Reinstatement or Reentry to Regain F-1 Status

USCIS' I-539 application fee is currently $470 (fees may be increased at any time),

Students applying for reinstatement or requesting an I-20 for reentry do have to document the availablility of funding for at least one full academic year or the remainder of their program, whichever is shorter

Adjudication on reinstatement can take 6 months to a year after you submit your application to USCIS.  Sometimes longer.

Reinstatement is ultimately decided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel.  If your application for reinstatement is denied:

• Your current visa will be automatically canceled
• You will be permanently limited to applying for future US visas in your home country (e.g. you cannot apply for a US visa in Mexico if you are from Korea)
• Days of “unlawful presence” begin to accrue,
• An official record of violation will be recorded with DHS.

Travel outside the US while your application is pending will result in a denial of your application

If your application is successful, your previous time in status and during your waiting period is counted towards eligibility for benefits like practical training.

Flight or other transportation to home or third country and return to the United States for yourself and any F-2 dependents

New SEVIS I-901 fee payment of $350 (subject to change)

Visa application fees (if necessary) for yourself and any F-2 dependents

Students applying for reinstatement or requesting an I-20 for reentry do have to document the availablility of funding for at least one full academic year or the remainder of their program, whichever is shorter

When it works, Re-entry is much faster than reinstatement. How long it takes just depends on how long it takes to travel and obtain a new visa, if necessary, and return to the U.S. You may not return more than 30 days before the start of the term you are going to be enrolled in.

CBP officers at your Port of Entry (at Customs) can deny entry even with the new I-20.  They may also ask questions about why you fell out of status.  This sometimes involves several hours in “secondary inspection” with Customs and Border Protection.   If you are denied entry, you will have to pay for your transportation home, and it is possible for your visa to be canceled.

Any time that you accrued for practical training (CPT or OPT) or any other benefit requiring a specific amount of time in status will be lost – you must be a student for one year again before you can apply for these benefits.

You must provide proof of your departure and subsequent  re-entry (I-94) for ISSS staff immediately on your return to the United States.  We cannot register your new SEVIS record  if  we cannot document your actual departure and return.  Failure to have your SEVIS record registered will result in another violation of status.