H1 to F1 transfer--doing it from India Vs filing for COS staying in US itself??

[kashyapnamuduri]

I'm currently working on H1B (came to US from India on F1 visa for my MS and converted to H1 after completing the degree), but I still need to get my H1 stamped. So I'm on H1 status, but I donot have H1 Visa. Now I want to transfer to F1 for starting my Ph.D in about 3 months. Which is a recommended way of transferring my H1 to F1:

1) Should I go back to India after resigning to my job, and apply afresh for an F1 with the I-20 issued by the university? That way I guess I'm free to visit India thereafter, but it might be risky since I've worked on H1 for a couple of years. OR

2) Apply for COS here in US and after it gets approved, join the university and then when I get time, travel to India and get the stamping on my F1 visa?

I heard that the 2nd option is much safer though it takes more time, but my question is, if I follow 2nd method, I anyway need to go for the stamping when I visit India during my Ph.D-how risky(or safe) is it to go for F1 stamping once my COS is approved here, compared to applying for it afresh?

 

[kashyapnamuduri]

Thanks...

Thanks for the reply! So you mean, it doesnot matter at all whether you go back to India and apply for the F-1 Visa from there (considering I have been on H1 status for an year here and F1 is a non-immigrant visa), Or apply for Change Of Status here, and get the F1 stamped by traveling to India after it gets approved? Just wanted to be sure-since I've heard that the former is more riskier.