F-1 and permanent residency..transferring questions

S

scrubsrn

New Member
Hi everyone, I was just wondering if an F-1 student over the age of 21 and here in the USA, can apply for their own permanent residency?

Also, under F-1, can you only transfer to another school only if you intend to go for a higher degree in your field? For example, diploma in nursing...can you only go for more schooling in Nursing or can you switch to Biology(Bachelors)?
 
Thanks for the response, gunt. I looked at the link and I definitely do not fall under those qualifications :)

I just recently completed my diploma in nursing program like a month ago and after taking the nursing boards and getting my nursing license, the plan was to find a sponsor. Our lawyer did inform my family and I however that Schedule A Visas(registered nurses) were closed to running out and that may throw a complication in the plan. Last week our lawyer confirmed that the Visa Bulletin for November did say that the Schedule A visas (H-1A i believe) were backed up and so, only applications whose priority dates were 10/01/05 could be processed. At least that's what I understand from my lawyer's explanation and from my own research online. So, from my understanding, even if I do find a sponsor to file the I-140 for me, I would not be able to file for adjustment of status because there are no available Visa numbers for nurses at this time. So I can't even work. Is my understanding of my situation more or less correct?

At this time I'm currently trying to transfer to another school to continue my F-1 status, and get a new I-20 while I'm still in my 60 day grace period. Does anyone know what is the likelihood of the Visa numbers opening up while I'm in school, which is probably roughly 2-4 years?

The marriage option has been explored and I've brought it up to my boyfriend. While he does want to help me and want to keep me in this country, he wants to wait at least another year just to make sure I'm 'the one' you know? Which I totally understand since we've only been together for half a year and both of us would really want to marry for the right reasons and not just for papers.
 
it might be a good idea to find a sponsor for a Schedule A visa, but tell them that you can't start until the an I-485 becomes avalible. They could start the process at the very least (i-140), that way when it becomes avalible all you have left to file is I-485. in the meantime you have a few options. 1. Apply for the Optional Practical Training 1 year work authorization that results from your F-1. 2. if you are canadian, apply for a temporary TN work visa.

As for when the Schedule backlog moves, it is anyone's guess, but I really suspect that it will move alot over the next year and it might even go away completely if Congress passes the immigration reform bill, which is very likely after the election.

if you want to see track the progress of Schedule A visa retrogression, look here
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bulletin/bulletin_1360.html
 
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