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So once a student has been on a F-1 visa for more than a year, they face a risk of being barred from re-entering the US if they choose to visit their families?
by ETHisso2017 7y ago
So once a student has been on a F-1 visa for more than a year, they face a risk of being barred from re-entering the US if they choose to visit their families?
- occamschainsaw 7y agoNo, iirc F1 visas are usually granted for length of program plus one year (5 for a BS etc). As long as the person maintains student status with the university, traveling to and fro is permitted.
- the_svd_doctor 7y agoNo, there is no such a rule. F-1 VISA are _typically_ granted for 5 years, but PhDs may be longer (6 or even more). Once your VISA expires, and if you go home, you need to reapply for a new one. For some (a small fraction through), VISA are granted for 1 year or are single entry. Those categories of students sometimes chose not to leave the country, for the risk of getting their VISA denied (and, hence, their whole studies and everything with it) is too high (since they got a short in the first place). This is very common thinking within Chinese or Iranian communities.
- ETHisso2017 7y agoThis is depressingly inhumane. Why is there no advocacy around the issue?
- berbec 7y agoThe current political climate has immigrants being the punching bag for every ill of society: drugs, gangs, unemployment, you name it. Pushing for legislation in the area is a non-starter for any politician that wants to get reelected.
- dsfyu404ed 7y agoBecause bureaucratic injustice committed against (typically) rich foreigners aren't exactly high up the priority list for most Americans.
- the_svd_doctor 7y agoYes. Arguably, it's not common, though. But it's certainly possible, and the reason some decide not to leave.
- ETHisso2017 7y agoSo... A de facto ban on exiting the country?