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

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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