u/Key_Acanthisitta6140

Hi everyone,

I’m currently on an F1 visa in the U.S. and wanted some advice about a minor car accident involving a rental car, mainly regarding whether this could affect my visa status in any way.

While maneuvering through a tight space on a one-way street, I accidentally bumped into a parked SUV. The SUV only got a small scratch on the rear bumper (no dents).

I immediately left a note with my phone number for the owner, and she contacted me the next morning asking for insurance information.

A few important points:

• This was a rental car
• I do NOT own a personal car or have personal auto insurance
• The owner mentioned she plans to file a non-emergency police report so she can involve her insurance company and get a repair estimate
• I told her I’m willing to pay out of pocket once she gets a quote, or directly through a body shop estimate

My questions are:

1. Since a police report is being filed, could this create any legal or immigration issues for me as an F1 student?
2. Is a minor traffic/property damage incident like this something that could realistically affect visa status?

There were no injuries, and I did not leave the scene without providing contact information.

Would really appreciate guidance from anyone who has dealt with rental car accidents on an F1 visa before.