important question about having the student visa

<p>once you have the student visa and get to the States, does this mean you can't leave until Christmas break or something??</p>

<p>my parents' graduation gift to me is going to greece with my sisters around second week of august. I have a cousin in the states who is celebrating her birthday last week of july so i thought i'd go to the states at around that time to see her, set up my things with them before moving in the dorm and maybe visit the campus (since i have never seen it) and then come august, travel to greece to meet up with my sisters.</p>

<p>my mom's kinda scared about this set up because maybe having the student visa restricts you from doing exactly this. advice anyone? should i not go to greece anymore? or should i just go to the US after greece?</p>

<p>Which type of visa do you anticipate to get?
With a regular F-1 student visa that shouldn't be an issue at all. All you need is a travel signature on your I-20 and then you can leave the States and re-enter as often as you like whenever you like. Just check with your university if they can (and want to) give you that signature in late July/early August (maybe the person in charge is not on campus yet at that time).
And keep in mind that you cannot enter the States on a F-1 visa more than 30 days prior to the date on your I-20 (usually the starting date of an orientation program or the first day of classes).</p>

<p>Yeah, b@r!um is right on both counts.</p>

<p>hey valerie! xD I know u can get a visitor visa once u have ur student visa! u can say that u want to go to visit ur college campus and all that stuff! I don't think it's hard to do that!..
How fun ur going to Greece! :) u should go of course!!!</p>

<p>thanks! my mom is really worried about that...she decided she doesnt want to risk it, so i think im just going next year. she'd rather i settle in first than vacation right before school starts.</p>

<p>thanks for the advice though, il definitely consider it for next year. :)</p>