[美國sth] 關於F-1 Visa過期後申請OPT的Q&A

 (當初想說還有四年，沒想到一轉眼也快要面臨此議題了)

以下是我跟UW-Milwaukee國際辦公室的問與答，供大家參考：

(第一題到第三題回覆我的是一個國際辦公室的美國人，其中尤其第一題，我覺得他回復有點照著他自己的思緒走，而不是照著我的問題走，希望大家不會看不懂。但如果大家把我的第一到第三個問題先看完，會比較清楚他為何從第一題就用這樣的方式回答。四五六題是另一個專員回答的，就比較好懂了，第二位專員也間接回答到前面的一些問題)

• Must I go back to Taiwan (the American Institute in Taiwan) and renew the F-1 Visa? 

No, you do not need a valid visa to stay in the US only to enter the US

• How early/late I should act? 

The next time you leave the United States. 

• Is there any way I can renew (or extend?) my F-1 visa domestically? 

No, and No need unless you were traveling

• Do I have to renew my F-1 visa before applying for OPT?

No, you don't need to renew your visa for OPT application purposes. You cannot and don't need to renew your visa while you are in the US. Next time when you travel internationally, you would need a valid visa to re-enter the US (if your current visa has been expired).

• Does the F-1 visa have anything to do with I-20? E.g. when it is expired, my I-20 will be affected?

Your I-20 is not related to your F-1 visa after you entered the US. You do need a valid passport through your stay in the US.

• From your answers, it seems that an expired F-1 visa won't affect the OPT application. I wonder if OPT is associated with I-20? or it is an independent document? 

When you are applying for OPT, we will issue you a new I-20 with OPT endorsement. The I-20 with OPT endorsement is a required document to apply for OPT.

 

雖然疫情中有許多挑戰，但祝大家申請OPT過程都順利，也順利完成接下來的每一個階段的任務。