6 month passport expiration rule F1 Visa

[James Beach 0]

Hey guys,

 

I just read the following on the page for requirements for F1 visa interviews: "your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States" (https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/study-exchange/student.html). My grad school program ends in 2021 so my F1 visa would have to be valid until 2021 as well, but my German passport will expire in 2019. Will this be a problem? - Are they saying my passport will have to be valid 6 months past 2021 or 6 months past the first time I am intending to leave the US for the first time (for example Christmas break 2017)?

 

Thanks in advance! I appreciate it!

[milimelo 4,554]

Only for entry purposes. You're fine. 

[Coco8 1,042]

The passport has to be valid for at least 6 months at the time of interview.

 

It will not be a problem. Before your passport expires you should get a new one (probably at the consulate or in Germany if you are there). You need to keep your old passport with the visa so do not give it away. From 2019 to 2021 you will have to travel with the passport that haves your F1 and with the non-expired passport. 

 

They might give you an F-1 for 3 years and ask you to renew it. It might vary, but me and my friends were given visas for 2 or 3 years for 5 year programs. Then, you can go to your country and renew it (if you renew within the year of expiration you avoid doing interview). You can have an expired F1 while you are in the US because the only thing that matters is the i-20. You will need to have a valid F1 for reentry to the US.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 3, 2017 by Coco8