Hi friends,

    I am graduating in May and am planning to go to Europe and then to Nepal during the summer. I will be coming back to graduate school in July. My F-1 visa is valid till June 2009. Do i need to get a new visa when i make my trip since i am graduating from college in may and will be going out of country and coming back for grad school in July/Aug? Would having an I-20 from grad school be enough? Please enlighten me on this issue.

Thanks.

Hey Fren. ..

There are lots of thing you will need to do inorder to get into US again after you go back... Since you are now graduating.. I believe you will soon have to move out from USA untill you join a course there.. or I mean get a new college.. Before your summer starts its better you get admission in new university so that you will be in Status. Then you can go back to nepal.. But remember do not stay in nepal more than 5 months. That will make you to re-apply again.. As I am going to go through the same case.. I dont want you to be in that situation... So take plenty of suggestions specially from a good international students advisor from your college.

Best of luck

hey murkha...if you are graduating in May....who the fck cares if you have a visa till june...

Hello sathi, as long as you have a valid I 20 for your graduate program, you dont need to worry. I hope you have multiple entry status in your visa anyawys. So go have some fun  out there and come back for your school.you will have no problem coming back at all.

i think you will need to get a new visa in this case.Since you are graduating you will be no longer in student staus for the june and the july month. I believe you will not be applying for your OPT too after your graduation because you plan to leave the county after you graduate. So you will be in the period that US goverment asks its student to leave the country after his/her study completion. Getting admitted and I-20 for a new college can help you ,however not for exit and entry to US. I-20 can only guarantee that you remain lawful for your student staus in US.

Regarding, more than 5 months stay outside US. This is only for the summer semester. For the long semester ,if you plan to skip 1 semester, you need to reapply for the VISA.Reapply for the SEVIS and you need to come to a univesity as an initial atendee.That means you will be treated as an new student in US when you arrive here.You need to wait for 1 more year for CPT or Economic Hardship work authorization.

For your case, since your new I-20 will clearly mention initial atendance at the new university. You won;t be able to enter USA on your old visa.

These changes came in 2006.

Finally, explain what your problem is clearly to your international student advisor.He/ She will readily help you.

The above all information are correct as to my knowledge, If you find any error do drop a message for me.

Best of Luck,

Perrybhadra