F1 Student Status now that my application is pending? Next Steps?

[d2477 2]

Hey -
I was wondering if anyone could help me or has had experience in this situation. I am currently a pending applicant, but I am still studying at my institution that granted me my current I-20. What happens when I finally get my greencard? At what point do I cross over from being an F1 to something else? Have I already done that? And if so, is there something I have to do like contact my international student office on my campus? Do they have to take away my I-20s or anything? I am trying to figure out what things will change with my current enrollment (like what I will do with the international student insurance I have through campus/my I-20s/tuition fees etc., etc.,) Does anyone have any experience in this matter?

Thanks, I really appreciate all the help I've received here.

[d2477 2]

Anyone?

[newacct 688]

applicant for what? AOS?

You still have F1 status for as long as you would originally have had it, provided that you comply with all the requirements of F1 (e.g. stay in school, not work outside school, etc.).

However, it is also true that you don't need F1 status anymore, if you wanted. Even if you lost F1 status, you could still stay here legally and go to school, etc. because you are I-485 pending.

Once you get your green card, that supersedes any previous status. I'm not sure if you need to tell your international student office anything.

[d2477 2]

Thanks - I appreciate your input. I just didnt know when I lose my F1 status

[SBB 74]

The international student office will probably contact you at some point about updating your info so they can get you off their books, that's what they did for my wife.

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

In our case, we went to the international office and told them we'll be filing for AOS. They told us we have two options:

1. not register for full quarter, hence abandoning F1 status (not illegal since your AOSing)

2. maintain it until you get your GC in the mail

Both has advantage/disadvantage. Advantage of option 1, that you don't have to be a full time student and pay if you don't want to, or want to take a break from school. The disadvantage is that if your AOS gets denied that is the end of it, and you cannot stay but pack up and go back home regardless of if you completed your education or not. Option 2 required you to be a full time student and be like before, F1 student, no work outside the campus (unless your EAD arrived) etc. The upside of it though that if your AOS gets denied then you can stay to complete your school even if it takes another two or three years.

Whichever option you choose, you let your international adviser know, and once you get your GC you go back with your GC, and tell them that you have successfully adjusted your status. They will make a photocopy of your GC and file it when they are terminating your SEVIS/F1 status.

Good luck!

[d2477 2]

In our case, we went to the international office and told them we'll be filing for AOS. They told us we have two options:

1. not register for full quarter, hence abandoning F1 status (not illegal since your AOSing)

2. maintain it until you get your GC in the mail

Both has advantage/disadvantage. Advantage of option 1, that you don't have to be a full time student and pay if you don't want to, or want to take a break from school. The disadvantage is that if your AOS gets denied that is the end of it, and you cannot stay but pack up and go back home regardless of if you completed your education or not. Option 2 required you to be a full time student and be like before, F1 student, no work outside the campus (unless your EAD arrived) etc. The upside of it though that if your AOS gets denied then you can stay to complete your school even if it takes another two or three years.

Whichever option you choose, you let your international adviser know, and once you get your GC you go back with your GC, and tell them that you have successfully adjusted your status. They will make a photocopy of your GC and file it when they are terminating your SEVIS/F1 status.

Good luck!

This is great advice. Thank you for the insight!