Between H4 and F1 Visa Status

[Rina1]

I am currently on H4 visa and have applied change of status for F1 visa from US. It seems, it is going to take long time to get the result for my F1. In the meanwhile my H4 visa will expire and I might be on no Visa status for few months(however I can stay in US as I have applied for F1). So my question  is, for OPT, one needs to be student for one full academic year or for 9 months on any visa and need to have F1 necessarily while applying for OPT. Since I will have no Visa for few months(when my H4 will expire and F1 result would have not come), will I be still considered as full time student to avail OPT or will that be considered as a gap?

[pontevecchio]

If your H4 I94 expires before your COS to F1 is approved, you will have no status to change from. Hence your stay will not be legal. Leave and return with a F1 visa. For specifics about OPT, talk to your DSO.