My entry visa in my passport is expiring soon, do I need to leave the U.S. and obtain a new visa before it expires?

Your entry visa is like a ticket to get into the U.S., you only need to have a valid visa in your passport to enter the U.S. from abroad.

Once you are inside the U.S., your entry visa can expire and you can remain in the U.S. as long as you continue to be enrolled as a full-time student pursuing your degree program or authorized post-degree employment authorization (such as F-1 Optional Practical Training/STEM OPT Extension or J-1 Academic Training), have a valid Form I-20/Form DS-2019, valid passport, and a valid I-94 record verifying your U.S. visa status.

After your entry visa expires, the next time you leave the U.S. you would need to plan to apply for and obtain a new entry visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate while abroad in order to re-enter the U.S. (students from certain countries may be able to travel to Canada, Mexico,  certain Caribbean islands for less than 30 days, and return to the U.S., without needing to apply for a new entry visa in order to return – please see guidance on the ISO website). 

You do NOT need to apply for a new entry visa before your current entry visa expires.

It is NOT possible to apply for a new entry visa from inside the U.S., only from a U.S. Embassy/Consulate while outside the U.S. 

We are asked how early can a student apply for a new entry visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate if you are traveling abroad. You do not have to apply for a new entry visa before your current one expires if it will be valid for you to use to return from the current planned trip abroad. We actually advise that students do not apply too early, perhaps no earlier than 1-2 months before the expiration of the current visa.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you apply for a new entry visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate while you have a current valid entry visa in that status in your passport, once you have your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate your current visa will be “cancelled” or “revoked without prejudice” and you will not be able to use that entry visa to return to the U.S. if your new visa application is delayed. You will need to remain abroad until your new entry visa is approved by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in order to return to the U.S.

Please see additional details on the ISO “Visas and Travel” page.

If you have any questions, please contact your ISO Advisor as you are considering your plans.