Adjusting from F1 --When can I quit going to school?

[Up and Away 10]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the VJ community and have already benefited incredibly from searching through all of the Guides and old forum postings.

I have a question about when I can quit school without risking any troubles down the road:

-I am on a F-1 student visa. Currently in-status.

-I got married last month.

-I plan to submit for AOS in November.

-My current semester ends in late-December.

I would really like to quit school after my current semester, and start working once I get my EAD (probably around early next year).

My question is --is there any reason why I should not do this?

It seems to me that schools sometimes advise students to stay in school even after AOS is submitted, on the theory that if the AOS fails, the student can always fall back on her F-1 visa. But that seems to be discredited on VJ because once an AOS application is received by the US gov't, the foreign student is automatically NO LONGER a student, the student visa becomes VOID. In other words, even if the AOS fails, there is no student visa "safety net."

Is my understanding correct? Can I quit school after I send my AOS?

Thanks kindly!

Edited November 9, 2011 by Up and Away

[milimelo 4,544]

Moving to AOS from student, tourist, work visa.

[Soapz 14]

If I remember correctly, once you file for AOS your F1 is void. This only means that the visa in your passport which allows you entry into the US as an F1 student is void. You will not be able to enter the country again with it.

Now, your student status with SEVP/SEVIS is only valid if you are enrolled full-time. The moment you quit school, you are "pending AOS". There should be no problem with that, nobody is going to make an issue out of it, if your application is filed. And there is no falling back into F1-student status.

[ceadsearc 516]

Wait until you have your NOA1, because you will then be in a new period of authorized stay while your AOS is pending. It sounds like you'll have that by the end of your semester so you should be fine to stop going to school.

[Up and Away 10]

Thank you to all!