Do I need a new F-1 Visa after the academic dismissal?(within 5 months)

[ETletgo]

I was an international student and during 2017-18 my grade had been poor so I was academically dismissed. I left the US in mid-September. The school readmitted me for spring2019 and had issued me a new I-20.
So my question is: Do I need to get a new F-1 visa? My previous one is not expired till 2021 but i think the school will determinate it as long as the semester started. However, I see some articles talking about the "5-month policy" which one will not need to get a new F-1 visa and can still use the old one to enter the US if one left US for less than 5 months and has a new I-20 with the same school name on the visa.

Please help!
Thank you very much!

[huyhoangvn]

If you reapply for another F1 visa, you would risk getting denied as one of the requirement of F1 visa is being competent.
You should definitely email the school's ISSSO about maintaining F1 status. You may not need to renew your visa at all.