J-1 to F-1? Please help

[silvialee7]

HI.

I have a friend. She is in US now, holding J-1 student visa. She wants to change status to F-1.

Her question is that:

1) she got her J-1 visa in the third country, England. On DS-2019 form, is says that she is not subject to 2 years homecountry residence requirement. She is Chinese. All the subjects are on the field skill lists of China, so she went to international student office, and want to double check it. 3 different advisors gave her 3 different opinions. she so confuse which is correct.

2) If she needs to apply waiver, how long it will take usually? Her current visa expires in the middle of June. Her I-20 starts in the middle of May. So she would like to change status in US. Is that possible?

Thanks

 

[LucyMO]

if her visa, passport and DS-2019 say she is not a subject, then to the best of her knowledge she is not a subject and doesn't need a waiver.

IF she wants to know for sure, she needs to request an advisory opinion. Check www.travel.state.gov for that.

Change of status takes abour 3-4 months. Waiver takes anywhere from 3 months to several years. Yes, years, as two of my friends have found out for themselves.

 

[silvialee7]

If she wants to change status, would you suggest to apply within US or travel to the third country, like Mexico?

Thanks in advance.

 

[LucyMO]

either way is fine. She needs to know that if a visa is denied in a third country, she will need to travel to her own to get the visa.