Guide to Extending an F-1 Visa

Guide to Extending an F-1 Visa

Planning to study in the USA for a longer period? Here we explain how to extend your F-1 visa (also known as a student visa).

What Is an F-1 Visa?

An F-1 visa is a student visa for foreign citizens who want to pursue academic studies at an American school. An F-1 visa is required for all foreign citizens who want to study in the USA. The student visa must also be approved by the American Embassy in order to study at the school.

Why Do You Need to Extend Your F-1 Visa?

An F-1 visa is valid for five years after it has been approved by the American Embassy. However, many people plan to stay in the USA for a longer period, and if you plan to stay longer than five years in the United States, you must apply to extend your F-1 visa.

How to Extend Your F-1 Visa

At Calistudies, we have created a guide to help you through the process of extending an F-1 visa. The process is quite similar to the one you followed the first time when you applied for a student visa, but there are a few differences. For example, it may be possible to skip the in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate and instead send in documents by mail when applying to extend an F-1 visa if you have previously lived in the USA. However, if you are applying for a visa for the first time, an interview is still mandatory.

You Are Eligible to Skip the Interview Only IF:

• You are older than 14 and younger than 80.
• You are a citizen of a european country.
• You have previously been issued a US visa.
• You have never been denied a US visa.
• You have not been arrested or convicted of any type of crime.

If you meet these requirements and are eligible, you can skip the interview and follow this guide.

Here Is a Summary of What Needs to Be Done:

• Complete the DS-160

• Gather Documents

  • Transcripts from current and previous studies.
  • Proof that you can finance your studies.
  • Copy of employment authorization card.
  • Receipt showing you have paid the SEVIS fee.
  • Passport.
  • I-20.
  • Official proof of financial status from your country.
  • Official Criminal Record Extract.
  • Proof that you have previously been in the USA.
  • Proof that you will return to your home country after your studies.
  • Passport photo (5×5 cm).
  • DS-160 Confirmation Page.

• Send with a Waybill

1. Complete the DS-160

• The first thing you need to do is complete the DS-160.

  • Complete the DS-160 here

• The process for completing the DS-160 is the same as the first time you applied for a visa, although this step differs in the application.

  • Under the step “Personal Information 2,” you will be asked to provide the following:
    • “National Identification Number”
    • “US Social Security Number”
    • “US Taxpayer ID Number”
    • Remember to fill in your US Social Security Number and US Taxpayer ID Number. If you have lived in the USA for five years, it is common that you have these.

2. Gather Documents

• Transcripts from current and previous studies

  • You do not need to provide high school transcripts from your home country. Instead, it is recommended to submit transcripts from the previous school or schools where you study or have studied in the United States.

• Proof that you can finance your studies

  • You are required to show proof of how you will support yourself and pay the school’s tuition fees. Most students do this through student funding and a bank letter. The bank letter must not be older than six months and must be in English.
  • Apply for student funding well in advance for the upcoming school year. The total amount you prove through your student funding and your bank letter must be at least the amount it costs to study for nine months in the USA. You can find this amount under “Financials” on your I-20.

• Copy of Employment Authorization Card

  • If you have completed OPT (Optional Practical Training), you must include a copy of both the front and back of your Employment Authorization Card.

• Receipt showing you have paid the SEVIS fee

  • It is important to include the receipt showing that the SEVIS fee has been paid. Since you are applying for an extended visa, you have already paid this fee. To find the receipt:
    • Visit the following website.
    • Then click “Check I-901 Status.”
    • Enter your personal SEVIS number (you can find this at the top left of your I-20, e.g., N00XXXXX).

• You will then receive your receipt to print out, see the example below.

• Passport

  • If your passport has expired and you need to apply for a new passport, submit your old passport with your previous visa.
  • Current valid passport.
  • Your current passport must be valid for at least six more months in order for you to apply for a new visa.

• I-20

  • Remember to submit the original document and not copies of the I-20. It is also important that it has a valid signature from the school.

• Official Population Register Extract

  • Certificate of Population Registration Showing All Family Relationships (in english)

• Criminal Record Extract

  • Only if you have committed a crime.

• Proof that you have previously been in the USA

  • Detta bevisar du genom att skicka in gammalt pass eller utdrag från I-94.
  • You can find your I-94 record here.

• Proof that you will return to your home country after your studies

  • This can, for example, be a letter from your employer in your home country showing that you will keep your job after your studies in the USA.

• Passport photo

  • 5×5 cm photo showing your full face.
  • It is recommended to visit a professional photographer.

• DS-160 confirmation page.

  • Example of this below.

3. Send with a Waybill

• On the embassy’s website, there is a guide on how to mail these documents to the embassy.
  You can find this guide here.

Important Things to Consider When Extending an F-1 Visa

Apply well in advance! Waiting times are long!

• According to the embassy’s website, it takes 3–4 weeks to receive your new passport with the visa after they have received your documents.
• Complete this process well before you travel back to the United States.
• The embassy’s website states that you should not book your ticket to the USA until your visa has been approved and you have received your new physical visa and passport in the mail.
• Official documents, such as bank letters, proof of financial status, and criminal record extracts, typically take a few days up to a week to be delivered to your address.
• After you have sent the documents via Waybill, your documents will arrive at the embassy in approximately 3 business days.

The visa and I-20

• The visa in your passport is issued to grant you authorization to enter the United States.
• The expiration date of your visa does not have to be the same as the period you stay in the country. However, you cannot leave the country and re-enter after the date on your passport has expired. In the example below, you can see where to find the “Expiration Date” on your passport.

• Remember that you must have either a valid I-20 for studies or a valid Employment Authorization Card for work during the period you are present in the country.

Important information from the embassy’s website

• The application process for a U.S. visa is the same whether you are applying for the first time or renewing an existing visa. It is important to know that your visa can still be valid even if the passport it is in is no longer valid. Therefore, you must remember to travel to the U.S. with both your new and old passport.

Summary of what needs to be mailed

• Transcripts

  • Copy of transcripts from your current and previous school in the U.S.

• Proof that you can financially support your studies

  • Bank letter (The bank letter must not be older than 6 months and must be in English).
  • Statement of Student Funding

• Copy of your Employment Authorization Card if you have previously completed OPT (Optional Practical Training).

• Receipt showing that you have paid the SEVIS fee.

• Passport, current and previous passports.

• I-20, remember to send the original document.

• Official personal record or certificate (e.g., from your country’s tax or civil registry authority).

• Criminal record extract (only if you have a criminal history).

• Proof that you have previously been in the USA.

• Proof that you will return to your home country after your studies.

• Passport photo (5×5 cm).

• DS-160 confirmation page.

For the latest information regarding student visas, visit the U.S. embassy’s website, and here you can read more about the requirements for visa renewal.

Do you have any questions regarding visas? Please feel free to leave a comment or contact us.