Change of status from J1 to F1

[saras94 0]

Hi everybody! I’m new here, a friend recommended me this site because I’ve some questions and maybe somebody can help me to solve them.

 

I’m working as an au pair with a J1 visa, which is the intercultural exchange visa. I just started my second year. I came back to my home country a couple of months ago to get a new J1 visa, because I like to travel. The new visa that I got will expire on May 2019, but I decided that I want to leave the au pair program and become a student changing my status from here. The agency is sponsoring me so if I leave the program I guess that the agency will cancel my visa so I should apply for the change of the status before that happens, at least 1 month in advance. But my questions are: Can I change my visa status (to F1) if I don’t finish successfully with the program? Can I stay in the US waiting for the answer of the government with non status? Can I study while I’m waiting to know if my new status have been approved or should she wait for the government answer?

 

I have some friends who were in the same situation than me, they changed their status from here with any problem and they started to study before than the government gave them an answer, but the law changed a month ago and my case is also a little different cause I’m not gonna finish with the program.

 

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[TNJ17 1,329]

You have to apply for the change before your J1 is up and receive a decision before your J1 is up. You are not allowed to start taking classes without an approved F1. Doing so will invalidate your F1 application and probably void your J1 making you pack your bags and go home and have a hard time ever getting a non-immigrant visa. You must apply for an F1 with a school application acceptance with a future date that’s way into the future. Someone on VJ said they tried to change to an F1 but the school didn’t put a date far enough out and they didn’t get approved and found themselves packing their bags. Be careful and very meticulous about immigration applications and following the rules or you’ll have issues. 

[Boiler 45,417]

Best bet would be to apply for a F1 visa next time you go home.

Edited September 7, 2018 by Boiler

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Changing status these days not recommended due to USCIS backlogs/delays. Get admitted, and best to go to home country and apply for F1.