Status Gap while changing status from F1 to H1

[sampurna10]

Hello dear;

I am currently a F1 student. I did my OPT and it expired on May 11th 2005. I have 60 days grace period to stay in the US, but that will expire on July 10th. During my OPT with a compay, I applied for H1B and got approved to start my work from October 1st 2005. I also got a notice from USCIS that if I don't maintain my status during my status gap from July 11th to Sept 30th, they will deny my H1.

Hence to maintain my F1 status during this gap time, I applied for my MBA program at my University. My advisor says that I can get I-20 for fall quarter, which will start in October and this will keep me in status even though if I don't go to classes in October and just start working on my company. I also can get I-20 for summer quarter which will start form July 13th and ends on September, but my advisors says either is fine: summer or fall. If I choose summer then I have to go to classes and pay for it but if I choose fall then I can just pretend like I am going to school to maintain the F1 status and later not join classes.

I had a little doubt on this even though I believe her. Hence I thought I would join summer quarter and maintain my status.

So do you have any ideas on this? Will that be problem for me if I just get I-20 for fall and not go to school and start my work as H1 status?

Moreover, I asked the USCIS to forward my H1 application info to the US consulate in Vancouver for the stamping. Can I stamp over there or should I go to my own country? How hard it is to get stampped in Vancouver, Canada?

Thank you in advance for your advice.

 

[LucyMO]

the rule is that you need to get a new I-20 before your grace period expires and start school in the first available semester. Summer is usually skipped by students during regular academic year, but for "status maintenance", I'd enroll in the summer quarter if I were you. Just to be on the safe side.