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There are three sorts of student visas – . F-1, M, and J-1.
1. After a college or university has approved your application for a full time course/ program, they will send you a document called an I-20 form, which is the application form for F-1 visa. 2. The M visa is for students at technical schools. 3. Exchange Visitor J-1: J-1 is for a short term consultation, training, research or teaching program. The organization sponsoring you will send an IAP-66 form, which is the application for J-1 visa.
Is it necessary to switch H4 to F1 in order to study here?
· No, it is not obligatory to change your visa in order to study in US. You can legally study here on any visa status, as long as, you fulfill the conditions to get the admission.
· a dependent visa holder cannot obtain any financial aid, and the one-year optional practical training, after completion of the course. You will be able to work on campus for some stipulated number hours on F1 visa.
· On the other hand, if you study on H4/L2 status, then you will get the resident low fee benefit. Normally you automatically become the state resident, after completing 1 year of stay ( every college has a different set of rules regarding in-state fee classification – based on state residency. Being refused by one college does not necessarily mean that all colleges in the state will treat you as an out-of-state or international student. So, make sure you call them…also, check their website) But, if you plan to convert your visa status to F1, then you won’t get this benefit. You will be treated as a foreign student and thus will be charged heavy fee.
Trapped !! 
Hi.
Thanks for this blog. Finding it very useful. Is it neccessary that h4 holder shud stay in the particular state for 1 yr (complete 1 yr in the state) to claim the in-state fee?
Thanks.
Hi Abhimanyu,
Glad that my blog could be of some help…
Different states have different rules and so you have to find out what is applicable for the state you live in. Reseach the school in which you wish to apply. Generally, the International students department or the aaccounts department answers such queries.
The holder of an H-1B or H-1C may be eligible for residency for tuition purposes. A dependent of an H-1B or H-1C, who holds an H-4 visa, may also be eligible.
Eligibility is determined by many factors, including information found on the I-94 and Green cards.
In Colorado and Texas H4’s can pay in state tuition as long as they have resided there for at least a year.
documents / copies of:
-home owner’s or rental agreement
-12 months pay stub of the H1 person
-6 mos utility bills such as electric
-state issued photo ID, if any (more than a year old) such as drivers license of the person taking the class
-valid passport and Visa (if Visa is current, otherwise the most current H1/H4 approval notice).
Hope this helps and do let us know, if you manage to get some more information.
Good Wishes.
Hi,
Thanks fr sharing such a useful information abt the fee structure fr H4 and F1 Visa holders. But i have a question. Currently i am on H4 Visa and i am doing my Masters in Biology from The University of South Alabama ,but i have to pay double the amount of fee because i have been considered as a foreign student. Is there any law fr Alabama State which says that H4’s can pay in state tuition as long as they have resided there for at least a year.
Waiting fr y’r response.
Hi..
Iam staying in US from past 5 months..Iam in H4.Now I want to do MS here..How can I proceed to study here..And I read here that if we live in a state for 1 year we can get benifits..My Husband is working in NY state and now we r living in CT state..Can u tell me how can I proceed to study.Whether I have to write GRE or any thing else??
Thanks,
Hema.
Hi Hema Sudha,
You will have to check for courses in the colleges/ universities in your town and neighbourhood towns. Do a google search.
You might have to take GRE or Compass test. The college website will give you detailed information on this issue.
Once you have identified the college offering the course you wish to do, contacting the administration and preparing for the exam would be the first step.
Good luck …..and keep us posted….
Regards.
Hi Simmi,
Welcome to the Blog !
How long have u been on H4 visa? generally, it is after a year of stay in any particular state you can avail the benefits of being a resident. You must check with your university office and your H1-B visa holder’s lawyer. I dont know if there is a law or not…I am not a lawyer.
Are there any other H4 students in your university, get in touch with them. At times, you have to convince the college authorities by proving your residency in the state with the help of utility bills. just because you are a foreigner does not make you a ‘foreign student ‘…you would still be residing here (legally) , if you gave up studies…which means you are not here solely for studies.
Good luck !
Hi,
I am on an H4 visa. My spouse has an H1B. he has applied for the immigration petition.
I have now got admission into an American university and i want to convert to an F1 visa.
However i was told that if i apply for the F1 i will most definitely be rejected. I want the F1 because it will allow me to work on campus and get OPT
Please advise.
You can file for green card as your spouse while being on F1 (proof of marriage is the criteria for green card, not visa status). However, F1 is a non immigrant visa (and not a dual-intent visa like H1), hence, it will be automatically cancelled once you file I-485 petition. You will then need EAD to work.
There may be benefit in applying for F1 if you are going to start study immediately and the I-485 can be filed about the time you are finishing off your studies.
However, if I-485 will be filed before you start studies, it will be better for you to be on H4. You can use EAD to work on campus.
You have to choose ! check with lawyer for further details.
hope this helps.
regards.
hello !!! am stuck too in this conversion crap…pls help me too…i hav come to US in march ’08 on H4…i hav done Msc biotechnology in india….now i want to make my career here by either studying or by working….i dont hav GRE or TOEFFL scores….my doubts are
can i work as an asst to any professor in an university in research field without writing GRE or TOEFFl , will they accept me
if i convert my visa to F1 do i need to go to india for stamping or here to mexico …will F1 status help me in my studies or the H4 status….in wich will i hav my fee weaver
is it true that i cant visit india if i convert my visa status to F1 frm H4 being in US
Hi Bhargavi,
You can study but Not Work ! You CANNOT work for a University or for that matter you cannot work anywhere ! Even if you offer to work without remuneration , you cannot !
You can look for a course of your choice and pursue it. You can do that on h4 Or you can change to F1. Getting an F1 visa is an entirely different process, once you get in touch with the college the will tell you the details and also send you the I 20 form ( after your application has been approved.)
lastly, Check whether F1 is a multiple entry visa , if it is then you can visit India.
hope it helps….I dont have too many details on F1 visa. I have never been on it.
Hii… I just came across ur blog today itself..
I came to US this May, on H4 visa type…
My husband is on H-1B visa , have just applied for the green card this month.. I have a Bachelors degree in Architecture i:e B.ARCH .. i m not interested in further studies.. i want to work though i knw i cannot.. bt if anyhow i enroll into any course.. please suggest me hw will i able to work on campus…. or by converting visa type if req or wtevr way… or if i take up internship .. m i eligible for tht .. i dnt hv any GRE score or any othr tests.. bt i can take the test if it can help me in any way…Its very difficult to sit at home all day with no work..
Please suggest me something..
Thnx.
Hi manvi,
Welcome to the blog.
You wont be able to work on campus on h4…though you ‘might’ be able to undergo interships programs.
If you convert to F1 , you will be avail all benefits of a regular international student, and also work. But be ready to pay a out of state fee/international fee.
Most universities require a Toefl and at times even GRE score. You can start studing for these…and also, get a driving license ( if u haven’t got one already!).
Good luck !
hi, I am trying to see if i can clam my brother as a dependent. He as been on an F1 visa for 2 years, and I have an H1B visa. Can someone help? Thank you
Hello there,
Well, I have never heard of a sibling getting a h4 visa. I am quite certain that it is just for spouse and kids of H1 visa holder. If you have doubts, talk to a lawyer.
Good Luck.
Hi, M on H4 and have applied for paralegal studies in GWU , which would start in jan 2009. M confused whether to remain on H4 and study or to convert to F1.?I came to USA in Dec 2007.
I know F1 visa get problems travelling India. Any advice, would be highly appreciated.
Thanks and Regards
Hi,
I recently relocated to US on H4 visa. I habe done my LLM from Bombay University. I have been looking for job openning and realised that doing para legal course was best option for me to get a employer to sponsor my H1.
Just wanted to know what kind of work did you get after your paralegal course.?
Did you change your status to F1 or studied on H4. ?
How difficult it was to get a employer to sponsor your H1?
Appreciate your reponse.
Thanks and regards
My husband has already filed application for green card in 2004 and we are waiting for the same . Is it advisable to change from H4>F1 in such case when hopefully the green card will come in next 1-2 years?
Hi SK,
Welcome to the Blog ! Do not change to F1 as it is NOT a dual intent visa…you are so close to getting your green card.
If I were you, I would never changed my visa. The only limitations you have while studying on h4 visa are two-
1. You cannot work part time
2. You may not get scholarships.
If you think you will be able to bear with the above then, continue on h4.
On the other hand, H4 might come in handy while convincing the university to give you in-state residency status (in-turn low fee !)
Regards.
Hi trappedh4…
Thanks for replying my query.
My husband filed I-485 as single in 2004. Now till the no: get current, we can’t add my name on his application which is going to be a long wait.
The paralegal graduate certificate course is of 9 months and 1 month internship. I can’t even do internship without salary, on h4. Is that correct?
If F1 travels outside US, it might get rejected, then can that person enter US on the base of old H4? or will H4 get nullified after converted to F1?
