Here on tourist visa, change to student visa?

[Pete&Zoi 0]

My girlfriend Is here in the US on a tourist visa. What would be the process for her to obtain a student visa? Is this something that can be accomplished while she is here or does she have to depart back to Nicaragua and then apply? Thank you for your help in advance!

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Has she already been accepted into an accredited US college or university and demonstrated that she can financially support herself?

See the USCIS link below for changing status

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=92f23e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextoid=92f23e4d77d73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Good luck

[Pete&Zoi 0]

Thank you for the information! She is going to go to an English as a second language course. She does not have any sort of acceptance letter right now.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Go to the school, not all (in fact very few) ESOL courses qualify for a student visa. Go to the school and find out what she needs

Good luck

[Rigent2010 1]

Dude, You can do change of status for her.

But let me tell you something. Even with the accepted change of status, she will be UNABLE TO TRAVEL out of unites states.

That means, if she goes out of USA, her status is cancelled.

So it's better to take the admission from USA, take the i-20 and go back home and apply, because then she will get the multiple entry student visa.

And since she got the visit visa, there should not be any difficulties.

Trust me on this, I am a sufferer of change of status.

I did that in 2002. There were times when i was so frustrated and could not focus on studies, had bad semesters, just because I couldnt travel, because i would loose the status if I did.

This is a non sense rule that doesnt make sense, i know.

So, if u want her to never blame you for her frustration on not being able to travel while she is studying, dont suggest her change of status.

Suggest taking the i-20 back home and apply for multiple entry student visa.

Edited July 2, 2012 by Rigent2010

[Harsh_77 718]

Dude, You can do change of status for her.

But let me tell you something. Even with the accepted change of status, she will be UNABLE TO TRAVEL out of unites states.

That means, if she goes out of USA, her status is cancelled.

So it's better to take the admission from USA, take the i-20 and go back home and apply, because then she will get the multiple entry student visa.

And since she got the visit visa, there should not be any difficulties.

Trust me on this, I am a sufferer of change of status.

I did that in 2002. There were times when i was so frustrated and could not focus on studies, had bad semesters, just because I couldnt travel, because i would loose the status if I did.

This is a non sense rule that doesnt make sense, i know.

So, if u want her to never blame you for her frustration on not being able to travel while she is studying, dont suggest her change of status.

Suggest taking the i-20 back home and apply for multiple entry student visa.

This is wrong and incomplete information.

First- you will have to get an admission and school has to issue you an I-20. For just ESOL class no school would issue you a I-20… as international student under grad you are required to maintain 12 hr every semester and grad school 9 hrs.

Second what the user is saying about cannot travel is completely false, if she got approved it will be F1 status at that point if she wants to travel, she will have to go to the consulate and get F1 stamped.

The chances are 50 – 50 same as someone applying for student visa, can be approved can be rejected.

The second approach you have of what user is saying just get admission and then go home and apply for student visa also has the same 50-50 chance might get visa might not get visa, both cases she will have I-20 and having I-20 does not guarantee visa either.

I-20 only shows you have valid admission.

[Rigent2010 1]

This is wrong and incomplete information.

First- you will have to get an admission and school has to issue you an I-20. For just ESOL class no school would issue you a I-20… as international student under grad you are required to maintain 12 hr every semester and grad school 9 hrs.

Second what the user is saying about cannot travel is completely false, if she got approved it will be F1 status at that point if she wants to travel, she will have to go to the consulate and get F1 stamped.

The chances are 50 – 50 same as someone applying for student visa, can be approved can be rejected.

The second approach you have of what user is saying just get admission and then go home and apply for student visa also has the same 50-50 chance might get visa might not get visa, both cases she will have I-20 and having I-20 does not guarantee visa either.

I-20 only shows you have valid admission.

Dude if you dont know, its better not to just yelling out your uninformed opinions alright?

Go talk with a good lawyer and ask the following questions and get informed-

1. Where in USA you have a consulate that will stamp you a multiple entry F-1 Visa? Answer = nowhere.

Then how you are suggesting him to - "if she got approved it will be F1 status at that point if she wants to travel, she will have to go to the consulate and get F1 stamped."

Consulates/Embassies are only out of USA. His girlfriend is inside USA, he can only do a status change.

And if she travels after change of status, the minute she goes out of North American Continent (US, Canada, Mexico), the status is no more. Because when you change status inside USA, that F-1 DOES NOT HAVE MULTIPLE ENTRY PRIVILEGE.

She has to reapply for student visa from outside USA, which may take time, may make her miss a semester.

Thats why I am suggesting go out of US and get multiple entry f-1 visa stamped from the beginning.

2. I am not sure if you get a i-20 for ESOL because I never had to go through that. But I am referring to i-20 as the permission to study in The US, it can be only an acceptance letter for ESOL student, may be as you are suggesting. So whatever it is, she should take out of US to get the Multiple Entry F-1 Visa Stamped.

I am suggesting Dont Do a Status Change in USA.

It will give you f-1, but not a multiple entry status f-1. And for emergency if she ever have to travel, she losses that status.

SO better - go out of usa with the admission letter (I-20 or whatever it is for ESOL), and face the embassy. And since the embassy already issued her a visit visa, it should not be of any trouble to get a student visa.

Edited July 3, 2012 by Rigent2010

[Boiler 45,658]

There is status and there is a visa.

They should not be confused.. To reenter you would need a visa.

[Pete&Zoi 0]

Umm... I am more confused now... lol.

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Umm... I am more confused now... lol.

Have her apply and get accepted into an accredited program, then ask the international student advisor what needs to be done

Good luck

[Tango2017 5]

was your girlfriend granted visa to come visit you? just wondering. my girlfriend is in process of applying for tourist visa next month.

[Jojo92122 1,924]

18 minutes ago, Tango2017 said:

was your girlfriend granted visa to come visit you? just wondering. my girlfriend is in process of applying for tourist visa next month.

The OP hasn't been here since 2014.  You are responding to a thread from 2012.

 

What you are planning is visa fraud.  If your GF wants to go to school in the US, then she needs a student visa to enter.  She can not use a visitor visa to enter the US with the intent to adjust status for a student visa.