mrinalsharma91 wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I plan to join the Georgetown-McDonough full-time MBA program that starts in July/August'19. During my undergraduate studies at Purdue University (BS Electrical Engineering) from Jan'10-Dec'13 I was on an F-1 visa. In April'14 I started work at Cummins Inc. in Columbus, IN on my OPT and later in October'15 I switched from OPT to H-1B.
I am currently still working at Cummins Inc. in Columbus, IN on my 2nd H-1B visa that is valid till Aug'21, but I need to switch over to an F-1 visa to attend the full-time MBA program at Georgetown this fall. During this time I have NEVER filed for my Green Card/Permanent Residency.
Q1.Do I have to resign from my current job before applying for an F-1 visa in June at a US consulate in India?
Q2.Is there any major risk in switching from H-1B to F-1?
Q3.Any need to consider an immigration lawyer prior to leaving the US to apply for an F-1 visa?
I do understand that some of my questions are immigration related, but I would be very grateful if anyone who is/has been in a similar position would be kind enough to share his/her experience.
Hey man, I worked at CMI as well before starting my MBA. My suggestion would be to contact the immigration/international student department at your school and let them know your plans. They can provide a little more guidance. Regarding your questions:
Q1.Do I have to resign from my current job before applying for an F-1 visa in June at a US consulate in India? - You do not have to quit to apply for the F1 visa. I assume you are asking because you want to continue working after getting the F1 visa. The tricky part is that at some point you need to enter the US as a F1. So you could go to India, get the F1, enter the US as H1B, work until X time, but before starting school you would need to go somewhere outside the US and reenter as a F1 student.
Q2.Is there any major risk in switching from H-1B to F-1? My process was really easy
Q3.Any need to consider an immigration lawyer prior to leaving the US to apply for an F-1 visa? Not really.