Thanks and Regards
I was under the impression that your name would be added to his application automatically. If you are on the H4 visa and your husband’s visa status changes , you would automatically lose your h4 and your visa status would change according to the change in his visa. I hope you are sure on this and have consulted a lawyer. Do let us know your lawyer’s take on this !
well, as per the rules you cannot do internshipS ( even without a salary) but these internship and traIneeship rules aren’t very stringent. If you work with someone you know, someone who is willing to bend the rules for you , it might work out for you. It is NOT illegal as long as you dont get any kind of remuneration for it. (This is as per my research !) Play safe – Ask your lawyer and Do let us know…
Good wishes.
You can stay on only one visa at a time…and you may not be able to change from one visa to another with a lot of ease.
I dont know about the travel restrictions on f1 visa. But you can always come back to H4 visa if your f1 gets rejected or is not processed… Though it might take time, effort and a few trips to the US embassy.
🙂 Take care.
Hi ,
Thanks for this awesome blog ,here are my bunch of worries I am currently on L2 with EAD and joining work on Sep 15th 2008. But my husband’s company was taken over last month and we might have to abruptly return to India in Dec ,which was not in our plans as our L1 is valid thro’ 2011.
I am also doing my MS in an American university and will be graduating in Dec 2008.My question is the following
1)can i convert to F1 and still keep my EAD ?
2)If I lose my EAD , because of my F1 application ,how long will it be for me to get an OPT ?
Please advice we are confused
Hi Mariam,
Thanks to you …for visiting and leaving a comment !
Sorry to hear about the sudden turn of events. Well, lets hope everything ends well for you.
I am sure that you can convert / get F1 visa…Though it might take time, you might even miss a semester …whatever, You WILL get it. But your EAD might suffer, because F1 is not a dual intent visa.
This is a serious matter , you must consult a lawyer.
As you know – I am not a lawyer, just another h4 visa holder. 🙂
good luck !
Hi trappedh4
Thanks for the comments. Yes,u r right.As our lawyer says,my status changes as per my husband’s status.
Regards.
thanks to coming back, verifying your query with a lawyer and letting us know of the same !
take care !
Hi,
iam in H4visa and i want to opt to h1b,iam an post graduate,and i like to convert my visa ,i was in this visa for about 3yrs since my husband is in h1b,is there any chance of converting my visa and where i can start working ,as presently in 2008 they are selecting in a lottery system ,is there any possibility that any one know to change the status and start working,if any one know about this type of situation,pl let me know,thanx
Hi Gayatri,
You’ll need someone to sponser you for h1 visa. do you know anyone , i mean do you have a job offer from someone who is willing to sponser you?
this will be your first step towards h1 visa. The employer and not the employee apply for this visa, for a period of up to six years. So from here, your employer and his lawyer will take over the process, you’ll be involved but the major work is done by the employer in this case.
There are three main qualifying requirements for an H1B Visa (specialty occupation):
1.Application of a specialized body
2. Graduation (Bachelor’s degree) or higher 3. degree in that specialization
3. The graduation should be in terms with:
the graduation should be in line with the specialization that the job is being offered;
this job should be such that it cannot be performed by any other person better the degree is a pre-requisite for the job applied for the job is such that unless the person is a graduate he/she cannot manage since understanding it takes time and some expertise
It is important to note here that the required work experience should be:
specifically in the area where the work is offered based on promotion highly specialized and requires certain type of specific intervention .
In order to obtain a H1B visa you will be required to follow the steps given below:
Find a H1B job where a US employer will be your sponsor
Get your sponsor (US Employer) apply for the visa
Your employer gets approval from the US Government
Coming to US and start working
Well, this all I know ! If you are seriously considering this option then you will need to consult a lawyer … I would first look for an employer willing to sponser my h1 and then, take it from there.
If you know someone who is willing, then it should be easy for – the legal jargon is confusing but dont worry it isn’t difficult and your employer’s lawyer will be taking care of most of it.
Good luck !
Regards,
Hi there
I found this place genuine so thought of sharing a problem. I hope to be helped. I’m getting married in Dec’08 and my fiancee’s H1 status will be active from 1 Oct’08. He’ll get stamping done in india in nov end. Right after getting married will i get my H4? or it takes a minimum amount of time? or is it entirely upto the interviewer’s wish?
Waiting for your response.
Rishu
Hi Rishu,
Welcome to the blog ! Thank you for the compliment. Well, this blog is operated 24*7 from a laptop right next to a simmering kitchen and over looking a maple tree :-)…it is hard core H4 !!
About your query – yes, you’ll get it rightaway as long as your paper work is complete. If you husband already has a H1 visa, there will not be any processing time.
After your interview in the embassy, Your passport with the visa will be mailed to you in a week or so.
regarding what to take along with you, you can refer to this post :
Good luck and keep visiting…..
Hello..I read through all the questions posted by everyone and all the answers you have provided, yet, feels like, I am still confused.
Some Back Ground about me:
I am on h1 with my wife on h4 living in Illinois. I have not started my GC process yet.
My Wife wants to study starting spring 2009. Coverting to F1 seems to be a very lucrative thing considering CPT, OPT, on campus and scholorships, TA, RA blah blah, and most importantly the very less TAX .. But, should I suggest my wife to convert to F1 is still my quesiton.
What could be the possible problems? Showing finanicial support to the school is one direct problem that I foresee with my account balance. What else could be possible?
Thanks
Venkat
Hi Venkat,
Everyone on H4 is perpetually confused – hence, this blog 🙂 ! ideally, international students should study on f1 as it is a much better option…
Your wife’s name will not be added to the GC list with you if she is on f1…but if she reverts back to h4 visa after completing her studies ( lets say two years), I think she will be automatically added to it. and if you get a green card before she completes her studies, she can still stay on f1 and get her green card after completing her education …stating her status as spouse of GC holder.
This is all i know …hope it helps or atleast does not add to your confusion !
I would suggest you consult someone with expierence in immigration matters.
Take care,
hi sir,
i am in desperate need for help.i am on h4 visa and came to us march 2007.ny husband is on h1b but dint apply for green card all these days because he din finish his graduation only six months project is pending which he will finish in march 2009.so he was waiting to file in eb2 instead of eb3 but still he did file in eb3 last month under my pressure.my problem is that i am applying for residency this year and colleges are blindly rejecting my application because i am on h4 .i don know what to do.if i change to f1 then my husband says it will be difficult for me to visit india in feb because it can get rejected.i cant even apply for california permit because they need ssn to get me certified.i feel i am stuck.can u tell me when i can get ead because my friends with very low scores got 12 interviews with ead and i only got 22 rejections.i had applied last year too i din get any seat.please help me.
Hi sudha,
did u talk to the administative staff and the program directors in these colleges? Are you applying for medical residency?
You must talk to the program directors, call them , tell them your visa status and ask them if they , as policy , do not accept applications from h4 visa holders. ask them what can be done about it.
I have no idea when you will get ead – it depends on a lot of factors – in which stage your green card processing is , under which category have u applied it, etc.
why cannot your trip to india be put on hold for sometime. and if it so important, then, you do the ground work now ( finding out why u r not accepted and what needs to be done to get into the college) you can change your visa status while in india or when you come back.
You need to make list of queries and talk to various program directors , you can even email them. there are just two ways of getting it done :
1. convincing them that you are fine on h4 as we are allowed to study ( unless they have a rule or a policy which interferes with this )
2. change your visa status. every visa comes with certain limitations. i am sure f1 has some limitations….you will have to weigh your priorities.
it is difficult decision but dont put it off. this way you will be under a lot of stress and waste time being unhappy. make a wise decision keeping in mind your obligations towards your family but without denying yourself personal growth.
lastly, I am a ‘her‘ …not a ‘sir‘ 😉 … hope that brought a smile to your face !
good luck
hey there!!
I am on an H-4 visa and is currently in renewal process. I want to apply for in state scholarship such as Florda’s Bright Futures. I have been in the US for 5 years now since 7th grade and am currently a senior in high school. Its ok for me to have a year off school incase there is paper work that needs to be done. We have applied for permanent residency but still waiting for it.
Is it possible for me to get this since I dont have a Social Security number?
What should i give to the college(s) im interested to in order to be considered a Florida resident?
I really dont want to convert to f1 becuase i know that it wont grant me instate tuition.
PLS reply ASAP as i am in dire need of help… thanks alot!
Scholarships are difficult to come by while on H4… I dont know the scholarship program that u have mentioned.
The following will help prove your residency in a state.
-home owner’s or rental agreement
-12 months pay stub of the H1 person
-6 mos utility bills such as electric
-state issued photo ID, if any (more than a year old) such as drivers license of the person taking the class
-valid passport and Visa (if Visa is current, otherwise the most current H1/H4 approval notice).
hope that helped.
Hi to everyone,
I’ve been in the US for a year now on h4 status and I share the frustrations of the many dependents who are stuck in this situation. Anyway, as a way of diverting my frustrations, I am planning to go back to college. I might be starting my studies come spring next year hopefully. I have some querries though with regards to changing from H4 to F1.
For financial reasons and residency benefits (in-state tuition), I was contemplating of finishing this 2-year associate degree on H4 status. However, I am also weighing the advantage of having the 12 months OPT when I am on F1 visa. My question are these:
1. Is it possible that I take the first year of my studies on H4 (to get advantage of in-state tuition); then change my status by the 2nd year to F1 (just to satisfy the 9 month full time student) inorder to avail of the OPT after I graduate? Or if one started on H4, he must finish the course on same status and can not avail of the COS to F1 midway the completion of his studies?
