F1 Visa Query

[sainadh]

Dear experts,

Currently I'm on F2 visa & applied for Change Of Status(F2 to F1) and it got approved recently. I'm about to start my classes from Spring 2013(this month). But unfortunately, I did't receive any funding from the university. So, I plan to defer it to Fall 2013(August onwards).

So, now my question is, will I be on F1 (or) F2 if I defer my admission to Fall 2013. Please share your thoughts on this.

Thank you!!

[kabkaba]

You are not allowed to do that. After change of status is approved, you must maintain full-time enrollment from the first available semester. If you want to defer, you will have to change back to F2.

[GIB]

Further query......

Dear experts,

I applied for F2 to F1 visa change on 26th November. Till now I have not received any apporval. My I-20 says that I should start for spring 2013 no later than January 9, 2013. I have full funding but the department is asking me to defer to summer as I have not yet received any notification from USCIS ELIS.

My question is, if the approval comes after I defer my admission to summer, will I be eligible to stay in US until then ? I currently have an F2 visa (valid until 2016) and I am staying in US right now. As far as I know F1 visa holder are permitted to enter US maximum of 30 days before their check in. However, in my case , it may take longer than that to check in because summer session will start in mid May...

[kabkaba]

Has the change of status been approved or not? After it is approved, you must become full-time from the earliest available semester.

[GIB]

@ kabkaba

Thank you very much for your reply.

No. My visa has not yet been approved. I am still waiting.

What worries me is that :

if I get my F1 visa 2-3 months before the next available/possible semester..will there be any problem staying in the US with the F1 visa ?

[kabkaba]

If change of status is approved and the next earliest semester is 2-3 months away, that is fine. Make sure you inform your school's DSO of this change of status and get this clarified with them. They are responsible for updating your status in SEVIS system.

And don't call this Visa. Visa is something you have in your passport and use to travel to US.

[GIB]

@ kabkaba

thanks for your reply.

Today i will have to go and defer my admission to the next semester as I have not yet received my approval

oh! thanks....i will keep that in mind :-)