How to travel back home while in F1 status but without visa in passport?

[AngieSerbia 0]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here but I have been reading a lot. Here is my situation and I hope I can get some replies or ideas, I would highly appreciate it.

I came to the U.S. two times on J1 visa. Third time I came here on J1, I decided to stay and changed my status to F1 and have attended college with excellent grades and all. I haven't worked or did anything illegal in the meantime and am always trying to take the right/legal way.

The only thing I want is to travel back home for a few months (I have been on F1 for a year and a half now), but I need to go to the embassy in my country and explain to them why I changed status from J1 to F1 in order to get the visa and I fear they will reject me to come back here and continue studying, What I was told is basically that to them, it will look as if I was desperate to stay here and they might deny me with the visa to come back and enter the U.S. I would take my grades transcript to show them how serious I am about college, but not sure if that is enough.

Did anyone have a similar situation or has any advice? All ideas and suggestions are more than welcomed.

I don't think I qualify for a re-entry permit from what I've read.

Thank you so much!

[canadian_wife 1,826]

Do you have an I120 from your school?

Have you spoken with the DSO at your school about what you should do or contacted the amercan consulate in your home country?

You say you've 'heard' stuff, who did you hear it from?

good luck

[KaeR 1]

Some nationalities get a one year F1 and have to go to a consulate every time they travel after it expires. The same with extensions. You don't really have any choice other than a visit to a consulate in your home country. You got already approved for switching to student status so there is a chance you will be succesful when you apply for F1. Taking your transcript may help but showing ties to your country are also important.

[AngieSerbia 0]

Do you have an I120 from your school?

Have you spoken with the DSO at your school about what you should do or contacted the amercan consulate in your home country?

You say you've 'heard' stuff, who did you hear it from?

good luck

I do have that form and I spoke to the DSO, what they've told me is that I need to go to the consulate when I get home, but it might be difficult to get them to let me come back if they see that I switched from J1 to F1 and that to them, it might look as if I was desperate to stay and didn't want to go back home and ask for a student visa that way.

I heard things from other students and also asked an immigration lawyer online and he said he doesn't advise I travel that way, so I was wondering if there is any other solution or if someone has had experience with this.

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it!

Edited August 19, 2013 by AngieSerbia

[AngieSerbia 0]

Some nationalities get a one year F1 and have to go to a consulate every time they travel after it expires. The same with extensions. You don't really have any choice other than a visit to a consulate in your home country. You got already approved for switching to student status so there is a chance you will be succesful when you apply for F1. Taking your transcript may help but showing ties to your country are also important.

The ties to my country are not strong, that is what worries me. I just don't know what "tie" I could provide to prove that I will come back after finishing college here.

Thanks for your reply

[KaeR 1]

I have never received any questions concerning ties when I was aplying for F1 or I was renewing it. It's hard to prove ties if you go away for several years. However, I got questions related to that upon my entries to the US, like: what are you planning to do after your graduation or have I started looking for a job in the US. I would expect similar questions in a consulate.