Change B-2 visa to student visa F1

[anchau 0]

Hello everybody,

My cousin is in the US under a tourist visa B2. She plans to apply for a school and change her visa to F1-student. Can she change her status in US or she has to return to her home country and change the visa there?

[Bobby+Umit 161]

You will have to file a form I-539 to change the status while in the US. (of course she can change status back home)

You have to change status before you present authorized stay expires. USCIS recommends to apply no later than 60 days before your I-94 expires.

She will not be able to attend school till after the change is authorized. This is very important!

This will explain it in more detail.

Change Status FAQ

Edited March 26, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[♥Stiggy♥ 0]

I thought you cant adjust to a student visa from a b2 from the us?

Edited March 26, 2009 by ♥Stiggy♥

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I thought you cant adjust to a student visa from a b2 from the us?

The FAQ says you can apply, doesn't mean it will be granted though

Only C, D, K-1/2, S, TMOV, WT/WB are prohibited from adjusting. J1/M1 have restrictions, but can adjust if they are met.

[DI&JR 1]

F-1 visas are specific to a school. The B-2 visitor needs to be accepted by the school first, and they will initiate the change. See 2. OVERVIEW OF THE STEPS TO BECOME AN F OR M NONIMMIGRANT STUDENT:

2.2. From within the United States

The prospective nonimmigrant student must:

1. Be in the United States in a valid nonimmigrant status and eligible to change to F-1 or M-1 status (See USCIS website on who may change status).

2. Be accepted by an SEVP-certified school, receive a Form I-20, and pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, as in steps 1 to 3 above.

3. Use a Form I-539 to apply to USCIS for a change of status.

4. Receive approval from USCIS for the change of status.

5. Be prepared to depart the United States immediately if the change of status application is denied.

I hope this helps. It looks like there is an alphabetical list of approved schools on the site as well as a map to find one.

[lhara 0]

I have a question, if I make mi change of status from B2 to F1, will I be allowed to come out of the country any time I want? of course not for a long time just to visist family and things like that... because a I know that just embassies has the authority to stamp your passport and the change of status is done at the inmigration office, isn't it?, and somebody told me that they just give you a paper with the authorization to study but with that paper I'm not allowed to travel is that true?..

[Harsh_77 716]

I thought you cant adjust to a student visa from a b2 from the us?

you are right this is on and off, after 9/11 they had stopped converting from B1/2 to F1 student had to go to their home country and apply and it continued to stay that way for some time.

Then I had heard they were letting students convert in some case and some they were rejecting

You will not know until you apply..... so there is only one way to find out is to apply