I've been under F-1 status since August 2017 and just started my OPT this January 2023. However, in 2021, I went back to my home country for the whole year due to Covid, and studied online the entire year. I came back to the US in January 2022 and stay here till now. Would my 5-year exemption as Nonresident Alien for student visa count the year of 2021, which makes me a Resident status now? Or rather, when will I need to change my withholding status to Resident? Thank you.
Here's the timeline of my presence in the US for better understanding:
Aug 2017- Aug 2020 : F-1, present in US
Aug 2020 - Dec 2021: F-1, not in US
Jan 2022 - now: F-1, present in US
