Valid U.S. Visa

The F-1 or J-1 student visa in your passport is a travel document that permits you to request entry to the U.S. in that specific status. It must be valid at the time that you request entry in F-1 or J-1 status. 

Remaining in the U.S. with an Expired Visa 

• Once you have arrived in the U.S., the visa in your passport does not need to remain valid.  
• You may remain in the U.S. with an expired visa as long as your I-20/DS-2019 (EAD if on post-degree OPT) remains active and you have not violated the terms of your status. The visa is a travel document only, needed for entering the U.S.  
• If your visa expires while you are inside of the U.S., you must renew it when you leave the country to be allowed to re-enter.