<p>I have a valid F-1 visa (until 2013). I went to USA on October 2008 to participate an ESL course and I came back to my hometown on 26 March 2009. After I came my hometown I got an acceptance from another school for my MS degree education and they have sent my new I-20 form. In this situation my new school's International Student Advisor told me that I can use my current valid F-1 visa unless I stay more than 5 months outside the USA. I will return back to USA on 5th of August so I will have lived 4.5 months outside the USA. However, I m still worrying about something; The SEVIS number written in my Visa is different than in my new I-20 form. Can it be a problem when I reach to the airport? According to my International Student Advisor it should not be a problem(he thinks that I can use my current F-1 visa unless I stay more than 5 months), however, I am little confused about this question... If anyone knows the procedure, please help me... Thank you very much for your helps...</p>
<p>I don’t think you will have a problem. Students who transfer don’t need to apply for a new visa, they just get a new I-20 and their SEVIS record is transferred to the new institution. At the end of this procedure the information on the visa foil in your passport does not agree with the information on the I-20 but that’s not a problem. (The I-20 is the important document, not the visa foil.) I have heard this from our International Student Adviser as well as an immigration lawyer.</p>
<p>But unfortunately I m not a transfer student… I was not be transferred from my previous school to my current school. I mean I got an initial I-20 from my new school. It means the SEVIS numbers written in my new I-20 and Visa are different from each other. If I was a transfer student than my Sevis number would be the same in both of them. So some people claim that it would not be a problem, however, some of them say that it can be a problem. I feel very complicated…</p>
<p>Hi alperkultur
I am also in same boat. I have different sevis number on my passport and I-20 but the same school. were you able to use your previous F1 visa even if Sevis number was different? Let me know ASAP.</p>