Hi Everyone

I did my MS in US and came back to India and got my visa renewed for the PhD. But, I had to come back to India immediately as my parents were in serious accident and I did not know what their situation was and I quit my PhD and came back. I stayed in India for 1 and a half year and took care of my parents. Now, I am planning to go back to US and do my PhD in a related field (but not the exact same field). I have a new I-20 from a different university and my F-1 visa is NOT expired from the last PhD. But, I was out of F-1 status for a year and a half. Do, I need to go to the embassy to get a visa renewal done or not? Is this a complicated case?

Thanks

my f1 visa is expired in 2011 dec and i am in india since feb 2011 and did not go back to usa for about 1 and half year but i wanted to go back by renewing my f1 again is it possible