Hello Friends,

I will be graduating in December 2011. I have a valid visa until 2015. After the convocation, i wish to go to Nepal in Feb. Now my question is, if i go to Nepal and stay there for five or six months, then can i come back for my masters in fall, 2012 without interviewing for the visa? Will i be in status until then? 

If there are any other good ideas by which i could do as i have planned above, please share the ideas.

Thank you.

First of all, is your convocation in December? r u going for masters in the same school? If so, no problem.  read the second page of your I-20 where it says how many days you can stay out of the country and come back. I think it is 5 months. Make sure again. Also, you need to get a new I-20 indicating MAsters program and get it signed by DSO on third page.

Dont you think after you graduate your status will need an update to either OPT or transfer to another higher program? What makes you think your visa will still be valid for the same degree after your graduation? 

Consult with your International Student Office for the first hand Information. Request for an appointment and share your concerns. They will definitely provide you concrete information. Don't hesitate since they are paid for helping students.

I assume you are going to same University. If your college issues a new I-20 for MS degree ( Fall 2012) then I suppose you will be fine.

~GoodLuck

maxpayne made a valid point here. From December 2011 - august 2012 ( Fall) you need to be in "good" status. i.e ISO ( Int'l Student Office)has to report your information to SEVIS. YOu either have to apply for OPT and the join the University ( which I don't suggest since the OPT you will be using use now might affect the OPT time period after your MS graduation). Like mentioned earlier, talk to International Student Office.

you'll need to update your I-20, visa doesn't matter since it's required ONLY to enter the States. I-20 is what says that you are in status and allows you to stay in the States. and an I-20 expires either when you reach the expiration date stated on it or when you finish the degree stated on the I-20, whichever happens earlier. no matter what, your current I-20 is going to expire the day you graduate. in order to maintain status,  you'll have to either get an OPT, or get another I-20 from your gradschool. i don't recommend you to leave the States without I-20 from your gradschool. whether you get an OPT or a new I-20 from gradschool, don't stay in Nepal for more than 5 months, that's the max time you can stay outside of US without being out of status. 
i see a problem for you - if you get OPT, you'll have to work which means you can't stay in Nepal for 5 months; and it might be hard to get I-20 from gradschool since there'll still be 6-7 months before you actually start gradschool. if i were you, i'd apply for OPT right NOW, work for 4-5 months or so; get I-20 from gradschool sometime in late june/early july and go home for a month or two and come back for gradschool.

 Thank you everyone. I really appreciate for your time and effort. I will do as you guys have suggested. Thanks again.