Spouse coming directly on F1 vs H4 -> F1, which is better?

[RajeshTolety]

Hi All,

I am getting married in the month of February this year and planning on getting my spouse after that. She is planning to study starting from Fall 2018. I hear many of my peers getting their spouse first on H4 and then later getting them converted to F1 by visiting India before the start of the course. Is there any particular reason for taking this route? Is it equivalent to coming directly on F1?

 

Thanks in advance!!

[pontevecchio]

One can only enter the country with a F1 visa up to 30 days before classes start.

[satya2k1]

That's the main reason why most spouses arrive on H4 and then change to F1. An F1 student can enter only 30 days prior to classes start.. Moreover, your wife needs an I-20 from a college for classes starting in Fall.  You can ask your wife to go for F1 stamping after getting the I-20, and then enter the USA with F1 status before college starts.