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Irina2017

From J1 to student visa? Is it possible?!

By Irina2017 in Student & Exchange Visitor Visas

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Irina2017 Newbie

Irina2017   0

Posted
Filed: J-1 Visa Timeline
Posted

Hi members of this website! 

I am from Ukraine, first time in US on j1 visa that allows  me 1 year working at the hotel, i wanna know is there any possibility to change this visa to working visa or student visa? I don't have a requirement to stay in my country for 2 years after my j1visa is over. 

 

I will be thankful for any help ! 

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sy1983 Explorer

sy1983   31

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

I think your work or you school would be the one to sponsor your visa

 

04/21/2016 : Married

11/17/2016 : I-130 sent ( NSO marriage certificate took forever) 

11/23/2016 : I-130 case accepted notified by email NOA1

01/27/2017 : USCIS APPROVED NOA2

02/04/2017 : NOA2 hardcopy received in mail

02/28/2017 : Case received by NVC

03/02/2017 : Agent assigned 

03/07/2017 : Case number assigned with invoice

03/28/2017 : Fees paid (IV and AOS)
04/05/2017 : DS260 online form completed
04/09/2017 : IV and AOS package sent to NVC
04/12/2017 : Requested for NVC expedite
04/17/2017:  NVC expedite approved 

04/18/2017:  In Transit 

04/20/2017: Received in Manila (may schedule for interview)
05/11/2017: SLEC -CLEARED 
05/25/2017: Interview @ Manila Embassy - APPROVED

05/30/2017: VISA on hand plus packet

06/08/2017: POE: California  

06/14/2017: Social Security card received through DS260 filing

06/24/2017: Green card received 

 

CRBA 

04/10/2017: CRBA sent to Embassy via FedEx 

04/19/2017: Appointment scheduled 

05/04/2017: Interviewed and approved 

05/17/2017: CRBA certificate on hand

05/26/2017: U.S Passport on hand

06/02/2017: Paid for ECC and Extension fees

06/08/2017: POE

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geowrian Grand Master

geowrian   22,337

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

Yes, it is possible to adjust from J-1 to F-1 status while in the US if you meet the F-1 requirements. Or you can file for an F-1 visa and interview at an embassy abroad. Keep in mind that an F-1 visa requires showing sufficient ability to pay for the educational program at international student enrollment rates...which can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year.

 

A work visa generally requires sponsorship from a company and it has to meet other labor/skill requirements. I'm assuming you have not completed a bachelor's degree or higher program since you are asking about the F-1 visa, so it's unlikely for this to be viable in your case.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Irina2017 Newbie

Irina2017   0

Posted
Filed: J-1 Visa Timeline
  • Author
Posted (edited)
12 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Yes, it is possible to adjust from J-1 to F-1 status while in the US if you meet the F-1 requirements. Or you can file for an F-1 visa and interview at an embassy abroad. Keep in mind that an F-1 visa requires showing sufficient ability to pay for the educational program at international student enrollment rates...which can easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year.

 

A work visa generally requires sponsorship from a company and it has to meet other labor/skill requirements. I'm assuming you have not completed a bachelor's degree or higher program since you are asking about the F-1 visa, so it's unlikely for this to be viable in your case.

I have graduated the university in my country and I have a specialist degree, but  I'm assuming this means nothing in USA.

 

I came to US on J1 to work at the hotel after i ve been working in Emirates for 2 years at the hotel too.

 

Do you know how is better to  find a sponsor for applying work visa? Really any thoughts are superWelcome..

Edited by Irina2017
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randomstairs Community Regular

randomstairs   303

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Timeline
Posted
5 hours ago, Irina2017 said:

I have graduated the university in my country and I have a specialist degree, but  I'm assuming this means nothing in USA.

 

I came to US on J1 to work at the hotel after i ve been working in Emirates for 2 years at the hotel too.

 

Do you know how is better to  find a sponsor for applying work visa? Really any thoughts are superWelcome..

You can apply for H1B (or rather your employer can) but there is a cap on those. They usually run out in the first days after opening (in April each year). There is a lottery and you need to get selected before applying. So it's very hard to get this visa at this time of the year. Some employers such as non-profit may be exempted from the cap but you'll still need to prove special skills and they will have to prove that they couldn't find a USC/LPR worker with said skills. Also, the process may easily take a year...

 

You can try L1 if a foreign employer wants to move you to a new post in the US. I don't know much about L1.

 

F1 would work if you had a lot of money or got a scholarship. One option is a grad school (PhD programs). They don't usually charge any tuition but obviously it's not trivial to get into a program. 

 

Diversity Lottery will open in a few months. Play if your country is eligible.   

03/04/2016 AOS (EB2-NIW concurrent with I-485) mailed to Lewisville TX Lockbox
03/07/2016 AOS delivered to USCIS and signed
03/12/2016 Case received by Nebraska Service Center (NSC)
03/14/2016 Text notification received for I-140/I-485/I-765/I-131.
04/08/2016 Biometrics notice received for 04/21
04/13/2016 Biometrics early walk-in completed.
04/15/2016 EAD/AP combo card received in mail.

 

Long wait begins...

 

11/04/2016 I-140/485 cases transferred from Nebraska to TCS
12/01/2016 Prepared package for EAD/AP renewal (expires 04/09/2017)
12/23/2016 USCIS suddenly changes several forms, invalidating my EAD/AP renewal package (not yet sent)
12/27/2016 USCIS suddenly reforms the entire NIW criteria system, replacing a 20 years old one. Uncharted waters. 
01/07/2017 (Saturday!) EAD/AP renewal package with new forms received in Phoenix "reception desk"
01/17/2017 EAD/AP renewal case accepted; text/email with receipt numbers was received
01/30/2017 Law firm finally confirms that USCIS has suspended processing all EB2-NIW cases due to new criteria. 
02/23/2017 USCIS slowly starts adjudicating NIW cases again.
04/21/2017 Extended EAD/AP received in mail. Valid for 2 years. 
05/06/2017 Received a massive RFE on I-140 NIW case.
07/20/2017 RFE response received by USCIS (a very long response with 30 pages of docs)
09/14/2017 I-140 NIW approved!!! 
11/28/2017 RFE for new medical issued (plus another request re Supp J for employment which is clearly issued in error)
12/04/2017 RFE received in mail
12/07/2017 repeated medical exam for I-485
12/08/2017 Attorney receives documents for responding to I-485 RFE
12/21/2017 Response to RFE received by USCIS 
02/09/2018 I-485 approval (text, email) :)
02/08/2018 I-485 approval notice issued (the "welcome letter") - I'm LPR now
02/16/2018 Green card received
 
11/14/2022 Filed N-400 online; receipt and biometrics reuse form received online
03/07/2023 N-400 Interview scheduled 
04/xx/2023 N-400 approved, same-day Oath ceremony completed. I'm a US citizen.
05/xx/2023 US passport in hand

 

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,525

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

As you said you are already on a working visa, if you have the money a Student Visa or Status is certainly possible.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   45,525

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

I know at least two local businesses who employ J1's in the summer and may well do so in the future myself, one actually wanted to employ someone in a similar role outside the main season but they would not have qualified for a J1 and there was no other realistic option.

 

The other short term unskilled work visa is the H2, but lot more involved in an Employer getting one. Nice thing about the J is that you do not have labour certification and there is no cap.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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