Hi,
I completed my Bachelors from the US and worked for 2.5 years on F1 STEM OPT. Then, I returned to India and renewed by F1 visa for Masters Degree. During my first year of Masters degree, I got picked on H1b so I came to India for Visa Stamping. However, my H1b visa got refused while stamping, so I wanted to know since my F1 visa is still valid till 2027. Can I travel to US to continue my studies or do I need to go for F1 visa interview again to travel to the US and continue my studies?
If I need to go for F1 visa interview here in India to get it re-instated then, is it going to be more difficult since my H1b stamping was refused?.
Your suggestion would be highly helpful.
You should be able to travel back on the valid F1 visa. Make sure you have a new I-20 and enter the US no more than 30 days within the start date on your I-20.
Hi Kaplesh,
Thank you so much for your reply. After getting H1b doesn’t my F1 status change to H1b. I got picked on h1b lottery April 2023, and got it apporved on October 1, 2023. I traveled to India on May 2024 for stamping but it recently got refused after 221g and submitting extra documents requested by visa officer in the consulate. So to re-instate my F1, I can just use my valid visa and travel to the US to continue my study?
Or, I need to go for interviews and get F1 visa again?
You need i-20 from the college you enroll in to continue your study.