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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    1

    Question Do I Need to Apply for a New F1 Visa After an Extended Absence

    All right so here is my situation. I studied in new york for about a year, then, due to family issues I had to go back home (Italy) to help take care of things. You dont' abandon your family because you are in the us now do you?
    Anyhow, it's a year now since I left the country, and my I-20 expired some time in february. Having done what I had to do here, I was ready to go back.
    Here is the thing though: when I asked my counselor before leaving she told me that before the visa expired, anytime I could have simply called them and asked them for a new I20. Indeed that is what I did and they asked me to resend them all the documents and so on. I was not worried.
    Then I thought of maybe changing city, hence school. I called, but they told me a different story. Talking to different people, i was told that:
    -after 6 months out of I20, your visa is invalid
    -after 5 months outside the us, your visa is invalid
    -after 3 months without starbucks coffee, you are invalid. (...)

    They basically told me that along with the I-20, I need to apply for a new F-1 visa, even though I still have one that expires in 2015. The confusing part is that my previous school didn't say that and they seemed confident in me needing only a new I20.

    So here comes my question, where does the truth lie here? I am quite confused.

    Thank you so very much for your answers.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Do I Need to Apply for a New F1 Visa

    Unless your activities overseas are related to their course of study, it's five months. Given the high probability of being turned back at the border, you should apply for a new visa.

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