I hold a valid F1 visa, but do I need a B1 visa to travel for a conference?

I hold a valid F1 visa, but do I need a B1 visa to travel for a conference? - Passport on Top of a Planner

I currently hold an F1 visa, valid for 5 years. I am doing a master's program that requires me to go to the US for short periods of time; I complete the course in 2021. I hope to travel to the US for a conference; do I need to apply for a different type of visa?



Best Answer

You can only enter with the status you have a visa for. In other words, if you have an F-1 visa that allows you to go to the US border and seek admission under F-1 status. F-1 status is only for people studying full-time at a SEVIS-accreddited school in America. To be admitted under F-1 status, you need a valid I-20 from the international students office. You cannot enter under F-1 status just to go to a conference.

If you are studying outside the US, and simply need to visit the US for the conference, you need to enter under B-1 visitor status. That means you need a B-1 or combination B-1/2 visa, unless you are a national of Canada or a Visa Waiver Program member country.




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Can you hold F-1 and B1 visa?

You cannot have both. you are on F-1 visa now and you will stay on F1 status until you finish your studies. Once you finish your studies, you may change your status back to B1/B2 while you are in the U.S. However, once you leave the U.S. on...

What visa do I need to attend a conference in USA?

The type of visa you will need to attend a conference in the United States is B-1, which is a business visitor visa. The B class of visa is a type of non-immigrant visa provided by the US government to foreign people seeking temporary access into the country.

Can I have 2 visas at the same time?

You can have as many visa as you want. The limit is the number of free pages in your passport (or one or two less).

Can I change my F-1 visa to B1 B2?

A change to B-2 status is possible. If you have been studying in the United States, most likely on an F-1, M-1, or other temporary (nonimmigrant) visa, you might want to finish your stay with a little vacation.



B1 Visa Requirements: The 4 You Should Know




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