Hi everyone,
My spouse and I entered the U.S. on B2 visitor visas in February 2025, and our authorized stay (I-94) expires in the end of July 2025. We’ve been staying and visiting our family and covering our own expenses.
We’re considering studying or working in the U.S. and are trying to decide between three options:
Apply for a change of status from B2 to F1 now, before our I-94 expires.
Request an extension of our B2 visa for another 6 months and then apply for F1 from within the U.S.
Leave the U.S. before our I-94 expires (we're considering spending 6–12 months in Spain), and later apply for an F1 or an EB2-NIW visa from a U.S. consulate abroad.
We both have masters degree and experience in tech-related fields. One of us works remotely for a foreign company, and we have some financial stability but not big funds.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on which path is considered wiser or more realistic. Is it safer to apply for the F1 from abroad after some time outside the U.S.? Or is it better to change status while we’re still here?
Any guidance or experiences are appreciated — thank you!
