H1 to F1 visa transfer
 

Hello,

I am currently employed by my company on H1-B work visa, valid till 2005. I have applied to a University for a graduate program and I have been issued I-20. I learnt that I would have to apply for “Change of Status� application form I-539 to change my current H1 to F1 visa. After I submit this application, I understand that my application status will be “pending� with INS.

I have gone through this post
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=35095
but want to make sure that the laws have not changed after september 11, 2002.

I would like to know whether I can start attending classes at the University when my application pending with INS.

Thanks for your help,
Best regards,

hemjo

Re: H1 to F1 visa transfer
 

On Wed, 18 Dec 2002 17:55:53 +0000, hemjo wrote:

    >
    > Hello,
    >
    > I am currently employed by my company on H1-B work visa, valid till
    > 2005. I have applied to a University for a graduate program and I have
    > been issued I-20. I learnt that I would have to apply for “Change of
    > Statusâ€? application form I-539 to change my current H1 to F1 visa. After
    > I submit this application, I understand that my application status will
    > be “pendingâ€? with INS.
    >
    > I have gone through this post
    > http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...threadid=35095
    > but want to make sure that the laws have not changed after
    > september 11, 2002.
    >
    > I would like to know whether I can start attending classes at the
    > University when my application pending with INS.

Yes, you can. The rules haven't changed for changes from H-1B to F-1 (they
have changed for going from tourist to F-1). One thing you cannot do until
you have the approval is work on campus. So if your program requires you
to work as a teaching or research assistant, you may have to work around
that.

    > Thanks for your help,
    > Best regards,
    >
    > hemjo