Students Studying in The United States Renewing your Visa

The F-1/J-1 visa in your passport is an entry document – it must be valid on the day that you are seeking to enter the U.S. You are allowed to remain in the U.S. after the F-1/J-1 visa in your passport expires, as long as you are actively maintaining your F-1/J-1 status and have a valid I-20/DS-2019. For example, if you are approved for an I-20/DS-2019 program extension, but your F-1/J-1 visa in your passport has expired, you are eligible to remain in the U.S. with the valid I-20/DS-2019.

The expiration of the F-1/J-1 visa in your passport is not the same thing as your F-1/J-1 status coming to an end.  Because the F-1/J-1 visa does not determine your eligibility to remain in the U.S., OGS does not recommend traveling for the sole purpose of renewing your F-1/J-1 visa. 

You cannot renew your F-1/J-1 visa from within the U.S.  You can only renew your F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate outside the U.S. You can find a list of U.S. Embassies/Consulates abroad here. 

OGS recommends that you renew your visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your country of citizenship when possible. However, you might be eligible to apply to renew your F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate outside of your country of citizenship. If you apply for an F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate that is not in your home country, you are called a Third Country National (3CN) visa applicant. Check with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate in the third country to see if they will accept Third Country National visa applicants. 

If you decide to renew your F-1/J-1 visa in a country other than your country of citizenship, OGS strongly recommends that you have a backup plan if you are delayed returning to the U.S. due to administrative processing, visa delays, or a visa denial (though this is rare). Please also remember to always register your international travel during your academic program with the Global Safety Office Travel Registry. 

The process of renewing your visa is similar to the initial visa application process you completed before arrival. As the process and requirements may vary from one Embassy to another, you will need to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country of application for detailed application questions. For more details about the visa application process, please review the F-1 and J-1 Visa Process pages. 

Recommended Documents for Current Students: 

• Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form (DS-160) confirmation page 
• Visa application fee payment receipt (visit the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate website for specific instructions) 
• Original Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students) with valid travel signature issued by the Office of Global Services 
• Valid passport (should be valid for at least six months after your date of entry to the U.S.) 
• Evidence of financial support (proof of sufficient funds for estimated cost of living and tuition for one academic year) 
• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) I-901 fee payment receipt 
• A copy of your acceptance letter to Northeastern University 
• One photograph (see the U.S. Department of State website for photo requirements) 
• Enrollment Verification (optional) 

Additional Documents for F-1 Students on Post-OPT/STEM Extension: 

• Valid EAD Card 
• Proof of Employment (an offer letter may be used) 

Additional Documents for J-1 Students on Academic Training: 

• ARO Letter Authorizing Academic Training (from OGS) 

The outcome of some F-1 visa applications is a refusal under 221(g) or what is commonly referred to as “Administrative Processing.” Administrative Processing can take anywhere from several days to several months. In these cases, the consular officer will let you know if they require additional documentation or information, or whether the case requires additional internal administrative processing. Please note that this is not a visa denial. You should follow the instructions listed on the 221(g) notice and provide any requested information or documentation to the embassy.  

If you previously received a 221(g) notice for administrative processing when you were applying for your initial F-1/J-1 visa, please beware that you could face administrative processing again when requesting a visa renewal. If you have never received a 221g notice, this does not guarantee you will not be subject to administrative processing with renewing your visa. Please plan accordingly in case your visa renewal process is delayed, which may impact your ability to return to the U.S. and continue your academic program or OPT/STEM/AT employment. 

If the 221(g) requires any information directly from Northeastern, please contact OGS by calling +1-617-373-2310 or submitting an Inquiry Form in the OGS Service Portal. You will be instructed to share the 221(g) notice with OGS for further review and guidance.

Please refer to the Department of State website for more detailed information about visa refusals and administrative processing. 

It is recommended that F-1/J-1 students make photocopies of all their immigration documents (including passport and F-1/J-1 visa). If your passport containing the F-1/J-1 visa is lost or stolen, please file a police report immediately by either going to a local police station or contacting NUPD. You should then report your passport/visa lost or stolen to the local Embassy/Consular section of your country of citizenship in the U.S., requesting a new passport (if you have no other valid passport) and to the U.S. Embassy/Consular section which issued your F-1/J-1 visa originally.  

It is not possible to replace a lost or stolen F-1/J-1 visa in the U.S. However, if you still have a valid passport or have submitted a request to replace your passport, and you have a valid I-20/DS-2019, you may remain in the U.S. even with the lost F-1/J-1 visa. If you travel internationally, you will need to renew the F-1/J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad to return to the U.S. When applying for the replacement visa, you will need to provide a copy of the police report and written documentation about the loss of your passport and visa. 

Please see the U.S. Department of State website for more guidance. 

If you travel to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the U.S. (other than Cuba) for less than thirty days with your valid passport, a valid form I-20 or form DS-2019, and your most recent form I-94, you may be eligible to travel with an expired F or J visa. This process is known as automatic visa revalidation. However, you must meet certain conditions in order to be eligible for automatic visa revalidation. Please visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for more information on eligibility.