My F1 visa expired around 6 months ago, but my EAD and I-20 (OPT STEM Extension) are still valid. I booked tickets to go home and to re-apply/extend my F1 visa. My DSO said there is a slight risk the visa won’t be granted. Has anyone had any experience with this? Did you get the visa again? How was the visa interview?
Yes, had exact same situation 2014-2017. Ended up not being able to leave the country since I never got an h1b either. Great system they have. My advice would be not to leave the country.
Oh man.. are you still in the US or did you have to go back?
Convinced employer to apply for gc after I didnt get the first h1b, got it right on time (not from country with a long wait time). Came within 2 months of being deported, very close call.
There are no guarantees especially that you finished your studies. I risked it and got the Visa renewed in 4 days but you never know
Slight risk is a huge understatement. The risk is significantly higher as you cannot demonstrate non-immigrant intent if you are working and not studying
Op, did you finally go for it ? I know a friend who was in a similar situation and got her F1 visa extnded to be able to continue on OPT. She did so in Nov 2017.
I got scared and decided not to go :(
My scenario: I'm on STEM-OPT with validity up to Aug 2021, My current F1-visa stamp is expiring at the end of Dec 2019. Questions: 1. According to conditions of IWP(https://www.ustraveldocs.com/cu/cu-niv-renewal.asp), I think, I'm not eligible since, for the current F1-visa stamp which I got 4 years ago, I had to go through 221g!. So, I have to take an interview again!. Does this gonna complicate things? 2. Assuming, they don’t want to issue F1 extension for a short period of validity(close to additional 2 years from now), would they rescind the current valid F1-visa (valid until Dec 2019)too? I mean, once the extension application is rejected, would they cross off the current F1-visa stamp? If they do! returning to the USA is not possible until the employer applies for an H1B visa!, but If a visa officer doesn’t cross off the current stamp then I can still enter lawfully into states and just work on valid OPT for the rest of the period. Any suggestions, what happens to the current valid F1 stamp if they reject the extension application?
My f1 is about to expire but my ead is valid till next year... Can I still legally work in US? Is f1 visa validity required only during entering US?
If there is a slight risk, then don’t go. You might not be able to come back anymore.