2. Does changing my status to F1 affect the GC processing filed by my wife (our I-140 has just been approved by the way)? If it does what are the implications?
Any response regarding this matter is very much appreciated.
Hi there,
Thank you for your kind comments. This blog has emerged out of the support of a lot unknown friends and contributors like you. 🙂
I find immense peace in the fact that it has helped and comforted my fellow visa holders
As far as I know, You will be able to change your status to F1 but have you thought about your fee. will the in-state criteria still be valid? F1 will make you an international student. So your fee might increase. check with the university.
every university has a dfferent set of rules so your must talk to your program director.
YES…changing your affects your GC adversely. You have to stay on h4 or else your name will be scrapped. You will get GC as a dependent (of h1 visa). If you are no longer dependent, and have an independent visa , you GC processing will stop. Since, F1 is not a dual intent visa so you cannot apply for GC while on this visa.
Ask your lawyer, about a situation where you change your visa to F1 while you study. and when you are done with it, your revert to the spouse visa of h1 ( and add your name on GC application) / GC holder.
Ask your lawyer how long will it take for you to get a GC?
Good luck …keep us posted.
Is GC the ultimate…#*#*%!
No, it isn’t – your life is ! If you think you are fine on H4 then no problems.
GC gives much more freedom and oppurtunities…honestly, gives your life n’ freedom back .
Hi, I am Surapaneni,I’ll be comng soon on L2 visa toUS.As I want to do Phd overthere I hav some queries which I want to get cleared.1st is whether I hav to clear GRE & TOEFL to study Phd?
2nd is Can I get financial aid on L2 visa if I get good score in GRE+TOEFL.
thank you.
Hi there,
Whether or not you need to take GRE and Toefl will depend on which course you wish to pursue and also on the university rules. Usually, Toefl is mandatory but the same cannot be said about GRE. so check with the universities yu are interested in. Just drop them an email.
As far as financial aid is concerned, you need to give proof of your economic status to avail it and I am not sure if you will get it. But it is sure worth a try !!
You must check for scholarships, esp. if you get good scores.
Good luck and welcome to USA
i was reading a question posted by a fellow friend Sudha in the blog above, where she had mentioned, colleges have been rejecting her because she is on H4 visa. Is this a fact or is she fantasizing this?
my take on this is, as far as the university is concerned, every student is a source of income to them, and as long as they find you a good enough student with good credentials, your visa status might not affect your elligibility to study.
what does other reading this blog think?
hi venkat,
welcome back ! well, h4 visa holders can study and their applications cannot be rejected on the basis of their visa status.
but there might be other considerations like internships, traineeships, etc… where H4 visa holders might face some problems.
maybe someone here might be able to elaborate on this.
regards.
Hello,
I have been reading your blog for the past couple of months. You’ve been doing a yeomen service. Thank you. I am a trapped girl on H4 like you and so many others on this blog.
My question is this: My husband is on H1 now, and his green card is in progress now – I140 completed and with a priority date of Nov 07. As you will know, the ‘current’ priority date for India (EB2) is somewhere in 2004. Meanwhile, I have an admit to begin my grad studies in the Fall of 09 and there is a high probability that I would get a TA. Now, that should be a great news to anyone. But, that’s my confusion. I am not sure if it would be worth transfering to F1 to avail oF the TA, because if by some divine chance, my husband’s priority date becomes current anytime during my education (which is about 3 yrs away from date), would that cause confusion? Is there a way out? Or, should I just stick to H4 all through my education. On another note, my University’s website clearly states that in-state tuition is available only to green card holders or US citizens. Based on your comments, it appears that there may be a hope in trying to convince the University to accept me as an instate student (I have been resident in this state for three years). Am I right in my understanding? Thank you in advance, Priya
hi priya
sorry for the delay in replying to your query ! I have two questions
1) will you be paid on TA ( forgive my ignorance)
2) have you tried convincing the univ. to grant you in state fee classification?
I urge you to call the university and try to convince them to grant you an in-state classification…..i am posting a sample letter on the front page of this blog. refer to that add a few more points if you can think of some ….email it to them. Also call them to elaborate on those points. If you get an instate then you might consider being on h4 while you study. if you dont, then you dont have much of a choice. If I were in your shoes, I would change my visa to f1 and take the TA, as it will add some work exp. to my resume and also help me get a teaching job later. if you are paid for it , then it might even reduce your financial burden.
regards.
quick question priya… wat state do u reside in?
I have been recently granted admission in Florida State University and as an H4 holder, they gave me Florida Residency for tuition purposes. On my online status for my application it said that Im a “temporary” florida resident.
I live in Delaware.
Hi,
I have a couple of questions:
1)I want to do grad study, is H4 better ot F1?
2)The university which I want to go has no distinction of outstate/instate
3)What about after graduation, I know I will not get any OPT, but will I be able to find a job with H4 status?
4)Can I work on campus?
Hi there,
welcome to the blog !
4) no , you cannot work under any circumstances…on campus or off campus.
3) you will not get a job on h4 but your chances of getting a sponsorship will increase as you will have an american degree and more job offers.
2) if there is on instate/ outstate distinction then, you dont have prove your residency in the state where you are residing.
1) h4 or f1 would be a personal choice. if you have applied for green card – i would suggest h4 , if not , then you might prefer f1. The above article along with the comments might help you take a decision. before you take a final decision you must read all the restrictions and provisions of f1 visa. and also talk to someoone in the department of international admissions in the university where you wish to seek admission.
hi,i need a sponsor , for myjob,i have done LLB from india plz tell me if any one can sponsor .
Hi Priya,
I think, it is best for you to shift to F1 to get your TA. Being in TA, you might get tuition waiver and a stipend which will help you in all ways. Also, you can make sure that you complete your MS(in 3 full time semesters)before the GC date becomes current. Having a TA is better than in-state tuition fee, considering the stipend that you will get.
My personal choice for my wife was to make her stay in H4 visa and study because,
(1) I didnt want the hassle of switching between H4 and F1 and back to H4
(2) And the univ was not offerring TA or tuition waiver
(3) There is no distinction between in state and out of state tuition fee in her univ
The only thing, i am missing out is the option of working on campus, but thats fine, this will give more time for her to study and maintain a good gpa. My personal experience of studying and doing oncampus work is compromising on my grades!! 😦
Anyways, once my wife completes MS, WE can get her an EAD to work for 1 year. I think, there is a provision for this.
I mentioned WE because, I will be seeking help from this forum when I cross the bridge then!!
Thanks
Venkat
thanks venkat for helping out sam and priya. your replies must have been very useful (unlike mine) 😉 ! I dont know much about these things…F1 visa,etc. As most h4rians , my life is limited to the confines of my hosuehold. Hopefully I will be starting with my masters program very soon. It is heartwarming to see people take time out just to respond/reply and reach out.
Take care
We dont have to do anything to our community. But, atleast when we receive help, I think, it becomes our duty to give. So, I can help out on whatever minute information I may know.
Also, have had many personal experiences with F1 visa, CPT, OPT and H1 stuff. And, I seek and gather data for my wife in H4. So, when we know some information, spread the word around so that every one can benefit.
I only hope to visit the website often. I get reminded of this website only once a while. It would be great if there is some kind of notification of who said what.
Why didnt you try starting a google or yahoo groups for this purpose. I dont find any advertisements in this website. So, I don’t think, you are generating any revenue. Why not a group?
Hello trapped and Venkat,
First of all apologies for my delayed reply. I owe it to you guys. My husband is of the same opinion as Venkat. He would prefer me taking up the TA (of course, that is not a taken for at this point), and try to get the MS done as soon as possible. Apparently, the priority date for EB2 India keeps going behind and not forward. So, it may not be a good while before my husband’s priority date becomes current. I will look at the front page for the instate letter too and keep you guys updated on how my life goes in the next few months…maybe, my experience can help other H4s.
I am on H1B and my wife is on H4. I am trying to get my wife into a community collage. They are refusing to enroll her into the collage saying she is on H4 visa. I know she can study on H4 but they are trying to force a f1 on us saying we need to get her into the SEVIS with a I-20. I would like to get her going in this community collage since the fees are lower and it’s closer. Any idea how to convince these people? or should I look else where? Don’t won’t to go through the mess of converting her to F1.
Is there US government link that I can show these people to convince them?
hi there,
well, you can try and convince them. every college has a different set of rules which they follow. but i little convincing wont to any harm. they might not have even heard of this visa and it’s provisions. try a google search , send them a copy of the page / or send them a link regarding h4 visa.
another reason they might be trying to force a f1 is that an f1 pays more than a h4. they cannot claim an instate fee classification.
I was refused by a community college in michigan ( for instate fee classification). but the state university accepted me and gave me instate residency status.
Look for some other colleges in the area….as i said every college has different rules.
good luck !
Hello,
While searching for some H4 clarifications luckily I found this site on the web. And found it helpful and genuine. Actually I have few questions.
