Renewing your F-1 Visa

If your F-1 visa has expired, renewing your F-1 visa is necessary if you intend to travel outside the U.S. and return to continue your studies. Although your student visa expiration does not affect your ability to continue your studies in the U.S. as long as your Form I-20 is valid, being prepared for unforeseen travel is wise. Note that F-1 students, barring Canadian citizens, must have a valid and unexpired F-1 entry visa to enter the U.S. in F-1 status.

If you are not leaving the US, then you do not have to renew your visa. A visa is used solely for the purpose of entry and reentry to the U.S. The visa validity period does not determine how long an individual may remain in the U.S. An individual may stay in the U.S. beyond the expiration date of a visa as long as the visa document (Form I-20, Form DS-2019, or Form I-797) has not expired and their electronic I-94 record properly reflects the proper status. 

You will not be asked about the F-1 visa validity when you exit the US. It’s only when you seek to return and re-enter the US, that you must have a valid F-1 visa.

You cannot renew a visa stamp inside the U.S. Renewal of your F-1 visa is a process you’ll typically undertake by applying at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the US. It’s generally recommended to apply from your own home country.

Third country renewals (like in Canada and Mexico) may be problematic. Renewing your U.S. visa in a third country, meaning a country other than your own citizenship or legal permanent residence, isn’t always feasible. Some U.S. consulates may not accept visa applications from “third country nationals” during peak periods. Check with the relevant Embassy before planning to renew outside your home country.

Additionally, if you apply for a U.S. visa in Canada or Mexico and your application gets denied, re-entry to the U.S. won’t be permitted. In case of visa denial, you’ll be required to return to your home country for visa renewal. It’s advisable to discuss any plans regarding visa applications in countries other than your own with ISS at Purdue before you leave.

From myPurdue portal (under the Academic tab), apply for:

• Certificate of Enrolment (showing you are still currently enrolled at Purdue)
• All the transcripts for the period when you were first granted your expired F-1 visa to date. So if your F-1 visa was granted for Academic year 2023-2024 for 1 year and you are reapplying for the visa once you return home after your first year is over (say in June 2024), you would attach the transcripts for both the Fall and Spring semester of your first year. If you are currently enrolled at the Purdue West Lafayette campus
  
  From the ISS Portal you need to apply for:
• A valid Travel Signature (less than 12 months old) on your i20. If you need to request a new travel signature, plan to do so at least two weeks prior to departure date.
  
  Do this before you leave the US, Purdue certification of enrolment uses a process which sends a SMS to your US registered number which may not come if you are already outside the country. If you face problems, email certifications@purdue.edu from your Purdue e-mail with a special request to issue you a certification on email.

To renew your F-1 visa, you must adhere to the same procedures as when you initially applied:

1. Complete the visa application: Even for renewal, you must fill out the online visa Form DS-160 and print the confirmation page.

2. Schedule an embassy or consulate appointment: Arrange an interview at your local embassy or consulate to expedite the visa process. Many U.S. Embassies and Consulates are waiving the interview requirement for a visa renewal if you meet certain criteria. After completing the DS-160, you will be instructed to either make an appointment for an interview, or submit your documents to the Embassy under the interview waiver. Even if you are waived from the interview requirement, you must be present in the same country as the U.S. Embassy or Consulate to submit your visa application. You cannot mail your application from the U.S.

3. Gather required documents: Prepare the original documents needed for your initial F-1 student visa application. If necessary, obtain apostille stamps for your documents and translate them.

4. Pay the visa application fee: If payment is required before your interview, ensure timely submission to obtain the fee receipt.

5. Attend the visa interview: Participate in the interview for your F-1 visa renewal. Meeting the initial application requirements increases the likelihood of visa renewal.

After applying for F-1 visa renewal, remain in the country where you applied until your application is processed and approved. Depending on your field of study and your country of citizenship, you could be put through a security check, called administrative processing, which could delay your return to the University. Administrative processing can still occur regardless of whether you have cleared administrative processing on a previous visa application. Please keep that in mind when planning a trip.

The process of renewing a visa is almost the same as applying for the initial visa because each visa application is considered an independent application.

Be prepared with:

• A valid Form I-20 (with updated finance requirements and a recent travel signature).
• All Previous I-20s.
• A passport valid for at least six months into the future.
• Recent financial evidence proving your ability to finance your studies.
• Receipt of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment (if you are continuing at Purdue under the same SEVIS ID you used the last time, and you have not stayed outside the US for more than 5 months, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again, just show the one you paid last time)
• Academic transcripts or attendance proofs.
• Certificate of Enrolment
• A new filled DS-160 application form, confirmation sheet, fees, and photographs.
• Proof of compelling ties to your home country
• Proof of finances for the next year

I would advise to carry everything you did when you first applied for the F-1 visa- as you may be asked for additional documentation. Please keep in mind that you must be able to prove your eligibility for a non-immigrant visa by presenting credible financial information along with the rest of your required documents indicated on the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate. You should also be prepared to answer questions regarding the length of your intended stay in the U.S. and how you will use your academic experience gained in the U.S. when you return to your home country. Consular officials expect to see evidence of your ties to your home country, such as family, property, employment, or bank accounts. If the consular official determines that you are not eligible for a non-immigrant visa because you have not presented sufficient evidence that you intend to return home, there is usually no recourse to the visa denial. You would have to submit a new visa application, during which time you are able to present new information that proves strong ties to your home country. You may also be asked to present evidence that you have maintained legal immigration status if you have worked, studied, or resided in the U.S. previously.

Additional points to consider when renewing a U.S. visa can be found here.

In general, you will need the following in order to return to the U.S.:

• Unexpired passport (at least 6 months validity)
• Unexpired U.S. visa (except for Canadian citizens)
• Unexpired immigration document (Form I-20)
• Updated Travel Signature on Form I-20 or DS-2019 (in most cases no older than 12 months)

More information about travelling abroad on Travel Abroad Information for International Students | ISS (purdue.edu)