Student (F-1) visas don't have to be renewed, but they do have an expiration date. A student can stay in the US with an expired visa as long as his I-20 (permission to study here) is valid. The visa itself is just needed to get into the country, the I-20 is what is needed to attend school here.
A student can travel to and from the US on an F-1 visa until it expires. Once the visa expires, if they want to travel outside the US they need a new visa to get back in and they have to go to a consulate again - they can't get the new visa here. |