I have come to US on H1B and my family is on H4 since one and half year and will go to India by 2010 Sep. My son is doing 11th grade in one Orlando high school. He has completed 10th also in Orlando.
Till his 12th grade no problem, bcz he will be completing 12th by Jun 2010. Now the question is, he wants to pursue his studies further in colleges here (in-state). But in 2010 Sep I will go back to India. So please guide me what to do.
1) In this situation, in what category (H4 or F1) he should join the college ?
2) Whether he will get scholarships ?
3) Whether he will get loan facilities from Banks ?
But suppose he also goes back to India after completing 12th grade:
1) Will the Indian colleges enroll him by taking credit or grade points ?
2) Will he be allowed to appear in the Engg. entrance tests in India ?
So what is your suggestion.
Hi there,
I am glad the blog was of some use to you. your questions are very specific and i hope someone on this blog has had some expierence regarding this matter, and is able to help you out.
If he joins college in USA, he probabaly should change his visa to F1 so that he can avail scholarships ( they come more easily on F1), it might even be easier for him to get a loan. At the same time, he will be able to work on/off campus. If you are not looking at scholarships and fee waivers, h4 is a better choice as you will be able to avail instate fee. you see, it is like a trade-off, which ever saves you money…but yes, F1 does give youngsters the freedom, they so desire.
About going back to India….and enrolling in a college or just taking tests, I would ask a proffessor or principal about that. It is a wise thought to explore all options.
regards.
Satyan,
Interesting problem to have. If you go back to India, Your Son will no longer be in H4. To put it in a different way, His H4 is valid only till your H1 is valid. After that, he has to go back to India or change to F1. So, in any case, being in F1 status helps a lot.
Going back to India and studying there is definitley an option. But, given an opportunity, I suggest higher studies are better in this country. Take it as an advise or suggestion from a person who has BTech Degree from India and MS from a US university. The cultural changes are always a concern, but I will leave that you to you to decide.
When you go back to India, he will be an NRI and all the NRI fee will apply and it is only a matter of money that you pay as capitation fee that will speak to get an admission in any college in India.
Being in F1 in this country, probability of Scholarships are high. Loan is not a concern, you WILL get a educational loan no matter what.
Hope this helped.
Trapped/Venkat,
Hi and thanks for your valuable information. Further, I want to clarify one thing, Suppose he applies for a F1 and subsequently applies for an educational loan from any bank in US. Can he avail the bank loan ? I know to avail a loan from a bank, a guarantor is required. In this case who will be ? ( Bcz I will not be here). And what should be the criteria to avail a loan facility.
Regards.
Hi,
I am here since last one month on H4 visa with my husband being on H1B. We have applied for GC and its the 1st stage, where its got to clear the Labor certificate… or so…
Okay now my question here is, is true that the H1B appliactions are being done via a lucky draw system, in coming month of April. Which means that if i wanna start for working, need to look out for a job now… get a sponsor and apply for H1B before april or will have to wait for next april for the same??…
initially was planning to spend some time with my husband and then may be by June start to look out for jobs with the economy to get a little better. Am an architect by proffession, and this industry being hit the most.. there arent at jobs available at this point, and the ones that available, dont look are willing to sponor for H1B??…
any views on this
Thanks
Priya
hi ,
I am working on H1-b . my wife is on H4 and she wants to do her Masters . THrough your mail I found that she can do her studies on H4. My question is . say at a worst case , If I have to travel back to India after 1 year , what will happen to studies of my wife ?
Regards
hi sagar,
She can do a short term course or a distance learning course which she can continue from India. if you change your job in US and go to another state , her credits may get transfered.
regards.
Hi!
Im on F1 status and my fiance is currently on H1 status. We will get married this June. When we’re married is there a need for me to inform immigration? is there a need to change status? can i be included in her health insurance and be her dependent with changing my status?
KIM – you can be included in her health insurance and become her dependent if you change your status. you will need to notify and change your visa in such a case. if you decide not to change your visa. then you need not notify immigration.
regards
I am in US with H4 visa (4 years of HS and 1 year attending full time student college),dependent of my father’s H1B visa .
In order to continue studying in US ,I knew that I have to change my status from H4 to F1 .(because H4 status expires once I reach 21 years age in my case on December 12,2008).
So I went to OIPS college for the issuance of I 20 form on September 2,2008.They check my documents and issued that I-20 form nedeed in order to complete the file for F1 student visa .
I continued to complete the file with all the documents listed for change of status checklist and mail it to USCIS center for proccesing.
On september 9 ,2008 ,I received a receipt notice from USCIS meaning that the case(I-539 change of nonimmigrant status ,Class requested F1 ) was at their center for proccesing.(I should mention their proccesing time frame was at that time huge,not 60 or 90 days but 150 days or more).
Meanwhile I was already started fall semester on August 25,2008, do to the fact that my H4 visa expires in December 12,2008.
On January 5,2009 ,I went to OIPS again ask them if I’m allowed to start spring semester on January 20,2009 and they assured me that because my case of change status to F1 was still pending and I can do that without any doubt.And so I did.
On February 3,2009 ,USCIS center sends a denial of my application for change status from H4 to F1 and the reason was the gap between my H4 expiration date December 12,2008,and the SEVIS Cerificate of Eligibility submitted on my behalf that lists my program start date as January 20,2009. Because of that gap in my authorized stay in the US exceeds 30 days my request to change nonimmigrant status is denied
Therefore this decision leaves me without lawful immigration status and still beeing present in the US is violation of the law.
So I went to see the director of OIPS of the university and show the denial letter and said that never heard of such reason for a denial at least in 25 years of experience in that field.
USCIS said this decision may not be appealed but should I disagree with their decision or have additional evidence I believe shows the decision to be an error ,I must submit a Motion to Reopen or to Reconsider on Form I 290B,Notice of Appeal or Motion,to their office within 33 days from the date of this notice.
One more thing I have to mention that I didn’t was informed about SEVIS Certificate of Eligilbility start program terms are and seems to my opinion neither International Student Advisor who complete the I-20 form in my behalf.
What should I do?
If ever you heard of such reason of denial?
Thank you for reading my story and with that i want another students to aspect the unexpected!
There is no case like mine at least I heard!
hi,
now i am on h4,i came here dec 2008,my husbend has on h1b and he applyed for the green card in 2004 ,he already have EID.But he is not using because i am in h4.I want to convert my h4 to f1(i want to join school)
my question is:is there any problem to green card?
If his I140 is cleard then he can use his EID?
hi hansini,
you should not change your visa status at this stage.
regards.
Hi!
I am on h4 status ,residing in US for more than 3 years .My husband’s company will file GC [labor]very soon & I want to take up MS this fall.My univ. considers H4 status holders as international students.In order to get the fee waiver/opt,i am inclining to apply for F1.My question is,is it recommendable to apply for f1 while we are about to file our GC?If yes at what stage of GC it is safe to apply for F1 & before which stage should i revert to H4?It will take about 3 years to finish my MS along with prerequisites,will i be ale to finish my studies without affecting our GC processing adversely?
Hi shree,
if your husband is applying GC you should not change your visa. F1 is not a dual intent visa. as for your university treating you as an international student…well, it takes a little arm twisting to make them understand your visa. you need to send out a few emails, make couple of calls, give proof that you have been residing in the state for more than a year to fulfill state residency criteria and in turn get in state tuition fee classification. try the above but do not change your visa status while applying for GC. It is not advisable.
good luck.
hi
what is the procedure switch h-4 to f1?
cau u tell me abt f1 filing process?
thank u.
hi jini,
sorry, i dont know much about f1 so any information coming from me will not have much authetication. i have never been on f1.
regards
hi
i am on h-4 status.my husband dont want spend money to my study..he dont give me attention so i am planning to switch my status on the f-1 want to continue my study my self i dont know any process.can i do that if it is what is the f-1 filing process plz let me know in detail…
hi
i am on h-4 status.my husband dont want spend money to my study..he dont give me attention so i am planning to switch my status on the f-1 want to continue my study my self i dont know any process.can i do that if it is what is the f-1 filing process plz let me know in detail…
Hi sindi,
i dont know much about f1 but i do know that the first step is to seek admission in a college and if you granted admission then, they send out a couple of forms and the visa process takes off from there.
good luck
Hii..
Iam on H4 status, iam staying here from past 6months,, i want to do MS here ,,
how can i proceed to study here, my husbend is donig job in michigan state detroit city,
his visa state will expire on sep 2009, can i get a chance here for studies?
how can i get F1 here?
hi meenu,
you seem quite confused. look for colleges in and around michigan …maybe some distance learning courses too. if his visa expires in 2009 , then you will have to look for some really short term courses, unless he and his employer wish to extend his visa. you will to start early…as admission will take time if the course requires transfer of transcripts and letters of reccomendation. moreover, you may not have time to change your visa as changing to F1 will take a few months …atleast a month or two.
good luck.
Hi,
I need guidance.i am a doc in india .My husband has been on H1 and me on H4.Im giving my toefl coz im in india right now.Im opting for University of ST.louis for an MS course.what should my further steps be for conversion of my status to F1?shall i appear for visa interview in india or shal i come to US and look out for options.
