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.

