Should I renew my visa or stay and let it expire?
Hi all. I'm currently on STEM OPT and it will end this July. I got admitted to UT Austin for MS ME for Fall 2026 starting late August. My F-1 visa from my Undergrad is expiring early August. I'm conflicted whether it's a good idea to go back to Indonesia during the summer to renew my F-1 visa or not. Technically, I can stay in the country with expired visa because I get a 60 day grace period after STEM OPT, and by that time, I could transfer my SEVIS to UT Austin, which would allow me to stay for the duration of study. I really want to renew my F-1 visa because it's been a while since I'm back home, and I do have travel plans in January. Is it risky to renew my visa given my situation? I fear that because I've been in the US since high school, then undergrad, then STEM OPT, they might see me as not having strong ties to my home country. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance.