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Hello,
I would really appreciate any kind of help with this:
I was an F-1 visa student at a college in California from August to December 2012 (Fall 2012 semester). Then, I came to my country for the Christmas break on December, unfortunately, because a health situation with my grandma, I couldn't get back to the U.S. on time to start the Spring 2013 semester at the college where I was studying on.
When I was ready to go back to the U.S. to continue with my studies, an immigration adviser told me it was better to wait till the next semester (Fall 2013) to go back to classes because the semester had already begun and teachers usually don't accept late students, mainly because classes are full. He also told me that they would have to issue me a new I-20 form (with a new SEVIS number on it) and that I would have to apply for a new F-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy in my country, because it would have been more than 5 months since I left the U.S. by the time the Fall semester begins.
After investigating and talking to different persons who have had some similar experiences, I decided that the best option for me to go back to the U.S. to continue studying as fast as possible, without losing my current visa and not needing to apply for a new one, was applying for the Summer 2013 semester at a different college from the one I started my studies in the U.S. So I applied to this new college and got accepted there on March for the Summer 2013 semester. At that time, they told me I could use the same F-1 visa I have right now, but they send me a new I-20 form (obviously with a new SEVIS number for me, since the I-20 I used to study at my previous college was terminated). I also had to pay a new SEVIS fee.
I am now traveling back to the U.S. to continue with my studies in a couple of days. After having explained all this, I just want to make sure I will be able to reenter the U.S., without any kind of problem at my port of entry because of my 5 month absence, with my current F-1 visa (which by the way expires until 2016) and my new (initial) I-20 and SEVIS number.
Thanks!
I would really appreciate any kind of help with this:
I was an F-1 visa student at a college in California from August to December 2012 (Fall 2012 semester). Then, I came to my country for the Christmas break on December, unfortunately, because a health situation with my grandma, I couldn't get back to the U.S. on time to start the Spring 2013 semester at the college where I was studying on.
When I was ready to go back to the U.S. to continue with my studies, an immigration adviser told me it was better to wait till the next semester (Fall 2013) to go back to classes because the semester had already begun and teachers usually don't accept late students, mainly because classes are full. He also told me that they would have to issue me a new I-20 form (with a new SEVIS number on it) and that I would have to apply for a new F-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy in my country, because it would have been more than 5 months since I left the U.S. by the time the Fall semester begins.
After investigating and talking to different persons who have had some similar experiences, I decided that the best option for me to go back to the U.S. to continue studying as fast as possible, without losing my current visa and not needing to apply for a new one, was applying for the Summer 2013 semester at a different college from the one I started my studies in the U.S. So I applied to this new college and got accepted there on March for the Summer 2013 semester. At that time, they told me I could use the same F-1 visa I have right now, but they send me a new I-20 form (obviously with a new SEVIS number for me, since the I-20 I used to study at my previous college was terminated). I also had to pay a new SEVIS fee.
I am now traveling back to the U.S. to continue with my studies in a couple of days. After having explained all this, I just want to make sure I will be able to reenter the U.S., without any kind of problem at my port of entry because of my 5 month absence, with my current F-1 visa (which by the way expires until 2016) and my new (initial) I-20 and SEVIS number.
Thanks!
