Renewing Passport
All non-immigrants in the U.S. are required to maintain a valid passport at all times. Passports should be valid for at least six months into the future when entering and re-entering the U.S. and also when applying for a visa. Students/scholars must contact their local embassy or consulate for instructions on renewing their passport. This requirement doesn’t apply to Canadian nationals.
Students/scholars whose expired passport has a valid visa are still able to use that visa if they have the old passport. Students/scholars must remember to carry and present the old passport along with the new passport when traveling.
Renewing F/J Visa
Students/scholars may stay in the U.S. on an expired F-1/J-1 visa as long as they maintain their immigration status by being in possession of a valid I-20/DS-2019 and an I-94 Arrival/Departure record. If students/scholars are traveling and will not use automatic revalidation to re-enter the U.S., they must have a valid visa.
Due to the June 4, 2025, Presidential Proclamation, students holding passports from certain countries are currently not eligible to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa.
We recommend setting your social media accounts to “public,” as the U.S. Department of State now reviews publicly available social media content as part of the visa screening and vetting process. Keeping your profiles public can help avoid delays or additional scrutiny during processing.
Visa Interview Location
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) requires non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants to schedule and attend their U.S. visa interviews at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate located in either their country of citizenship or residence. Visas cannot be renewed inside the U.S.
Important Notes:
- If applying in a country based on residency (rather than citizenship), applicants must provide evidence of legal residence in that country.
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to email the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with any questions about eligibility based on residency before the appointment.
- For nationals of countries where the U.S. does not maintain routine immigrant or nonimmigrant visa operations, applicants must apply at designated U.S. Embassies or Consulates. If this applies to you, verify if you need a visa to enter that country before making plans.
- If you are a Mexican or Canadian citizen/resident and your visa application is denied, Automatic Revalidation does not apply.
Once students/scholars have made a visa interview appointment at a U.S. embassy/consulate abroad, they should review the embassy/consulate’s website for details on the visa renewal process, including required documents.
Visa Wait Times
Students and scholars can check visa wait times at U.S. embassies/consulates through the U.S. Department of State website. Given the high demand for appointments at most U.S. consulates and embassies, schedule your appointment as soon as possible.
Due to security checks (Administrative Processing) and significant visa processing backlogs at many U.S. embassies/consulates, the short winter or spring recess may not allow enough time to receive clearance and a renewed visa to return before classes resume. OIS strongly advises against traveling during these breaks if your visa has expired and encourages you to contact OIS if you have any questions or issues.
The Visa Issuance Fee (also known as the Reciprocity Fee) depends on the applicant’s country of citizenship and is based on reciprocal agreements between the U.S. and that country. Students from certain countries must pay this fee for all initial F and J visa applications and renewals. Not all countries have a reciprocity fee. This fee is separate from the non-immigrant visa application fee (MRV). Fees and policies can change, so always check the most current information on the State Department website.
Visa Reciprocity
According to the Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual: “INA 221(c) and INA 281 require the Department to set visa validity, number of entries, and fees for nationals of a country based on what that country provides to U.S. citizens for the same purpose of travel. The goal of visa reciprocity is to obtain visa regimes consistent with U.S. laws, regulations, and national interests and to encourage international travel that benefits U.S. travelers and business.”
The Department of State maintains online visa reciprocity schedules for each country for which it issues visas.