Regaining Valid Status

As an F-1 student you must comply with all rules and regulations regarding your status. If you violate your status this could lead to your SEVIS record being terminated, as ISS is required by immigration regulations to notify Homeland Security if we know that a student has lost or violated their F-1 immigration status. There are two ways to regain status: either through travel or through reinstatement.

Regaining status through travel requires you to apply for a new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID number, pay the SEVIS fee again, and possibly obtain a new F-1 visa stamp (if your previous visa has expired or been cancelled).  Once you leave the U.S. and re-enter successfully using the new I-20, you would be in a new period of valid F-1 status. You would lose time accrued in F-1 status previously, which means that you would need to be in F-1 status for a full academic year to qualify for Curricular Practical Training and/or Optional Practical Training.

In some circumstances, if your SEVIS record has been terminated for violating status you may also try to obtain F-1 status again by filing a reinstatement application with USCIS. Reinstatement is a formal request to re-open a SEVIS record and place someone who is out of status back in status. A fee is required to apply for reinstatement and there is no guarantee that the application will be approved. Reinstatement can sometimes take a year or more to be adjudicated and you cannot engage in employment while the application is pending.  For more information on reinstatement please schedule an appointment with an International Student Advisor.