I’m on an F-2 visa and I’m going to attend a community college in fall of 2018. I thought that you are not supposed to take any degree seeking courses when you’re on an F-2, but according to one of the college counselors, you can. My mom applied for the green card, and we are still waiting on it.
My question is, do I have to change my status to an F-1 in order to take degree seeking classes? If so, will that interfere with the green card process? And also, at what age are you required to change to an F-1? Is it 18 years old, or 21?
Please help me out if you know anything on this topic or if you have the same problem as me. Thank you.
You need to speak with international students office at your CC about this. They will be able to look up the current regulations.
The primary differences between studying in an F1 status and another one, is that F1 students have certain work permission and they must carry a certain number of credits each term or they lose status.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, F-2 students are allowed to attend college part-time but must switch to a proper student visa (F-1, J-1, M-1) if they want to enroll full-time.
The F-1 status also has the distinct advantage that you would be allowed to seek employment, which is prohibited in F-2 status.
Switching to F-1 would not interfere with your pending green card application.
If you want, you could remain in F-2 status until you turn 21. Once you reach age 21, you would also no longer automatically qualify for a green card if your mom gets one. She’d have to sponsor you as an unmarried adult child in the F2B category, which has a long waiting period. (USCIS is currently processing green card petitions in that category from 1996-2010.)
Thank you so so so much for all of your replies! My mom applied for the green card in March of 2009, so hopefully, it’ll come out soon. I guess I should change my status to F-1, just so I can be a full-time student. You don’t know how much your guys’ answers means to me. THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOD BLESS Y’ALL!!!
The another way that is harder but faster is to get a job in the US after you finish your education in 4 year college. The hard part is to find someone who will sponsor your H-1b work visa and employement based green card. You will have better chance, though, if you get masters.