F1 Student grace period + Applying for B2 Visa change

[Shan2010]

Hi,
Would appreciate your help.
* I am a student on F1 Visa.
* My OPT EAD ends on July 12th.
* I believe I have grace period of 60 days to stay in US until Sept 11th.
* I like to leave US before that but my counry is still not open for International Flights

I was thinking to wait till about Sept 1st to see the sitation and Apply I539 form for B2 Visitor Visa
to buy me 6 months time.

1) Presume it is possible for F1 Student to apply for B2 Visa change extension before Grace period of 60 days is over right ?
2) Any benefit to apply for I539 - B2 Visa , earlier , say Start of August ( 45 days before grace period end )
VS closer to end of Grace period.( say Sept 1st week?)

thank you for your help

[newacct]

1. yes
2. The benefit might be you will get the receipt earlier; whereas if you file too close to when your status expires, you might not get the receipt until after your status expires. But it's the "received date" on the receipt that matters, not when you get it. As long as you are confident the "received date" will be before your status expires, it is fine.

[Shan2010]

Appreciate your kind reply.

By "received date" you mean, the day they receive my application or the day they schedule the bio metric stuff ?
If I do it ONLINE , I presume it wil be much faster as the receipt date is instantaneous I guess?

many thanks

[newacct]

Appreciate your kind reply.

By "received date" you mean, the day they receive my application or the day they schedule the bio metric stuff ?
If I do it ONLINE , I presume it wil be much faster as the receipt date is instantaneous I guess?

many thanks

Yes, it's when they officially receive your application. Yes, if you file online you should get the receipt quickly.

[AJ007]

Can we ask change of status to B2 for 12 months or it should be strictly 6 months?

[Shan2010]

Yes, it's when they officially receive your application. Yes, if you file online you should get the receipt quickly.

Many thanks for your kind resposne.


1) In your observational opinion, how long does the I539 B2 approval/denial take ?

2) How good are the chances of B2 Visa change approval given the pandemic situation.


Situation :
Am facing another Issue . My current landlord doesn't give any lease less than 6 months.
I need to confirm soon to go for a lease till December 2020. If I okay 6 month lease
and of USCIS reject my B2 then I owe land lord many months of rent and then I have to leave US


2) I am thinking if I apply Late Agusut ( closer to end of grace period) , then if they take atleast
2 -3 month to approve or reject ( my application is pending) then will not waste 2 much of the lease.


Kind reply to 2 questions would be helpful.

thanks much

[Shan2010]

Can we ask change of status to B2 for 12 months or it should be strictly 6 months?

I hope the seniors here will answer. From what my understanding you can ask for 12 months, but they might
give 6 months only first

[Diori1o111]

I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style mycfavisit.