F-1 Out Of Status

B

beanieboy82

New Member
Guys, I need help. I went back to my country on Summer 2002 with my new I-20 . The thing is I had to renew my student visa and reapply for it. It took me 9 months to get the student visa cuz I had to go through the clearance process. When I got my visa, I used my old I-20 which stated that I started my program on Fall 2003. But because I was stuck in my country for 9 months, I started my program on Summer 04 instead. The thing is...my international student advisor said that I'm out of status now JUST BECAUSE of the starting program date stated on the I-20. She said that I shouldve used a new I-20 when I got here. WHAT SHOULD I DO?? Please help guys...im really really confused and panicking right now...thanks
 
LucyMo,
Thanks for the reply..i apologize i wasn't too clear on this. The international advisor told me to take care of this matter to INS. I don't think that it will be as simple as just getting a new I-20 from the school cause my I-20 is stamped when I got into the US. Any comment on this?
 
how did she propose you take care of it with INS?

Besides the reinstatement issues, all other issues with incorrect I-20s and such are taken care of in house, that is - by your own DSO by making necessary corrections in the SEVIS database.

If she offers reinstatement - well, then, I guess you have no choice but to apply for reinstatement.
 
it is a silly and stupid problem she can always issue you a new I-20 that is what most intl students offices do And check your I 20 it is written down every time you visit and come back so that either the old I 20 is valid with current entries or the office will issue a current i 20. she just have to report these corrections.
 
Thank you guys for your responses...
Now my advisor told me that the safest way I could do the whole reinstatement thing is by going back to my country and come back here with the new I-20. I was just wondering if this is necessary or not...They said that if I take care of it over here, I've been out of status for 5 months already..so there might be a chance of denial from the Judge simply because of the 5-months rule....what do u guys think? Just kinda paranoid about goin back to my country and come back here with a new I-20..what if the process has some problems? any thoughts?? thanks again
 
yes, you can try going to Mexico or Canada, and reentering with a new I-20 and I-94. Just like it is described in a different post here, in this subforum. The poster is Faith.
 
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