Student(F/M)
How long may I stay on my F1 or M1 visa?
The Department of State (DOS) (travel.state.gov) is responsible for visa adjudication at U.S. Embassies and Consulates outside of the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (http://www.cbp.gov/) determines admission into and conditions of stay in the U.S. at the port of entry. Please check carefully with official sources of information before applying for a visa or seeking entry into the United States.
When you enter the U.S. on an F1 or M1 visa, you will usually be admitted for the duration of your student status. That means you may stay for as long a period of time as you are a full-time student, even if the F1 or M1 visa in your passport expires while you are in America.
For example, if you have a visa that is valid for five years that will expire on January 1, 2005, and you are admitted into the U.S. for the duration of your studies (often abbreviated in your passport or on your I-94 card as "D/S"), you may stay in the U.S. as long as you are a full-time student.
Even if January 1, 2009 passes and your visa expires while in America, you will still be in legal student status. However, if you depart the U.S. with an expired visa, you will need to obtain a new one before being able to return to America and resume your studies. An F1 or M1 visa cannot be renewed or re-issued in the United States; it must be done at an Embassy or Consulate abroad.
How long may I stay after completing my course of studies?
For a student who has completed the course of studies shown on the I-20, and any authorized practical training, the student is allowed the following additional time in the U.S. before departure:
-
F-1 student - An additional 60 days, to prepare for departure from the U.S. or to transfer to another school.
-
M-1 student - An additional 30 days to depart the U.S. (The total program period and the additional 30 days may not exceed one year). The 30 days to prepare for departure is permitted as long as the student maintained a full course of study and maintained status. An M student may receive extensions up to three years for the total program.
Updated: October 21, 2009