change of status from Tourist visa to Students Visa

[thepateltony 0]

Hi, I am from Indian Citizen.I am currently in USA on the Tourist Visa for attending a marriage ceremony of my Cousin. My Visa expires on 5 december 2011. I wanted to know can I apply for Student Visa while I am here in USA? I was told that i have to appear for IELTS & GMAT to enter into US University. I can do those tests while I am here. Please Suggest me the course of Action I can take so that I dont have to go back to India for Students Visa. Thanks In advance.

[Little_My 464]

I doubt you'll be able to switch to student visa within the US. Though technically possible, you would first have to apply and be accepted to a US university / college before you can apply for the F1 visa, and if you have not yet taken the required tests such as TOEFL / IELTS / GRE / GMAT, I doubt you'll have enough time to get all that done before your tourist status expires - and you cannot apply for file for a change of status once your tourist status has expired. You'd basically have to get all those tests done and apply to a school and be accepted before December 5th - I really doubt that would be possible.

In addition, I believe denial rate is higher for change of status from B2 to F1 applications than for regular F1 applications. I'd stay your best bet is to return to India, apply from there, and go through the process via your closest embassy in India.

[Harsh_77 718]

You have already missed the Fall semester, now with 3 months taking all the test and applying for school would not work for you.

Legally there is nothing that can stop from B1/2 to F1, but after 9/11 USCIS has stopped or they do very limited conversions.

Best thing for you would be while you are here go check out the college you want to go to, talk to the prof there, talk to their international dept.

Return back to India as per your Visa and then apply for F1 from India.

[thepateltony 0]

THANK you so much for the reply. Cant i extend my tourist visa for another few months so that it gives me enough time to complete the process of getting students visa. The thing is that I dont want to go back to India and Apply from there. I want to avail all the possibilities that i have while I am here in USA. My GMAT & IELTS will be All done in few days. Technically I will have time to apply for university and do all the formalities..

[Harsh_77 718]

You can apply for B1/2 extension, you will have to provide them with a strong reason why your B1/2 needs to be extended beyond 6 months.

You will have to make a choice which school you want to go to and what are their last dates to receive an application.

You will have to check with their international advisor, I have heard lately for ppl who were looking to convert from B1/2 immigration was stamping their visa as potential student, if not then transfer was getting really difficult.