Extention of F1 visa

[Clotilda 0]

Hey there!

I'm currently an International Student who got married to a Permanent Resident. We are waiting for I-130 to be approved this summer or fall. But, considering all possibilities, it might take longer time. My I-20 will expire in December 2018, although I won't be done with my study till that time. Plus I'm planning transfer to university. So my question is, did someone have experience with I-20 extension while being already in immigration process? How difficult might it be? 

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Your current school's DSO would be the best resource for i20 related issues. 

You have to be in Status to AOS when your visa bulletin date gets current.

[Coco8 1,042]

Once your i-130 is approved you don't need the F-1 any more. If you think it will be approved before 12/2018, then you don't need to worry about it. 

 

Extending the i-20 is something the international advisor does for you. They do it online. Then, they print the new i-20, sign it, and give you to you. They will need the reason why you need to extend it.

 

I had to extend my i-20. I met with my advisor, took some paperwork, and she did it. I picked it up the following day because it had to be signed by someone else. 

Edited February 16, 2018 by Coco8

[Clotilda 0]

Thank you!

 

5 minutes ago, WeGuyGal said:

You have to be in Status to AOS when your visa bulletin date gets current.

Yeah, I know. That's why I just want to hear about other people's experience*) But I'll definitely talk to my advisor in school. 

[Clotilda 0]

1 minute ago, Coco8 said:

Once your i-130 is approved you don't need the F-1 any more. If you think it will be approved before 12/2018, then you don't need to worry about it. 

 

Extending the i-20 is something the international advisor does for you. They do it online. Then, they print the new i-20, sign it, and give you to you. They will need the reason why you need to extend it.

Thank you for reply. Actually I need to be in status until my visa bulletin date becomes current.  In other words if my I-130 is approved and visa bulletin date has been still not current, I need to be in status.

I know, that advisor does it. I just know that there might be difficulties with extension, since I'm in immigration process.

[Coco8 1,042]

10 minutes ago, Clotilda said:

Thank you for reply. Actually I need to be in status until my visa bulletin date becomes current.  In other words if my I-130 is approved and visa bulletin date has been still not current, I need to be in status.

I know, that advisor does it. I just know that there might be difficulties with extension, since I'm in immigration process.

Oh! Sorry, I misread the part that your husband is a permanent resident.

 

The F-1 and the I-130 are not related. You could get into trouble if you leave the country to renew your F1 at your consulate. The consulate is the one that could say they are not giving you the F1 stamp because you are waiting for a green card. But USCIS only cares that you are "in status", that you send evidence, fill in the paperwork, etc. 

 

The I-20 extension is pretty automatic. I know a lot of people who had I-130 applications like you, who had no problems keeping their student status. 

 

The only thing you need to extend the i-20 is a valid reason. For instance, if you need more credits to graduate, that is valid. If you want to extend your education because there is a "BA/MA" combo, that is valid. I was finishing my dissertation and I needed more time, so my advisor had to write a short letter explaining the reason why I needed the extra time. 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2018 by Coco8