My friend's tourist visa expires on Jan 2009. Currently my friend is in New York. Can someone suggest what is the best possible way to convert tourist (B2) visa to student (F1) visa? My friend went to some colleges like La Guardia in Queens and they told that it is difficult to convert tourist visa to F1 visa. Also some folks have suggested to enroll in English Language Center and they will give I-20 and help to convert to F1 visa. Since my friend already speaks excellent english, I am trying to find out if anyone has directly enrolled in college or university with tourist visa successfully? Please suggest.

Thank you.

It's difficult to convert visitor visa to any other type of visa from US. There are possibilities for extension for next 6 month if he has good reason for his stay. If he still wants to apply for change of status, no one can stop him legally, but be advised that only exceptional cases get approved.... rather I would suggest to get I- 20 and go back to Nepal or any other US consulate and then request for F1 visa stamping, this will provide him lots of freedom to visit Nepal and other countries in future.

Ars - Thanks for the feedback. Has anyone converted B-2 to F-1 successfully? I hear English Language Institutes easily transfer B-2 to F-1. Anyone knows if this is true?

 

Hi, I was in the same situation 3 months back but, now my b2 to f1 is approved. I have got approval for me and my  family. I did it through community college in MD. I think it is not that hard. You have to go to the school and follow their instructions strictly.  

You can do in the community college in Texas. One of my friend did in the  Brookhaven college, Texas.