I dont know much about f1 visa…never been on one !
lydia – dont know about f1 visa…never been on one !
hi,
i have written to u previously and also a guy named venkat had commented that my h4 status doent affect my admission.but i have faced enough for the past 2 years and i know with average credentials its impossible.well i am writing again bcoz one person advised me that i have to convert to f1.i want to know if its the right thing.my husband lost his job so i cant afford much right now.please tell me if i can get adeqate stipend to sustain myself and study in mph etc..and if i can do it on any other visa status?
Well, i wish you had written in detail about your problem. venkat has a lot of insight in these matters and he has been very helpful to some visitors. h4 doesn’t affect your admission in any way. Universities are very eager to take h4 students. as far as credentials are concerned , it depends on what you have applied for and where.
you could apply for F1 , though there are going to some travel restrictions and paper work involved. but you will have to pay international student fee but again, at the same time you will be able to apply for scholarships , internships and some number of on-campus work hours. whether or not you get a stipend (and how much ) depends on the university, course, level of degree you are applying for…email the university, call them. there isn’ t one universal rule that applies to all universities.
regards.
enlightening website !! i have a question i am on H4 visa and want to convert to F1 i want to know how long it will take to convert
hi Preethi,
it take a couple of months…even in a worst case scenarios it definately takes less than a year
Hi ,
Thanks for a wonderful blog .
It has all the answers I’m looking for.
But I just want to confirm with you once again..
I’m on H4….recently moved to US(6 months back)…My husband is on H1.I did my Bachelors in India and now I wish to do my Masters (online) .
My husband’s GC procesing has just begun and hence I dont wish to change my H4 to F1.
So can I study Masters(online) on H4?
I live in Seattle and the university is in Baltimore.The university website talks about only F1.
Is it possible to do distant education on H4 and how about the fees /internships/scholarships or aid being on H4?
Can I do my internship as a volunteer somewhere?
I would be happy if you could advice me on this.
Thanks a lot!
Sindhu
Hi Sindhu,
Welcome to the blog !
As for your query, yes, you can pursue online masters on h4 visa. The university mostly talks about f1 visa, as they dont come across h4 visa holders a lot. Call or email the university, and tell them that you are a legal resident on h4 visa. I am sure they will welcome you, but you need to make your visa status clear from the beginnning.
You will have to pay out of state fee and as for scholaships / financial aid …every college s a different policy about these stuff. Email them with a list of questions.
Hope I was of some help.
hi
I m goin to start my masters from the fall semester, 2009. Currently I m on H4 visa. If I change it to F1 and then my husband apply for the green card , can he still apply for me? Or does it inables him to do so, since my visa status has been changed?
Hi Sadia,
welcome to the blog ! if you change your visa, your husband will not be able to file GC in your name. F1 is not a dual intent visa. Stay on h4 if you wish to get a GC!
Good luck with your Masters. 🙂
u din t answer my question
sorry, i was out of town for a month. am trying to catch up with all the comments and queries.
Hi Sudha,
Trapped was bang on target. If you cannot afford the tuition fee at this point and relying on a stipend, F1 Visa is the way to go.
You can do oncampus work, RA, TA, CPT, OPT and many more if you are on F1 visa.
The following is what I collected from a university regarding converitng from H4 to F1: Apply with Bank Statement/Loan info, Husband’s H1 visa status, your I94, etc(if you dig on the internet for this information, you will find enough) by end of April for a Fall Semester admission with a F1 visa.
Hope that helps.
hi venkat,
you are a life saver. help me out with some of these queries !!
thanks friend.
Lydia,
You mentioned you are a doctor in India. Did you do some kind of background research on what you want to study in the US ? I see you mention MS in st.louis. Is MS is what you study after you become a doc? Sorry, I am not well versed with subject. Coming to the matter.
How is your husband’s GC process positioned. If he has not even applied yet, then F1 is THE solution. By the time he applies and get his GC, you can do a lot of things with your F1 visa.
But in the US, irrespective of the VISA, you can study no matter what. You are bringing in revenue for the country. They will love it. If you have enough time in hand to apply to the univ, get admisison, apply for visa and come to US in F1 visa(depending on GC status of your husband).
Else If you dont have much time, come to US in H4 visa(easiset way to arrive), apply to univ(application deadlines are different if you are local in US versus applying from India, differs from univ to univ too..), and as time permits change to F1 visa(depending on GC bla bla)
Catch in H4 visa is, you cannot accpet scholarship, financial aid, TA, RA, etc in H4. You have to be on F1 for taking that advantage. Hope, I have not confused you too much with that writing.
Regards Venkat
Hi There,
Thanks!! I ll check out with the university once again.
-Sindhu
Hi Sindhu,
You might need to tell them a little about this visa like – it is a dependent visa which is coupled with H1-B visa. Also, that this visa does not allow you to seek employment or have a social security number but it permits you to study in American universities and colleges.
Tell them that you are a legal resident in the states and you husband is a permanent and full time employed professional. ( if he is !)
hope that helps.
regards.
Hi!
Thanks for taking so much of pain in answering everyone’s questions. I have a question too.
I have an admit from a university and will be joining this fall. I am really concerned about this converting mess. I would like to stay on H4 for the first year and convert to F1 in the second so that I have have the best of both (in state tuition and OPT) Do you have any information about this process? Is it wise? Any info you have might be helpful. Thanks a lot! Look forward to hearing from you.
hi shravya,
i dont know much about f1 visa…but i think, that it is likely that with the change in your visa status your tuition classification will change too ! your must find more about that before you get your visa changed.
good luck !
Hi Shravya,
Yes you can do that! Study first year on H-4 and then convert into F-1. I m also doing the same thing but mine was unplanned .It’s good that u planned ahead . I have the first hand experience about this.Because o my cicumstances I need to convert to F-1.The in-state tuition helped alot but there is one more clause /Law in the state of NC is that If I am considered an in-state resident and then lost my residency status in mid sem or after sometime for any reason,I am still be considered as a resident for one full year!
It was almost unbelivable but it was true and the residency ends when the approval for F-1 comes.So one year from the date of approval by law I have to pay In-state tution only. That was awesome news. But the catch here is I am still in process of doing that and cannot confirm that it happened .but As I am in process of doing that I will keep you posted.
And Trapped you r doing an awesome job here . Love your Blog.So much help here and so much relief anyone can get here.Otherwise all this questions remain unanswered and gets frustrating by day .And my best to all of those who have helped here too, not to forget Venkat. I hope this tidbit helps. I will try to post my status once I change.
Thanks Again for reaching out and caring so much .
hi keerti,
Thanks for all the help and encouragement. Yes, every bit helps …and people like you n’ venkat have helped to keep this blog ticking. hope to see more of you on the blog. this blog has been a very rewarding experience, just reaching out seeking help , giving reassurance. it has been theraputical.
see ya’
Hi Everyone,
I am currently on H-4 and am still not added to my husband’s GC process. In the meantime, I have got admission with tuition waiver and assistantship. I have also decided to change my visa status to F-1. My questions are
1. What are the chances of getting the F-1. Are there any chances of getting rejected?
2. What option is better?
– Travelling outside the U.S to either Canada, Mexico to get the visa or
– Applying for the change of status in U.S in which case I was told the process takes around 5 months and my school starts in 4 months time and I need to be of F-1 to get the assistantship.
I am totally confused. Kindly help me out.
Thanks in advance,
Suriyapriya
hi suriyapriya,
your F1 will be rejected only if there is valid reason for it. if your papers adequately are filed then, there shouldn’t be a reason for it to be rejected. i dont know much about F1. will travelling outside the US speed up your visa change? i wish i knew about this.
regards.
SuriyaPriya and Shravya,
SP- Do you have your I20 in hand? If you have your I20, then you can consider going out of the country and get it stamped. My point is: Visa is only a document to enter the country. SV and SP- Since, you are already inside, being here and getting it processed would be the best thing to do. My wife will be going through that process by end of next week. She studied for 1 semester in H4 visa and now going to convert to f1. For this, she needs to apply for her I20 and then apply to USCIS for the change of status which should take 3 to 4 months.
Apologize for referencing you with initials.
thanks venkat – you sure are a God send !
Thanks for your reply..I am concerned because my current visa H4 has expired but I have the valid extention approval..I am scared if that will create any problems while switching to F-1..
Thanks a lot Venkat and trapped (sorry did’nt know ur name)
It should not be a problem. I have faced similar but not the same problem. My F1 visa expired and there was 4 months time gap between my F1 and my H1 kick start. I had a valid employment document for the 4 month period. I attended my H1 visa interview after 5.5 months of my F1 visa expiration. I was not questioned anything about it. As long as you have a valid and legal extension, you should be safe. I am not an expert in advising you on this but have a strong feeling you are safe. You might want to inquire and confirm.
–V
Hi,
I am on H-1 and my wife is on H-4 and she is starting school in sep 09. We will be converting her status to F-1 when she starts school,right now school is in process of generating I-20. She is traveling to India in month of may, my concern is should she get her F-1 stamped while she is in India or not.In case F-1 is rejected will she be able to come back to US on her H-4 or her H-4 gets cancel if F-1 is rejected.
