F-1 VISA are _typically_ granted for 5 years, but PhDs may be longer (6 or even more).
Once your VISA expires, and if you go home, you need to reapply for a new one.
For some (a small fraction through), VISA are granted for 1 year or are single entry. Those categories of students sometimes chose not to leave the country, for the risk of getting their VISA denied (and, hence, their whole studies and everything with it) is too high (since they got a short in the first place). This is very common thinking within Chinese or Iranian communities.
The current political climate has immigrants being the punching bag for every ill of society: drugs, gangs, unemployment, you name it. Pushing for legislation in the area is a non-starter for any politician that wants to get reelected.
F-1 VISA are _typically_ granted for 5 years, but PhDs may be longer (6 or even more). Once your VISA expires, and if you go home, you need to reapply for a new one.
For some (a small fraction through), VISA are granted for 1 year or are single entry. Those categories of students sometimes chose not to leave the country, for the risk of getting their VISA denied (and, hence, their whole studies and everything with it) is too high (since they got a short in the first place). This is very common thinking within Chinese or Iranian communities.