J1: Change of Status in U.S / Visa stamp on Passport ??

T

theindiandevil

New Member
I really appreciate all the help in this forum. I need some candid advise.
I am going for residency on J1.
1. After one gets the DS (#) from ecfmg, for me and my spouse, Can we change our status in the U.S or we need to go out of country. We are on F1 and F2 at the moment of time and in U.S. Switching will be like My F2 to J1 and spouse's F1 to J2.
2. If we change status here ( Assumption being one can change status in U.S.), If we go out to home country, would we have to get a new Visa stamped before entering ?
3. Can we get the Visa Stamp in 3rd country like canada/mexico or other and then travel to home country with visa stamp already on it. would it cause a problem ? do we have to get the visa stamp from home country only?
thanks
 
theindiandevil said:
I really appreciate all the help in this forum. I need some candid advise.
I am going for residency on J1.
1. After one gets the DS (#) from ecfmg, for me and my spouse, Can we change our status in the U.S or we need to go out of country. We are on F1 and F2 at the moment of time and in U.S. Switching will be like My F2 to J1 and spouse's F1 to J2.
2. If we change status here ( Assumption being one can change status in U.S.), If we go out to home country, would we have to get a new Visa stamped before entering ?
3. Can we get the Visa Stamp in 3rd country like canada/mexico or other and then travel to home country with visa stamp already on it. would it cause a problem ? do we have to get the visa stamp from home country only?
thanks
Click to expand...

1. For changing the status generally you don't have to leave the country..F to H etc are routinely done. I don't know specifically if F to J has some other clause. I personally went from F to H without leaving the country.
2. Change of status and Visa are two separate issues. Whenever you leave the country on changed status..for returning you will need to have the Visa stamped from a US consulate/embassy.
3. You can get the stamp in canada/mexico (from F to H atleast) if you have a US masters degree (which I assume you do). However it is not recommended. If for some reason (lack of documentation for eg.) if your visa is rejected from Canada/Mexico, you can't reenter US and will need to go to home country for stamping.
 
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