sandylonda
New Member
Hello,
I have few questions regarding H1B-F1 status and really appreciate if someone can help me with advice or sharing experience.
I finished my master's degree in 2008 from a university in the States, worked with OPT right away until Sept., 2009 and continued with H1B for the same employer from Oct. 2009 until July 2010 (only 10 months). I went back to School A pursuing PhD program at another university in the U.S. starting in August 2010. For financial reason, I took leave of absence from school A and started working for a company (different with the last one) in August 2011 with H1B. I had no problem with the processing H1B to F1 and back to H1B so far. I have used up 22 months of my H1B with 2 different employers until now.
I plan to go back and resume my PhD program (the same school) in the near future. I have tried to work full time and study part time in the past with H1B but all I had was hectic and hectic. So, I was thinking to resign and study full time. My questions are:
1. Should I ask for new I-20 from the school? I don't know old I-20 still valid during my absence from school (Technically, I wasn't having student status between August 2011 until now). In fact that I'd return to the same school, same program, same department will leave assumption that I can use the old I-20 from school A.
2. My previous F1 visa stamp (not status) with school A expires in 2015. However, I just recently went back home and got H1B visa stamped on my passport for validity of 1 year. Did the H1B visa stamp automatically invalidate the F1 visa stamp I had earlier? What I mean is when I go back to school A, have COS from H1B to F1, can I re-use the old F1 visa stamp or should I apply for another F1 visa stamp (with the same school and department)?
3. Can I do COS H1B to F1 myself or International office of the school A should do that?
Any comments, questions, advice will be highly appreciated. Thank you!
Sandy
I have few questions regarding H1B-F1 status and really appreciate if someone can help me with advice or sharing experience.
I finished my master's degree in 2008 from a university in the States, worked with OPT right away until Sept., 2009 and continued with H1B for the same employer from Oct. 2009 until July 2010 (only 10 months). I went back to School A pursuing PhD program at another university in the U.S. starting in August 2010. For financial reason, I took leave of absence from school A and started working for a company (different with the last one) in August 2011 with H1B. I had no problem with the processing H1B to F1 and back to H1B so far. I have used up 22 months of my H1B with 2 different employers until now.
I plan to go back and resume my PhD program (the same school) in the near future. I have tried to work full time and study part time in the past with H1B but all I had was hectic and hectic. So, I was thinking to resign and study full time. My questions are:
1. Should I ask for new I-20 from the school? I don't know old I-20 still valid during my absence from school (Technically, I wasn't having student status between August 2011 until now). In fact that I'd return to the same school, same program, same department will leave assumption that I can use the old I-20 from school A.
2. My previous F1 visa stamp (not status) with school A expires in 2015. However, I just recently went back home and got H1B visa stamped on my passport for validity of 1 year. Did the H1B visa stamp automatically invalidate the F1 visa stamp I had earlier? What I mean is when I go back to school A, have COS from H1B to F1, can I re-use the old F1 visa stamp or should I apply for another F1 visa stamp (with the same school and department)?
3. Can I do COS H1B to F1 myself or International office of the school A should do that?
Any comments, questions, advice will be highly appreciated. Thank you!
Sandy