Hey everyone! I’m currently in the US on F-1 OPT, which expires in July 2026. I’m planning to attend a 4-week intensive French language program in France in August.
I know that for a short-stay Schengen visa, they usually want proof that you’ll return to your country of residence after the trip. I think they also want to see at least three months left in your visa after you return from the trip. In my case, I don’t plan to return to the US after the program. I’ll be going back to my home country instead.
I’m concerned this might lead to a rejection since my US status expires before the trip and I can’t demonstrate strong ties to the US.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and successfully gotten a Schengen visa? Any advice on how to handle this in the application?