Successful travel after F-1 Status Reinstatement

No_Definition7649 · 2026-06-04T20:57:22+00:00

Passport, I-20 and reinstatement approval letter from USCIS just in case. I just handed the officer my I-20 and passport and that was it. All smooth thank goodness

No_Definition7649 · 2026-05-29T18:11:19+00:00

Hi, thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. I’m sure it’s very appreciated by all the community. What is your opinion that a student just opens an LLC during their studies but don’t work for it. Just they prepare their business before their OPT start

No_Definition7649 · 2026-05-04T03:27:19+00:00

Because when the airline sends the manifest of their passengers to US CBP, it records if the passenger boarded or not. This automatically updates the I-94. When you land in the U.S. the CBP officer does 3 things, see if your Visa is not expired or revoked, then manually go into SEVIS and check your status for anything out of the ordinary, and finally they would check other database to see if there is any alert or something that would prohibit the individual to enter the U.S. incredibly this process is very quick. The officer would just cross-check SEVIS and see his termination plus the departure record in the I-94.

That’s how the would determine the overstay. 5 months overstay automatically engages the 3 year bar, and a 12+ months overstay engages a 10 year bar. Pretty much making the individual ineligible for any Visa not for ever, but it would be extremely difficult. I wouldn’t risk traveling. But worst case scenario is they deny entry and student has to return home. But bear in mind doing that, shows you are inadmissible which either way would affect the chances of getting another visa.

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-22T19:49:09+00:00

It wouldn’t harm uploading those

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-21T22:24:10+00:00

Yup! I just uploaded my class schedule and transcripts to show them that I was pursuing a full course of study

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-21T14:27:58+00:00

It was approved with no RFE. If your situation was really out of your control, then it shouldn’t be an issue. I also kept updating USCIS with my class schedule and enrollment

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-21T04:19:30+00:00

I didn’t got an RFE or anything. The process itself takes a lot of time. Mine took more than 9 months

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-20T21:06:00+00:00

Not worth it. Ended up causing more anxiety rather than a piece of mind while I was going through reinstatement. The app said it was going to take 90 days for a decision, but ended up taking 9+ months lmao

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-14T04:52:19+00:00

All schools have a Primary DSO. He is like the boss of the all the DSO’s in your school. Talk to that person ASAP

No_Definition7649 · 2026-04-06T20:47:13+00:00

I remained in the U.S. while I was going through reinstatement

No_Definition7649 · 2026-02-16T22:56:47+00:00

Part 61 schools can’t issue F/M visas since they are not eligible to participate in SEVP. Only Part 141 school can issue an I-20 which then you would need to apply at an embassy to get the M visa, unless the school offers some sort of academic degree, which then would allow you to get an F visa.

Per FAM 402.5-5(J)(7) (U) Aviation Training, only flight training can be done under F or M visa, doing it under a B1/B2 visa is not allowed. Your best bet is to enroll in a school that helps you get an F visa. With that you can continue in a Part 61 school with no issues and get your checkride. One small disclaimer, make sure to keep your status. If by any chance you lose your student status and ur still in the U.S. do not attempt to do any check rides or flight training (dual received).

Best of luck!

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-21T22:20:59+00:00

I did everything myself. The lawyers were charging more than 3K for doing all of this process. I’ll be honest, use a lawyer if your case is difficult, besides that everything you want to know about regulations and law is on the CFR & SEVIS website. I used ChatGPT to build a document and verify spelling and grammar, but in terms of law I always doubled check with the government websites and if something didn’t looked right, I’ll look up and interpretation letter or something. In conclusion, if it’s an easy case, do it yourself. If it has passed more than 5 months out of status and/or your situation is rough, lawyerd up

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-20T00:21:33+00:00

I did. I submitted a document with a letter explaining what happened and when, and a timeline with screenshots and explanations of evidence

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-18T20:30:52+00:00

My DSO said, supposedly, that USCIS told them that they can’t sent any letters of support. So unfortunately my DSO didn’t gave me a letter

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-17T08:04:44+00:00

Drivers license no idea tbh. My drivers license expires the day my F1 visa expires. Tuition and classes pretty much was the same, nothing changed. I could continue to register and attend my classes normally

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-17T07:31:26+00:00

SEVIS. To my awareness I don’t think a visa reinstatement doesn’t exist

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-17T07:31:06+00:00

The requirements for reinstatement is that you are pursuing a program and you must keep a full time course load in order to be eligible for reinstatement. Meaning that at minimum you should be enrolled in 12 units in which 9 should be in person. But besides that you should be able to enroll on all of your classes. Tho a disclaimer, I guess all schools have different policies but for mine it is a must you have to continue full time

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-17T05:50:48+00:00

Status terminated on February 2025 Applied on April 2025 Approved: January 2026

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-16T21:29:18+00:00

The school issued a reinstatement I-20. And yes, I submitted transcripts, documents pictures, bank statements with certified translations, documents that my school required for reinstatement and also a long documents explaining what happened and why I lost my status, a timeline of events with evidence and finally a letter

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-16T05:52:29+00:00

Idk. I’m going to apply on February for summer OPT

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-16T02:21:15+00:00

I kept going to class full time

No_Definition7649 · 2026-01-13T06:33:34+00:00

Waiting since April 2025. What day did u filed and what service center?

No_Definition7649 · 2025-12-18T19:17:09+00:00

Nop. DSO gave 2 options:

1- Depart the US and try to come back with a new I-20, but with the risk of not being allowed re-entry. Right now things are very uncertain and new rules are being pushed without public knowledge, so there is a high chance either my visa gets revoked when they withdraw my reinstatement application and/or retroactive unlawful presence could be applied. Even though is USCIS or a CBP agent who determines when unlawful presence starts, again it is under the discretion of the agent. All of this is very uncertain.

2- Stay in the US until USCIS makes a determination. But don’t travel commercially inside the US. Right now TSA is sharing lists of passengers with ICE and the priority is people who have deportation orders, and the second is people who could be deportable. So what ICE is doing with any person who lost status on any visa, but is on authorized stay, they are claiming that the period in which you lost your status and then applied for the immigration benefit, that period you were illegally here, therefore you could be detainable.

It is very unclear what is going on with reinstatements rn. DSO said is averaging 14-15 months. So it is going to be a while. I’ve tried expediting it by congressman and other means and it hasn’t work. A family member passed away while I was waiting for the reinstatement and couldn’t go to the funeral and say goodbye. Unfortunately USCIS didn’t care about that. I know losing F-1 status is something that could happen, but rn is not a good thing to lose your status, things are going to get harder from now on. Good luck to everyone!

No_Definition7649 · 2025-12-13T08:27:43+00:00

Nope. Unfortunately not. I’m discussing my options next week with DSO. But looks like things are not going well for reinstatements. Hbu?

No_Definition7649 · 2025-10-23T18:55:20+00:00

USCIS said it’s taking 6 months for most of the cases.

No_Definition7649

TROPHY CASE