Do I need to maintain F1 status while in the process of AOS?

[strawberryfields 0]

Hi everyone. I'm so thankful for this site. 

I have a question, I'm in the process of AOS. I have sent USCIS the whole application according to the guide on this site. I am waiting for their response.
Right now i'm studying, and school is so much worse now that they have moved it online (teachers don't care as much, and my school is all about networking, which is no longer possible.)

The school is firm about wanting 7000 dollars for tuition even though i'm losing out on so much that the school would normally offer.
What i want to do right now is save my 7000 dollars so that me and my wife will be economically secure until my application is completed and I can get a job. 

Am I allowed to drop out of school before i've gotten a decision for my AOS? (My F1 status will no longer be valid)

Thank you. 

Edited April 24, 2020 by strawberryfields

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

You do what best for you, there is no requirement to maintain F1. But keep in mind if your AOS result is bad (rare if your relationship is genuine), you don't have F1 status anymore to stay.

[WandY 430]

I'm a university professor. First of all, stay in school. Here's why:

 

I was forced to move my classes online when we shut down the campus in March. You think the professors don't care and the instruction is lower quality. Professors do care. Most of us (at my university) have never taught online and our lectures were never designed for modular formats. We went on spring break and were notified to move all of our classes online, advise from home, and generally disappear from the physical campus. It has been very depressing to teach online. I love the classroom, my students, and generally I love my job. Does the quality of education suffer? Of course. But we expect to return in the fall. I think all of us - students, staff, and faculty - will be better than ever. We'll appreciate our campus, our togetherness, and our educational goals.

 

You need to stay in school because the job market is dead - and will be dead for months to come. Get as much education/training as possible. Network. Work with your professors/advisers to secure internships, job shadowing, applications, etc. When the economy rises, you'll be ready. A graduate degree will put you closer to the front of the line. I don't know what you are studying, but use this crisis to secure education/training relevant to crisis management, logistics, planning, etc. Your school may work with you on tuition. Discuss your issues with advisers and professors. Good luck. Message me if you need help.

[strawberryfields 0]

4 hours ago, NancyNguyen said:

You do what best for you, there is no requirement to maintain F1. But keep in mind if your AOS result is bad (rare if your relationship is genuine), you don't have F1 status anymore to stay.

Is this 100% certain? Is there a source from USCIS or something? I want to trust you, I'm just terribly worried that I will do something wrong. 

 

[cosmonauts 125]

1 hour ago, strawberryfields said:

Is this 100% certain? Is there a source from USCIS or something? I want to trust you, I'm just terribly worried that I will do something wrong. 

 

I don't have a USCIS source but they are right. You would have to notify the school and they would likely terminate your F-1 on SEVIS (you don't wanna just stop taking classes). When you're ready to go back to school you'd probably have to go through the admission process again, but I guess that depends on the school. Ask before you decide anything! You would be ok staying here as long as you have the AOS NOA to show that your case is pending.

[strawberryfields 0]

20 minutes ago, tamaara said:

I don't have a USCIS source but they are right. You would have to notify the school and they would likely terminate your F-1 on SEVIS (you don't wanna just stop taking classes). When you're ready to go back to school you'd probably have to go through the admission process again, but I guess that depends on the school. Ask before you decide anything! You would be ok staying here as long as you have the AOS NOA to show that your case is pending.

Thank you! Should i notify the school that I want to end my studies once I get the notice by email / text or should I wait until i get the physical mail? 

USCIS should have recieved my package two weeks ago now, but I have not recieved a confirmation yet.

[cosmonauts 125]

2 minutes ago, strawberryfields said:

Thank you! Should i notify the school that I want to end my studies once I get the notice by email / text or should I wait until i get the physical mail? 

USCIS should have recieved my package two weeks ago now, but I have not recieved a confirmation yet.

Wait until you have the physical copy just in case. Terminating the F-1 takes literally a click so make sure your case has been accepted first.

Have you discussed this with your international advisor? I would do that too before deciding as well. Good luck!

[Riley and SP 17]

I know that after submitting AOS application, you don’t need to maintain F-1 status anymore. But it is advisable to do so - the reason is that if you AOS is denied, you need to leave the country immediately. However, if you have maintained your F-1 status (that also means not using your EAD to work and not traveling on AP), you can stay on your F-1. That’s what my international advisor told me. I never had any intentions to leave school but wanted to use the EAD card once I get it for part time work and my international advisor told me not to so I can maintain F1 status. 

[strawberryfields 0]

33 minutes ago, Riley and SP said:

I know that after submitting AOS application, you don’t need to maintain F-1 status anymore. But it is advisable to do so - the reason is that if you AOS is denied, you need to leave the country immediately. However, if you have maintained your F-1 status (that also means not using your EAD to work and not traveling on AP), you can stay on your F-1. That’s what my international advisor told me. I never had any intentions to leave school but wanted to use the EAD card once I get it for part time work and my international advisor told me not to so I can maintain F1 status. 

I only have about two months left of school, so my F1 status wouldn't be around very long anyways.. I will probably have to pay part of the tuition considering 1/3 or more of the quarter will have gone by before i have my NOA.