OPT VALID - F1 EXPIRED

[pexproduction 0]

Hi everyone,

I have a situation!

My status is:

I studied at new york film academy for one year, march 2010 to feb 2011 and i recieved an F-1 visa from march 2010 to feb 2011, at the end of the course i applied for the OPT and i have been employed by new york film academy, so i had an OPT valid and an F-1 Expired, now, for emergency i had to go back to italy, so i got from the school the employement letter, the diploma transcript, the opt employement authorization card, the new i-20, and the letter from the school that i completed successfully the course. Now I am in italy, and my question is, What do i have to do at the embassy in order to be able to go back to the US?F-1 renew? New F-1? Say that im working? say that im studying? I'm confused

THANKS!!!

[canadian_wife 1,822]

What is the expiration date of your new I20...the one that you got with your OPT?

Since you are no longer studying you won't be eligible for an F1 but if you are within the dates of your I20 expiration you should be fine

Goodluck

[rika60607 215]

Yes, you have to go to the US embassy and ask for an F-1 visa.

In regards to studying/working - you are training (optional practical training, isn't it?)

Hi everyone,

I have a situation!

My status is:

I studied at new york film academy for one year, march 2010 to feb 2011 and i recieved an F-1 visa from march 2010 to feb 2011, at the end of the course i applied for the OPT and i have been employed by new york film academy, so i had an OPT valid and an F-1 Expired, now, for emergency i had to go back to italy, so i got from the school the employement letter, the diploma transcript, the opt employement authorization card, the new i-20, and the letter from the school that i completed successfully the course. Now I am in italy, and my question is, What do i have to do at the embassy in order to be able to go back to the US?F-1 renew? New F-1? Say that im working? say that im studying? I'm confused

THANKS!!!

[Harsh_77 718]

It would be difficult to get another F1, you are no longer a student. You are only doing OPT which is optionl as it says and not required as part of the course.

Most likely CO would say you should had wrapped your stuff in US when you returned back to home country.

you can give a try for F1 and see how it goes, please update on here what was the response might help other in future.

[Little_My 464]

I would think it's doable to get your F1 visa renewed while on OPT. For most F1 students who apply for OPT, the visa itself will expire during the OPT period. OPT is issued for 12 months, and many do travel back home at some point during their OPT period to visit family. A student on OPT has to have a valid F1 visa to return to the US, which they can only obtain abroad anyways, so I would assume that OPT students can be issued new visas as long as they can show an EAD card and proof of employment in the US.

Obviously there probably are differences between countries, so checking with the Italian embassy might be a good idea. In any case, you will need to have a valid visa to re-enter the country.