I’m from Morocco and arrived in Los Angeles last month on a B-2 tourist visa to visit my cousin. My original plan was to stay for three months, but I’m now considering staying longer because my cousin offered to help me enroll in a short English language program. I’ve read that you can sometimes extend a tourist visa or change it to a student visa while still in the US, but I’m confused about the timing and requirements. If my current I-94 shows I can stay until early December, when should I apply, and will enrolling in a school cause issues?

Question

Aisulu Nurpeisova · Accepted Answer

You need to apply before your I-94 expires. Changing to a student visa while in the US is possible but takes time.

Zubair Qureshi · Answer

File the change of status request early, ideally at least 45 days before your I-94 expires.

Sibongile Mthembu · Answer

If you plan to switch from a B-2 to an F-1, you must be accepted by a SEVP-certified school first and get an I-20 form. After that, you file Form I-539 with USCIS. Timing is important because your new program start date has to align with the change of status approval. If your B-2 expires before the F-1 is approved, you may run into status problems. Always apply well before your expiration date to avoid gaps.

Tahar Benkirane

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