Hi, I’m a senior with an F-2 visa and I go to an American public school. I had questions on changing visa from an F-2 to an F-1.
I want to apply for international scholarships, but in order to do that, my visa must be an F-1 when I apply for them. However, I’ll still be in high school with an F-2 visa by the time of application. I know for a fact that F-1 visas cannot go to an American public school. What should I do? A college counselor told me that I can change my visa to an F-1 before I do my course schedule (if I get accepted), but I don’t know what to do with the scholarships that “require” me to be an F-1 student in order to apply.
When would be the appropriate timing to change my visa? Thanks for the help!
Contact each of those scholarship programs, and ask them how it works. Requiring a student to already hold an F1 in order to apply for a scholarship would mean that the scholarship is for a student who is already in college here. International students don’t have an F1 until they have been accepted and have passed their visa interview.
That’s not quite correct. However, two conditions must be met to attend a public high school on an F-1 visa, which may put it out of reach for you personally:
You MUST pay the school district for the full cost of your education before the F-1 visa can be issued. (Order of magnitude $6,000 - $12,000 per year.)
Some school official must complete the USCIS training as a "designated school official", so that the school can issue the I-20 form you need to apply for your visa.
Technicalities aside, I agree with happymomof1. Scholarships targeted at incoming international college students will require F-1 status for the duration the scholarship is held, not at the time of the application. If F-1 status is required at the time of the scholarship application, the scholarship is meant for continuing college students. Contact whoever administers the scholarships if you are unsure or the requirements seem odd.