Oh no! My visa expired! Do I have to get a new one?

As a student in F-1 status, as long as you are maintaining legal status, you may continue to stay in the US after your visa has expired. A student or exchange visitor visa is your permission to enter the country for your program of study, not your permission to stay. You need to get a new visa only if you are planning to leave and re-enter the United States.

As of July 16, 2004, all applications for visa renewal must be done outside the United States, generally in the applicant's home country. If your visa has expired and you have plans to leave and return, especially if you are not going to your home country, please consult early with the International Programs Office to consider your best course of action.

For more information:

http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_students2.html (F-1)
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_types_scholars.html (J-1)