Can you please advise on that matter.Thanks…
Hi ,
First of all, the blog is very informative…thanks for such a site.
I am on H4. My husband is on H1. He has applied for green card and cleared 2 stages.His H1 will be expired in Oct.09.Since he has cleared his 2 stages ,he is elligible for3 yrs visa extension .We are in the process of visa extension .
BTW,I got an admission for MS.The course is of 10 months only and will start in June 2009.
If I study on H4, I can not get OPT.
If I plan to change my visa from H4 to F1 inUS, it may take 2-3 months (I am not sure !). Is it feasible to go to India and get F1 visa stamped ( As it takes not more than 15 days).So after completion of degree,I can work on OPT.
If my F1 gets denied, will my H4 status is still valid?
Appreciate any pointers/direction.
Thanks in advance!!
Hi Ana, I’m in the exact same situation, please let me know if you did finally get your F-1 visa and whether you decided to change it internally in US or go back to India and give visa interivew and change to F-1. Also my huband has cleared his second stage and it will be around 3 years till the third stage begins (I485), so now I’m planning to do my Masters (10months course), do you think it is advisable to change the status from H-4 to F-1, or spouse’s visa status is irrelevant for the I485 stage, I mean I might just get an H-1B maybe after completing my studies or maybe after finishing OPT.
Any suggestions will be very helpful.
Thank you in advance.
Hi,
My wife is currently on an H4 visa. She got admission into a Masters program and we are planning to apply for a H4-to-F1 visa transfer so that she can be eligible for assistantships and OPT. However, our visa (my H1 and her H4) are getting expired in August ’09. I already applied for a visa renewal for both of us.
I am interested in knowing which option is a better one for us: (1) to continue her H4 extension application and simultaneously apply for H4-to-F1 conversion or (2) not apply for her H4 extension, let it expire in August and then apply for a fresh F1 visa?
From above posts, I see that H4-to-F1 transfer might take upto 6 months. So, is option #2 above a better one since it takes lesser time? Can you please suggest?
Thanks a bunch,
Kedar
Hi,
My wife is on a H4 visa which is getting expired in Aug 2009. She plans to enroll for a Masters program this Fall semester and we are planning to apply for a H4-to-F1 visa transfer.
Is it OK if we apply for the H4 extension and simultaneously aply for the H4-to-F1 visa transfer? The form we need to fill (i-539) seems to be same for both the H4 visa extension and the H4-to-F1 transfer. Is it OK to file two i-539 forms simultaneously? Can you please advise?
Thanks much,
Kedar
I am on F1 visa but got it transffed form h4 to f1 in US.
I want to go visit my family in India but the problem is that my husband filed permanent residency and got i-140 approved.
Department of international students in school says its not safe to leave the country. I dont know what to do
it is your call media….i dont know , if it something that can wait for a couple of months , then, you might like to postpone your visit. what are the repercussions of leaving…will your visa be scrapped?
Hi, can you let us know what the current status is & what you decided & if you went to india, what happened/your experiences?
That will help a lot of us, Thanks!
I am on f1 visa got it converted in US from h4 to f1. I need stamping if I go to India
My husband has filed permanent residency and got i-140 approved.
I want to got see family for few days. Is it safe to leave the country and go for staping??
My wife is on H4 visa and she has got admission to graduate program for this fall semester (2009). She has also been granted in state residency status. Since she has in-state residency for this fall term can she get an I-20. If not Can she study this fall semester on H4 and apply for I-20 for the spring term (2010)
hi avinash
she might not be able to get both instate and f1 visa. but i think she might be able to change her visa status later…though her fee structure might change too. check with the department of international admission at the college
regards.
Hi, I am on H1B and my wife on H4. I applied I485 before i got married and my priority date is feb 2007. I can not add my wife to my i485 application because dates are not current. IF use my EAD my wife will be out of status. So, i am planning to apply F1 visa to my wife inorder for me to use EAD. Hopefully if the dates are current by end of this year then can my change back to H4 VISA?.
Is there any option to change back from F1 to H4 in the middle of the semester or after an year?. What are the implecations and difficulties changing form H4 to F1?.
Please give me an expert advice.
thanks,
Srini
i think you should be able to change. Just have talk to the office of international students to her college. they wouldn’t like to lose a student. changing from f1 to h4 should be fairly simple…while you need to get forms n all from the university to change from h4 to f1. let me warn you, i am not an expert (far from it !) the best people to talk to would be the ones at office of international admissions at te univ.
regards.
I am going to marry a guy who is having EAD in USA who is also having H4. If I am going to USA on H4 after marriage, then how much time will it take to convert H4 to EAD so that I can start work in UAS ?
PB: well, it should not take a lot of time…by the time you settle down, you should ave the EAD. You cannot fix a exact time frame to matters such as these.
I am going to marry a guy who is having EAD in USA who is also having H4. If I am going to USA on H4 after marriage, then how much time will it take to convert H4 to EAD so that I can start work in UAS ?
Hi Trapped
I found answers to so many queries i would have otherwise bombarded your site with, that i return as a very content fellow H4 wife to my kitchen. I am planning to apply to grad school this fall and am still deciding between going for a masters or PhD among other things like visa status/ GC implications etc. You might hear from me soon as I go deeper into the waters.
Thanks for the time being! Great work!
Hi there…
Grad school n’ all….hmm, sounds really good ! A masters is very valued but a ph.d would so great ! good luck and keep us updated. I am glad you have found some friends in your neighbourhood, not everyone is lucky enough. I havent come across a single h4rian in real life !
regards.
really!! well, i am in sunnyvale and in case you are anywhere near, I don’t mind being your first real-time H4 friend 🙂 Silicon valley is teeming with the likes of us. Each has her own story and path to redemption. God bless us all! Though I personally feel your virtual world of friends with no ties is just as amazing on its on. Its very creditable.
All the best,
Shiv
thankz !! I , too, feel that this online community has provided me with a lot of support. I live in michigan…so a little far. 🙂
Hi,
I am in H1 and not on H4. my wife is on H4. I came to this site looking for some answers to some questions. Here I saw many in more trouble than myself. Apart from getting answers, I have started contributing to this site as much as I can.
People who get their answers and find new stuff should share their experience and provide a note to “Trapped” so that she can post important stuff on the home page.
Its like life. More than what you take from life, it is important how much you contribute.
Hi to all,
Its really one of the most informative blog..i ever came across regarding these H4 Visa matters.Trapped,Venkant and few others are doing really gr8 job by sharing such info with others.My Question is, do you need F1 Visa if you have to work as a full time researcher in a medical field?do u ppl have any idea?
Hi,
I am on F1 visa since last aug and got it converted from H4 in US. Now I am planning to go to India in December for stamping.
My husband applied his petition and got I-140 approved with my name on it. Is there any risk of F1 rejection????
Please helpppp!!!!!!
Hi,
I-140 means the second stage of processing for Emplyment based Green card.
Therefore you have estableshed immigrant intent as your husband has got I-140 approved WITH YOUR name on it.
F-1 means primary purpose is to study, but I dont think it has a dual intent (i.e. also includes immigrant intent like the H4 visa does) – so I think there’s a significant risk that it might be rejected due to approval of I-140.
I’m Not a lawyer! Please consult an attorney as your case is risky. Good luck!
Hi Trapped and Venkat
First of all, I really appreciate both of your eagerness to clearing others questions and helping everyone..
My questions are little different and hope would be lingering in many people’s mind.
1. Who are all eligible for 20,000 advanced degree H1B cap ?? I get to know that any Masters degree from US University is enough. But can the Masters can be part-time or online degree?? or needs to be Full time to be eligible for Advance degree Cap??
2. This question is more generic. Is there a difference on the way in which these MS degree – (Full time/Part time/Online) are treated when applying for jobs ??
Thanks in advance….
Wonderful Blog !!! Kudos to the contributors.
My current immigration position :
I am on H1 since year 2000, started gc processing in jun03, filed 485 in june 07, have ead since then. Waiting for my gc.
Married in Nov 07. Wife NOT yet on GC application. Waiting for eb3 to be current to add her to my application. Wife currently on H4 and is a Btech from India. H1 and H4 expiring August 2010.
Company I work for indicated that that they will not renew H1 anymore if EAD is present.
Problem :
1) If my h1 is not renewed and I am forced to go on EAD, my wife’s h4 will be out of status after the H1 expiry date of August 2010
2) Have a young kid 11 months old .
Questions :
1. Can my wife convert to F1 as she is also interested in studying further. How long does it take ?
2. What kind of problems should I anticipate with this conversion ?
3. Is there a generic process workflow that I can follow ?
4. By when should i start this process if I want her to be on f1 before her h4 expiry date of aug 2010 ?
5. Since she needs to take care of the kid and I cant afford daycare with my meagre salary, how can I search for low tuition colleges that offer evening classes once or twice a week ?
6. Does she need to write GRE or TOEFL ?
Thanks in advance
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.
