Hi! I am an Indian passport holder on a B2 visa. I came to the US due to a family exigency in March 2021. I received admission in a doctoral program last week, I had applied for it in December 2020. I want to change my visa status from B2 to F1 as my classes start in Fall. I was planning on going to the US Consulate in Mexico or Canada as India is not possible due to Covid surge. But even Mexico and Canada consulates are only taking emergency cases and the wait time is not visible online. Please guide on what would be the best option for me.
Change in visa status from B2 to F1
- Thread starter GeetaK
- Start date
SusieQQQ
Well-Known Member
I539 to change to F status has very long processing times at the moment - the shortest time given is 9 months and it can be a longer than a year at some processing centers https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ If you want to start in fall you will almost certainly need to get a visa from a consulate.
I don’t think your blanket statement about emergency visas only is correct. Many consulates have added student visas to the limited services available for non-immigrant visas and according to this page https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/ student visas are being issued at the consulates in Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.
I don’t think your blanket statement about emergency visas only is correct. Many consulates have added student visas to the limited services available for non-immigrant visas and according to this page https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/ student visas are being issued at the consulates in Calgary, Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.