Ok so here is the scenario:
I initially came to the US as a MS student and my original visa is valid till Aug 2006. Couple years ago my status was changed to doctorate and I got a new I-20 that is valid upto June 2007. I will be going to India in a couple of weeks.
Now I wanna know if it is a good idea to get my visa validity date extended to match with my I-20. The reason is because I expect to be on an OPT after I graduate (which should be in < 6months actually) and I don't wanna be stuck with an expired visa (but valid I-20)... I know the visa is only a travel document and my status is good as long as my I-20 is, but I am expecting to get married sometime around Nov-Dec 2006 and travelling with an expired visa + OPT will probably be too much of a risk.
What is the best course of action? Is "extension of validity date" of an F1 visa something that people do normally or am I being too naive?
Thanks for any help!
Som.
I initially came to the US as a MS student and my original visa is valid till Aug 2006. Couple years ago my status was changed to doctorate and I got a new I-20 that is valid upto June 2007. I will be going to India in a couple of weeks.
Now I wanna know if it is a good idea to get my visa validity date extended to match with my I-20. The reason is because I expect to be on an OPT after I graduate (which should be in < 6months actually) and I don't wanna be stuck with an expired visa (but valid I-20)... I know the visa is only a travel document and my status is good as long as my I-20 is, but I am expecting to get married sometime around Nov-Dec 2006 and travelling with an expired visa + OPT will probably be too much of a risk.
What is the best course of action? Is "extension of validity date" of an F1 visa something that people do normally or am I being too naive?
Thanks for any help!
Som.