Visas

To renew your F-1 visa, you must follow the same steps you did when you initially applied for the visa:

1. Fill in your visa application.
2. Schedule an appointment at the embassy or consulate.
3. Assemble the required documents.
4. Pay the application fee for the visa.
5. Go to your visa interview.

After you apply for your F-1 visa renewal, you must stay in the country in which you applied until your application is processed and you cannot travel to the US. If your application for renewal is denied, you must return home.

Keep in mind that while you may apply for a renewal of your F-1 visa from another country other than your country of residence, it’s always advisable to apply from home since that will make the application process easier for you and the embassy/consulate.

Read the “Renewing Your F-1 Student Visa” section on https://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel for more details.

Yes, but renewing a visa on OPT can be tricky as many times they won’t renew just so you can finish OPT. If you are in the US, you may not want to do that and risk the chance of having it denied and not being able to return for the rest of OPT.

• Plan ahead. It could take a considerable amount of time to renew the visa. You can check the processing times at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html 
• Know what documentation to take with you
  • ISS recommends taking at least a transcript, a letter of academic status from your academic department if possible, proof of financial support, standardized test scores, passport and DS-2019
  • For more information regarding the required documentation, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html
  • Also check the embassy or consulate web page to determine if additional information or documentation is needed
• If you are a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) major, then you may want to have information about your research available
  • A letter from your academic advisor explaining your program or research subject in plain English at the time of your interview may be helpful
• Schedule your appointment at the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate, https://www.usembassy.gov/ 

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/getting-to-the-united-states 

Before you leave for the United States, familiarize yourself with the different kinds of documents you might need. It is always a good idea to carry your original documents with you at all times. Do not put them in your checked baggage.

It is also a good idea to make at least two sets of copies of these documents: one copy to leave with your family before you depart and one copy to give to your school officials. Here is a list of the important immigration documents:

• Passport
• Visa
• Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status."

The Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record" is a critical record. It shows that you have been legally admitted to the United States, the class of admission, and the authorized period of stay. It is very important that the information on the record is correct. Inconsistencies between the information on the Form I-94 and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records can reduce the chances of a successful systems interface. In particular, this can cause issues with status verification for Social Security numbers.

If you arrive by a land port, you will receive a paper Form I-94. If you arrive at the port of entry by air or sea, an automated Form I-94 record will automatically be generated for you by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. CBP will provide you with an admission stamp on your passport that is annotated with the date of admission, class of admission, and admitted-until date. The electronic arrival/departure record can be obtained at www.cbp.gov/I94.