Friend wants to go from Tourist to Student

[Messybrownhair 251]

Hi guys,

I am asking in behalf of my friend who has a 10-year US tourist visa.

Her sister lives in the states, she has applied to diff grad schools and wants to take her masters in the US.

Last October she went to the US for an interview with a school. She told the CO during POE and her i94 was stamped "prospective student"

she decided not to accept the offer and went home, and now she has reapplied to other programs.

she plans to go back this march as a tourist and tell the CO during POE that she is visiting her sister. When results come out and she passes, she then wants to apply for the student visa in the US. she says that her previous i94 will be enough.

I want to advise her properly so kindly let me know your thoughts about her plan

[Messybrownhair 251]

I am guessing its safe to assume that she cannot do this? She will have to go back and file for student visa?

[milimelo 4,481]

Hi guys,

I am asking in behalf of my friend who has a 10-year US tourist visa.

Her sister lives in the states, she has applied to diff grad schools and wants to take her masters in the US.

Last October she went to the US for an interview with a school. She told the CO during POE and her i94 was stamped "prospective student"

she decided not to accept the offer and went home, and now she has reapplied to other programs.

she plans to go back this march as a tourist and tell the CO during POE that she is visiting her sister. When results come out and she passes, she then wants to apply for the student visa in the US. she says that her previous i94 will be enough.

I want to advise her properly so kindly let me know your thoughts about her plan

No she can't - each and every time she enters US she gets a new I-94. Don't see the reason for lying at POE as later on it could be seen as misrepresentation and they can cancel her tourist visa.

If she gets into a master's program she needs to get a student visa from her home country's US embassy.

[xxtinaxx 14]

Hi guys,

I am asking in behalf of my friend who has a 10-year US tourist visa.

Her sister lives in the states, she has applied to diff grad schools and wants to take her masters in the US.

Last October she went to the US for an interview with a school. She told the CO during POE and her i94 was stamped "prospective student"

she decided not to accept the offer and went home, and now she has reapplied to other programs.

she plans to go back this march as a tourist and tell the CO during POE that she is visiting her sister. When results come out and she passes, she then wants to apply for the student visa in the US. she says that her previous i94 will be enough.

I want to advise her properly so kindly let me know your thoughts about her plan

I think it depends on her luck because she can apply for student visa right in the States but they can deny her application. Having said that, she can take a risk by applying for it if she wants to or just to be safe, go back home and apply at her home country. I have 2 friends who applied for F1 visa when they were in the States as J1 visa. One was approved but the other was denied. So good luck

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Topic moved from AOS from a Student, Work and Visitor visa forum to Student & Exchange Visitor visa as question does not relate to adjustment of status

[Harsh_77 718]

Previous I-94 for for that visit, she will get a new I-94 for every visit. So if previous one said prospective student then it was only for that visit.

Please advice her that status is not good for all 10 yrs of the tourist visa.

Lying to officer of point of entry is never advicable, they store each and every response.

Mis-represntation can cost her the tourist visa and put on flagged list, best option is now she has seen the way it work she properly apply to school of her liking and get F1 stamped.

In her case getting F1 stamped would not be hard since she already has one B1/B2.

[Messybrownhair 251]

Thanks I will let her know