Please, need help! F1 Visa extension. New York

[jonathane40]

Hi,

I have been trying to figure this out for a while and keep getting different answers from my school and from other organizations.

I am geting my masters in the US and have an F1 visa that will expire on January, 2011. After my first semester i switched to a different program that required more credits, hence, i will end up graduating in 2.5 years instead of 2.

My worry is that if i find a job in september with my OPT, i'll be legal in this country while working till september of 2011 but i won't be able to leave and come back to the USA after January 2011 because my F1 will be expired. This seems risky because if i have an emergency at home i wont be able to attend.

Does anyone know if anything can be done about this issue? My school tells me that unfortunately i will have to do with this and not leave the country after my visa expires.

Thank you so much for reading and will greatly appreciate any help.
Jonathan

 

[e3visa]

There is nothing much you can do as the expiry date on your actual F1 visa is the only relevant point for re-entry to the US. That needs to be valid and if it is not you will need a new visa to enter the country. While legal status can be maintained within the US beyond the expiration of your visa by following procedures and getting approvals, that does not mean you get a new visa just that you maintain legal status within the US.
CJ