Hi! Trapped
Now I am in H4 visa with my husbend…. I came here before 3 months…….. I want to do my MS in USA.. If i stay in H4 visa there is any chance for getting scholarship and i want to know benifits of H4 and F1
Hello,
I am on my F1 Visa right now, and would like to understand the pros and cons of shifting to H4 visa.
I came to the US in Aug 2008 on F1 visa to do my PhD in Arkansas. I completed one year in the program. Meanwhile I got married in June 2009, and shifted to Arizona. I could not get admission into another PhD program to continue with my F1, but got into an Associate degree program to maintain my F1 status. My husband is on H1B visa. Due to some personal constraints, we would like to shift my visa from F1 to H4, currently. Our questions are:
1. How does the shift from F1 to H4 affect my status to apply for a doctoral program in 2010?
2. Would it be more effective for me to maintain the F1 status when my husband applies for green card?
My name is swetha . I am doing my masters program in USA . I came to USA on my H4 visa. After starting my masters program i applied for change of status from H4 to F1 . I was approved and currently i am on F1 status . I am planning to travel to India and was wondering about the following situations . Can i go to India on F1 status? If i do go ,does my F1 status gets cancelled? Instead of going to US consulate can i come back to US on my H4 visa? or should i have to go to the consulate ? If i have to go to the US consulate is there a chance that my F1 visa gets rejected and then can i come back to US on H4 visa ? Or is there a chance that my H4 visa gets cancelled? Do I have to apply for h4 visa? Will it get rejected or approved? Please advice.
Hi Shwetha,
you are probably in the same state as my wife is in. My take on this is, you are very very safe…
1. You have to get your F1 visa stamped in US Consulate. I think, your H4 visa is already cancelled in the file. So, stamping is a MUST.
2. There is no way, your F1 visa can get rejected because, you have already been in the US, studied for 1 or 2 semesters, may be you also have a SSN…
so you are safe in my opinion.. Mention to the Visa Officer that you intend to become a dependent once your MS is complete and you changed to F1 visa for educational purposes.
Hope the suggestion helps.
Hi, Iam on H4 visa since nov 2008. My concern is that for pursuing MS from US is t mandatory for me to give TOEFL since i have been here for past 1 year and i did my schooling and grad in english medium.
My second concern is that what is I485?
In NJ if you are on H4 does not matter how long you have lived In NJ for, you are regarded as international student. You would have to pay as an international student rather than instate(if applying to a state university). General rules do not apply it depends on your state.
dear sir
i have f1 student visa i still out side of usa
im looking to married in usa without register in university
is i can change my visa to green card?
Hi Trapped/Venkat,
I am on H4 status right now,enrolled in school starting from Jan 4 2010,Received I20-orignal, H4 to F1 stamping date 15 dec 2009 in Calgary-Canada.My course is a 9 month certificate course in accounting which will help me getting OPT.I am stuck with 3 very complex questions.
1. Why am I going to canada for stamping and why not India(Fyi just got married in June 2009 and came to US)
2. How can I proove strong ties with home country(my husband and his family is in US, my brother also…but i have some bank statements with close to Rs 5 lakhs and some other investemnts close to 10 lakhs and an affidavit saying i have a land in my name)I am confused..is it fine if i submit all these documents or anything else is reqd…my parents are still in India along with extended family members…do i need to show all orignal documents…i mean bank statements…all other investemnts..affidavit or scanned copy will be enough?)
3. Why do i want to change my status to F1 …why cant i study in H4..(my intension is to get OPT)
4. Do i need all orignal documentation-educational,financial support, strong ties with India , educational qualification etc ?
Please advise and help as my interview is scheduled after 5 days..
Hi
I’m an F1 and and I’m graduating in 2010 May
My problem is I studied one year of masters on h4 and and I got my I-20 on Septermber 2009. Can I apply for OPT on basis of both h4 and F1 or should I wait till September 2010?
thanks
Hi
I started with my graduate studies in US in Fall ’09 on H4 visa status. Looking at the cpt/opt conditions I plan to get my status converted to F1 in Feb’10 so that i’m able to do a summer internship. The problem is that my spouse’s employer is in process of filing for a green card. In this situation I am not sure whether I will get the F1 status because it’ll be contradictory situation. But I want to take up a job after graduating. And if his employer is beginning now then I might not be able to work for atleast next 5yrs. Please suggest me a way out.
Thanks
Richa
Hi Richa,
You have got your facts wrong. My wife and I are in the same position. But, the fact is as follows. For you to be on your husbands GC, it only happens when the GC becomes current, which for EB2 category is 5 years. So, for another 5 years you do not have to worry about this and confidently go for changing to F1 status and come back to H4 when the GC application becomes current.
Regards
Venkat
Hi Venkat,
I am in the same state as of Richa. Doing my masters here in H4. My husbands I-140 got approved. So if i try to convert my status to F1 wont it get rejected?
Thanks.
hi,
I graduated from a University (MS) in US on F-1 visa. But I converted to H-4 after my graduation due to some unforeseen situations. Now I want to continue my graduate studies (do PHD) and had a question in this regard. I would like to apply for a scholarship, and If i get it I’m planning to apply for a change of status to F-1. My question is can I apply for the scholarship being on H-4 an then convert to F-1 if it gets approved. Any replies/opinions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Hi everyone,
I am in H4 visa and im applying for H1B this yr. im looking for good H1B sponsors-consultancies in bay area. Please let me know if you know any good trusted consultancies in bay area who could process my H1B and help in finding a job.
Hi Venkat, Trapped
First of all, thanks for all the help. Would like to have your opinion on this.
I’m on H4 and my husband has not yet filed green card but planning to do so in another 2 months. I’ve got acceptance to a grad school (2 years duration). So, what do you suggest, shall I go on F1 or keep my H4 status.
Probably, hubby will file GC around the same time I’ll start my school. How does it work, will he file GC jointly. If I transfer to F1, will it make me independent.
I’m so confused that I can’t even phrase my questions due to my ignorance on H4 and F1. Please help if you understood my situation or let me know if I can clarify more.
Thanks…
Hi Mandy,
I understood your problem. To confuse you more, it is really upto you, what you want to do. 🙂 jus kidding.
My opinion on this: At the current state of affairs, GC in EB2 will take 5 years of processing. GC is about 3 stages and you are involved only in the 3rd stage. Inclusion of your name will come only at the 3rd stage which will happen almost after 3.5 to 4 years of application. So, you are safe to get into F1 visa, study and come back to H4 for getting into your husbands GC. It is very clear, you can go into F1 and come out of it.
Now, there are many advantages and few disadvantages of getting to F1 visa. you might want to weigh it before deciding.
Adv: Can accept funding if given one, can work on campus(part time), might be elligible for cpt, definite elligibility for OPT, etc
DisAdv: High Tuition fee
You can just reverse the adv and disadv for H4 visa. and ofcourse if fortunately for your husband, GC clicks within 1 year(unlikely in current scenario), you might not be able to get into his GC.
hope…I was helpful in my suggestion.
Venkat
Hi Venkat,
Thanks for all your help. The information here is quite helpful. Would greatly appreciate your input in this situation.
I came to Us in Jan 2009 on H4 with my husband and Applied for an MBA and stated the course on H4 in Fall 09. Also in oct 09 I got my change of status approved to F1 . Travelled back to India and got my F1 Stamped In jan 10.
However, When I am looking to exercise my CPT for summer internship the college is telling me that I cannot do so , as I just have 1 trimester on F1 status and I require at least 2 trimesters on F1 Status to qualify for an internship in the US.
I have following questions :
1. Is this true?
2. Lets suppose it is true, then what about if I do an internship outside US ( taking an official Vacation term).
3. Please guide me to any resources you know of where I can get some more relevant information on this matter.
Thanks.
Hi!
I am on H4 visa and have been living in california for the last 1 year and intend to change my H4 status to F1. I am about to receive I-20 for admission to a one year masters program. Could you let me know what all documentation do I need to mail USCIS upon receiving my I-20. What is the process that will follow afterwards? Will I be called for an interview etc?
Regards,
Sheetal
Can a person enrolled in an University on H4 visa get a tuition waiver in Texas?
I understand that H4 students cannot get any TA/RA but is that also true for tutition waivers?
Also is there a restriction on the total number of credits a H4 student can have?
Hi,
My wife is on H1 and we are in state of Georgia from past 2 years. I would like to know if she can join SPSU on H4 and convert to F1 after two semesters, and start her CPT from then, is that feasible.
Hi,
My wife is on H4* and we are in state of Georgia from past 2 years. I would like to know if she can join SPSU on H4 and convert to F1 after two semesters, and start her CPT from then, is that feasible. Sorry for the above blunder*.
Hello every one,
I came across this site while surfing the web for a solution.First let me explain my problem I am on h4 visa since 2+yrs and my husband applied for h1 visa extension along with my h4.I got an ms seat in an university in one of science groups which is a good oppurtunity I feel,adding to this one of the professor is intrested to give research assistantship for me,that settles my life.I am in big confusion can I apply for H4 to F1 cos while I applied for h4 extension because I can not work as a RA on H4.
