H1 to F1

[gkrishna]

Hi
I am in US for the past 2 years on H1 and I am planning to go for a MBA in 2008. Hence I will have to go for F1 stamping. Once I graduate I will again come back to H1 status. Will I fall back in the H1B cap limit and will my H1B tenure of 6 years be reduced by my previous stay of 2 and half years or I will get a full new 6 year tenure.

Any help in this regard is really appreciated.

Thanks

[waitin_toolong]

you will not get full 6 years because you will be not have spent 365 days abroad. it does not matter that your status was not H1 but the fact that you were still in USA that does not reset the clock.

Count against the cap will be determined by the fact whether you were counted against the cap in the 6 years prior to the date of new H1 or not.

[gkrishna]

thanks for the reply...
Then if I need not file again for a new H1, will I be able to start working with a different company after my graduation without going for OPT....


Thanks...