F-1 visa renewal

[nimesh24]

Hi everyone,

I am a current Ph.D. student and have an I-20 till 2016. However, my F-1 Visa ends at Jun 2010 that is a month after my Spring semester ends.
I know I can stay here legally even if my Visa expires till 2016. Only draw back is I cannot leave the country and get in (for which I would need a valid visa status)

So my question is

1) What are the earliest and latest time after/before which I can apply for my Visa interview to renew it.

2) Can I do it in USA/Canada or do I have to go back to India (I have Indian citizenship).

Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[HKAndy]

So my question is

1) What are the earliest and latest time after/before which I can apply for my Visa interview to renew it.

2) Can I do it in USA/Canada or do I have to go back to India (I have Indian citizenship).

Thank you for your help in advance.

Answers:

1) Usually after your current visa is expired or if you are returning on a date very close to the expiration and you want to make sure you don't have any trouble at the airport, then get a new one. If you never leave the US before you finish school, you may never need to obtain a new visa. Be careful, it is not a "renewal." It's an application for a new visa.

And the whole purpose of a visa is to get in and out of the country, so if you are not going to do that, the visa is meaningless. So next time you travel home, check your visa.

a) If you will be returning to the US while it is still valid, then don't bother getting a new one.
b) If the returning date will be close to the expiration date, you should make arrangement to obtain a new visa, just in case.
c) Finally, if your returning date is after the expiration date, you MUST obtain a new visa overseas in order to be re-admitted into the US.

2) Yes, you can get a new visa in Canada.