the Department of State website at www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov.

Can I renew my visa outside the United States in a country other than my home country?

Yes, but the Department of State recommends that you apply for a visa in your country of citizenship.

Before you travel to a country other than yours to renew your visa, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate at which you plan to renew your visa.

If you exit the United States and apply for a visa, you cannot return to the United States until the visa is issued. This could require a lengthy stay. If the visa is denied, you will not be able to return to the United States as a student.

In some cases, you can. Contact the individual U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada or Mexico. However, you cannot return to the United States until your visa is issued. If the visa is denied, you will not be able to return to the United States as a student. For more information about visa applications visit the Department of State website at www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov. You can also visit www.nvars.com, the site that provides appointments for consulates in Canada and Mexico.

For more information, please refer to the following Visa Policies and Procedures for Third-Country National in Mexico and Canada.

What is automatic visa revalidation?

Automatic visa revalidation allows most F-1 students to take a trip of less than thirty days to countries contiguous to the United States and reenter on an expired visa provided you have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the visit. This process revalidates your visa (making it eligible for the single trip), but does not renew it.

For more information about visa applications visit the Department of State website at www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov. You can also visit www.nvars.com, the site that provides appointments for consulates in Canada and Mexico.

*Note: Always contact the DBU International Admissions and Immigration Office prior to leaving the U.S.

F-1 Travel Tips and Status Letter

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