Change of Status H4 to F1 delayed - OPT eligibility ???

[kanchana2805]

Dear Friends,
Please help me out with your inputs regarding this situation

I applied for a change of status from H4 to F1 in the end of April 2014, received RFE on mid of July 2014 and responded by end of the same month. my start date on I-20 is on Aug 19th, 2014. Until Now I didn't receive any response from USCIS. I already completed my first semester on H4(full time) and still have only two more semesters to get graduated.

I will be graduating in May 2015,

1. Can I still hope to apply for OPT? Do they consider only F1 status as full time or even H4 status for OPT eligibilty, as I completed my first semester on H4 as full time ?

2. Since the approval is after the start date which was mentioned on I-20, Will I be continuing as H4 for the fall semester even? Or It can be changed in midst of the semester?

3. Should I need to pay the SEVIS again?

Thanks in advance

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Admin]

There had been recent discussions on this topic. Refer below links

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/1109-H4-to-F1-query

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/698000983550607

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/680096765341029

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=498711916812849&story_fbid=709943919022980

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=498711916812849&story_fbid=761500833867288

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/1487-Documents-required-for-Change-of-Visa-status-from-H4-to-F1

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/733563006661071

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/709943919022980

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/643641662319873

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/680091978674841

https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/718064921544213

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/145-H4-Visa-gt-F1-Visa-Stamping-Is-it-safe

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/1006-H4-to-F1-while-I-was-in-US-need-to-travel-to-India

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/1065-RFE-solution-in-H4-to-F1-COS

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/965-Change-of-status-from-H-4-to-F-1

http://forum.desiopt.com/showthread.php/303-H4-to-F1-Visa-Stamping-Denial-Chances

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[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Admin]

Your message was posted as anonymous on Facebook wall- (28th Aug)

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

1. Yes , you are eligible for OPT ; you can maintain fulltime irrespective of your visa status ,but you should be on F1 while applying for OPT
2. Depends on your univ , contact your DSO
3. Nope

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

1 it is up to u r uni .. Talk to ur dso .if they generate opt i20 then u r fine ..

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

Hi, you should be on F1 for one academic year to apply for opt. Check with your DSO

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

1 academic yr is defined by school so better to talk to u r dso

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

One academic year is fall + spring, u should be fine

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

1. They consider F1 status for one Fall and one Spring to be eligible for OPT.
2. Check with your school official.
3. I don't think so. Better check this one as well with your school official.