Hi
I am currently on an H4 and contemplating on perusing a short term course in NYU .One of the electives state that I can do is an internship .
Would I need to change my visa status ?
When I contacted the university they said that i need not cause its a short term course .I am a little confused .
Could you help me with the following questions
1) Can i do an internship on an H4 (can it be paid /unpaid?)
2) Will the company who provides me with the internship have to sponsor me ?if yes,on which visa status will i be on ? .
Thanks
Hi
I am in H4 status . I will be joining in Spring 2011. I am not eligible for instate fees since i have spend only 6 months in US prior to my joining date in university. can u help me out with these following query.
1) To get OPT we should be in F1 visa for atleast 1 yr.Keeping this in mind , is it possible to get opt if i complete MS in F1 status in first year and followed by next year in H4 status. By that time i will be eligible to get instate fees.
My Wife came to US on H4 in Aug 2007, and later got her H1 in US as a NY Licensed Physical Therapist. After working here for about 17 months, Last month she went for stamping in New Delhi, INDIA and was given a 221G, Green Form, and was asked to submit various Documents (Mainly Employer’s). We submitted the docs personally on 24th Aug 2010. And now waiting for the Embassy reply but we have been told its Under Administrative processing, upon checking the status last week, and there is no Definite Time for it. Could you please advise how much time it can take for us to finally hear back from Embassy and if there is way to get the things Expedited, And What Exactly the Green Form means (How good are the chances to get the Visa.). Do you advise if I can call her to US on H4, without Harming Her H1 which is under processing, and she can wait here in US for admin processing to get over and then can do a change of Status from H4 back to H1? Should I ask her to contact US Department of State if they can provide some updates?
My son who is on H4, is tudying in Mississippi univ in first year Engg( BAchelors). We checked with University and they flatly refused for in state residency. He will have to pay out of state tuition for 4 years.So we want to change his status to F1.
In future I may apply for GC though I am not sure about it.
How my son’s COS will impact his chances of getting included in GC process.And at what stage of GC he should apply for COS back again to H4.
Hi,
I am on H4.Planning to convert to F1 .My husband got his labour approved.If the dates become current ,he will add my name to I485.I just wanted to know,is there anyone whose priority dates became current when they were on F1 and successfully got EAD?
Hi,
I am on H4,planning to convert to F1 for study purposes.
My husband has his I140 approved.
I wanted to know, is there anyone who has filed for green card while on F1/OPT and got their geen card/EAD withouit any problems?
Hi..
I am on H4 and plannin to write GMAT..my prob is there is very less time in between application dates and commencement of classes..so how wise it wud be to get in whole process of converting to F1..or is it possible to once enroll on H4 and then later convert to F1 while studying…
Hi
My name is smi. I am in F2 and my husband is in F1, husband has applied for H1B it its still in intial stage, my husband’s OPT is going to end soon
what happens if H1B is still pending and my husband’s OPT ends, what are the options for me and my husband to be in status?
I am preparing to get admitted to university and change from F2 to F1 what are my chances of getting F1?
I am on H4 and valid till 2013. Wanted to study undergraduate [bachelors] degree here in US. If I change to F1, will my stay here will be extended? How much time is required to change the status from H4 to F1 and what is the fee?
Thanks
Hi everyone,
just like everyone here,im yet another h4 trapped victim :)) …
have been in cali for over a yr now and have applied for masters in a university nearby.My classes begin this march and im pursuing them while i’m on my H4 visa.My husband’s on his H1 and is due for an extension in 2012.He as also applied for his Green card but unfortunately its been filed in the EB2 cat (i think thats cuz he wasn’t a masters holder when he began working,or something like tht,not sure) so basically,currently his status is in the 2nd stage ( i have no idea what thats called).
All i know is that we r gonna take a looooong time b4 we get to the EAD level.So my main Q:
1. I wanna convert to F1.IS it possible for me to begin MS on H4 n then afterwards apply for a visa status change?
2. How much will this affect the Green Card process.
3. ive heard the status change takes abt 4-8 months,so will it be safe for me to make this change?
Pleaseeeeee respond! im desperate! :((
Hi,
I am on H4.i want t study in child hood Education .i went to FLorida State University to get all info.she said we can not give admission to H4 or any visa.we need just green card or citizens.she said feww years back law changed and we cant give you admission bcz we are getting low budget .so and so.i went there with lots of Hopes.but Now i am confuse that What to do?
Hi,
I am on H4 and want to convert to F1. I have I-20 from a university. I want to know how and where should I apply for F1 visa? and do i need to go for the stamping?
Hi,i am a student studying in a high school in the united states on a H-4 visa for the past 2 years.my mother is main applicant we recently(4 months) applied to i-140 and also i have a h-4 extension for 3 more years.now i am about to join Purdue university (fall 2011) for my college education.as it is out of state it cost me more than what my parents could afford but the financial aid is awarded to permanent residents or eligible non citizens.i know that i wont come under the eligible non citizen category,so in order to fall under that category i am considering indefinite parole .please tell me about this indefinite parole and how can i get one.i am also considering going back to my home country and coming back in order to have that status.please advise me on this issue,any inputs will be highly appreciated.
Hi E. R,tapped, I am on H4……i went to FSU…..but they said …..we r not able to give to admission…i explain my situation ….she said we dont give admission to international student….bcz we are not getting some federal aid due to this economy…..i am confuse …what to do?…..So r u Still studying in FSU…bay area……need help……plzzzzzzzz
Hello,
I m currently on H1B Visa and i will be getting married by this yr end. My fiancée is a dentist and she is planning to pursue her DDS program after coming here. Could u please spare some of ur time in advising me if its better to get her to this country on F1 or H4. I still need my H1 to be stamped.
Hi
Glad to see the blog…I came to US (MI) in May 2011 on H4 visa i wanted to study here n am not knowing what to do…can u suggest me some of the universities which r providing correspondance couses…am a post graduate in India in business administration ..i need any institition which is providing business analyst courses…
Thanks
Hi,
I am on h4 status here and I want to apply for MS. I came USA before 9 months. I am thinking to start Ms on h4 status and change h4 to f1 after 1st year. Can I do that?
Is it convenient way to do?
Hi.
Do you know if it’s possible for H4 visa holder after completing a US uni with MS degree to apply for another type of visa that will allow to work in the US?
Or what if H4 holder will transer to F1, and then after completing US uni applies for another type of visa?
Thanks.
I am a son on an H4 visa but 21 now .. Am I still eligible to apply for college to get my status changed to F1 ?
hello,
I am on H4 in USA since 4 Months.My husband is on H1b visa.His GC is under process in EB2.He is in the 1 st stage(Labor board).I have got the admission in University here for MS course.Now being on H4 visa I cannot do job on campus or able to get OPT,CPT.I am also eligible for instate tution fees , as my college said.
right now in eb2 category GC priority date is March 2008.
My college starts in January 2012.Should I change my status from h4 to f1?
Will I be eligible to get in state tution fees advanatage if I change my status to F1? What should I do if i want to get CPT and OPT or job after completing my course?Can I change my status to f1 when I am in the final semester to get OPT?
Please reply me what should I do?
Replies and suggestions are welcome.my email is patel_hemal86@yahoo.in
Hi,
My fiance is in USA on H1B. I am in India and have applied to a few schools in USA. My F1 was rejected twice. I am planing to go on a H4 after getting married. What are my chances of getting H4 in such a scenario?? Should there be any time gap after which i can apply for my H4??
Hi
I am on h4 visa.
I have done a 3 year bca degree in india , now I want to study further here in USA so that I can get job
I have few questions.
I appreciate if any members could answers these.
1) As I have done 3 year bachelor degree, I am not eligible for directly doing masters here.
I have to complete bachelor degree here again .I have not done my credit evaluation yet, but I am guessing it will be
somewhere around 80 credits for my bca in india.
what is best path for me further, so that i can use these credits and also avoid doing bachelor degree all over again here ?
2) the tuition fees here in USA is very high , easily $18k per year.
I wanted to know what are my options to pay the fees. will i get bank education loans in usa ? will I get any scholarship
from universities.
3) i understand that i may qualify for in-state tuition if i stay in same state for 1 year. but what is advantages of
switching to f1 ?
can i start studying on h4 to save on fees and then switch to f1 to be eligible for opt& cpt ? is it very common for ppl to
do that ?
4) I understand that on h4 , we cannot work. but can i do voluntary jobs? on web i saw few ppl say you can do volunteer jobs
and few ppl say you cant. so i am confused.
5) If I study at home to increase my IT skillset, and clear interviews, am I eligible for h1 ? i just have BCA degree but no
experience in IT.
6) Any useful advice for me in my case.
Hi
Iam on H4 visa and got extension till 2015, I joined Masters here in Us, Am still on H4 and I have not applied for change of status to F1 yet.
I want to visit india for few months and I need to attended Visa interview for h4 extension.
My question is will I be facing any issues in H4 visa interview? as i joined Masters here? Will i get H4 Visa rejection by any chance?
Hi
I am in here on H4 visa and want to pursue a course of 30 credit hours. I have heard that one need to pursue a course with minimum 36 credit hours to get F1 visa. Is it like that?