Student Visas

Often yes, under automatic revalidation, if you were absent 30 days or less, hold a valid unexpired I-94 and passport, and maintained your status. Nationals of countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism are excluded from the provision.

You lose automatic revalidation entirely and stay outside the United States until that visa is issued or refused. There is no falling back on the expired one. Decide before you leave which route you are taking, because you cannot use both.

Yes. The regulation expressly covers a change of classification by DHS, so an expired visa in one category can support readmission in the new one. You do not need a visa stamp matching your current status.

Students and exchange visitors in F and J status may use adjacent islands as well as Canada and Mexico. Every other classification is limited to contiguous territory, and travel anywhere else defeats the provision entirely.

Up to 60 consecutive days or until the end of your authorized validity period, whichever is shorter, once per validity period. If your I-94 expires three weeks after your last day, you have three weeks, not 60 days.

Not automatically. University employers are exempt from the H-1B cap, so if you were never counted against it, a cap subject employer must register you in the March lottery with an October 1 start at the earliest. That is a year, not 60 days.

Yes. Trading your own capital produces capital gains, not remuneration from an employer, so it is not employment. Automating your own strategy does not change that. Providing services to anyone else does.

No, and that is what actually costs students their status. Passive investing does not stop the clock, so the 90 day limit on standard OPT or the 150 day aggregate with the STEM extension keeps running while you trade.