Changing from L2 to F1 after almost completion of education

[agajendra]

Hi Guys,
I am working in US on L1 Visa and my wife started studying on L2 visa. Unfortunately, we she didn't change her status during first 1.5 year of her education hoping that L2 status will help her getting the job as organizations does not have to sponsor her a H1 Visa. It seems like due to dependency on me organizations are reluctant to consider her for employment. She is about to receive her degree in next few days. Do you guys think she can go for change of status now? if yes, would university allow her to it and how long its going to take or can she go for status change her own? or should she just continue on L2? unfortunately her L2 is also getting expire in Jan 2013.

I highly appreciate this.

Thanks,
Gajendra

[vroni]

why do you think a change of status from L-2 to F-1 will help? If she changes status she will have to leave the US 60 days after the completion of her degree, or get a work visa. H1B visas for the next fiscal year are already saturated. the earliest she could start to work would be October 2013. I am not sure if she would be eligible for OPT, since you might have to be in F-1 status for one year (not sure if it has to be F-1 status or if full time student is sufficient).