I-20 Expiring, but F-1 still valid? need to renew?

[Tee and Megan 10]

Hi! I'm asking a question for a good friend who is currently on an F-1 visa with her dependent/minor son. She is studying for her MDiv and will finish in May in 2018. She wishes to apply for OPT for the following year. 

 

 

 Is it necessary for her to go back to India to renew her I-20? Her I-20 expires in May of 2018.  Her F-1 Visa is still valid until August 2019.  Thank you all for the help! 

 

Megan

Edited August 28, 2017 by Tee and Megan

[Coco8 1,039]

What matters is the i-20, not the F1 stamp.

 

The i-20 is not renewed at the embassy. The i-20 is extended by the university. She has to go to the office of international students and get an appointment with her advisor. They take care of all that.

 

The reason why it expires May 2018 is because that your friend graduates May 2018. Then, they do the OPT paperwork and she gets a new i-20 changes once she graduates. But it is perfect that the F-1 does not expire until August 2019 because it means she can have OPT and leave/get back to the US with the F-1 stamp.

 

Basically, she does not have to go back to her country. Everything will be done in the U.S.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

 

[Tee and Megan 10]

13 minutes ago, Coco8 said:

What matters is the i-20, not the F1 stamp.

 

The i-20 is not renewed at the embassy. The i-20 is extended by the university. She has to go to the office of international students and get an appointment with her advisor. They take care of all that.

 

The reason why it expires May 2018 is because that your friend graduates May 2018. Then, they do the OPT paperwork and she gets a new i-20 changes once she graduates. But it is perfect that the F-1 does not expire until August 2019 because it means she can have OPT and leave/get back to the US with the F-1 stamp.

 

Basically, she does not have to go back to her country. Everything will be done in the U.S.

 

Hope that makes sense.

 

 

Thanks Coco8!!

 

One more question for you?

 

With her student visa expiring in May 2018 when she graduates, when she gets the new I-20, will she need to go back to India to get a new student visa? 

[Coco8 1,039]

16 minutes ago, Tee and Megan said:

Thanks Coco8!!

 

One more question for you?

 

With her student visa expiring in May 2018 when she graduates, when she gets the new I-20, will she need to go back to India to get a new student visa? 

No, the i-20 is all the same. The issue is that the "updated" i-20 will reflect she graduated while the current i-20 says she is a student. 

 

She won't have to go back to India for a new F-1 because it is all the same i-20 in the sense that it is the same SEVIS number/ academic program.

 

Edited August 28, 2017 by Coco8