H1B expiring 31st July. Change of status options?

[ctgreen]

I am on H1B visa and 31st July will be my last day with current employer. While I am looking for a job how can I stay in status?

I have applied for admission to a university but will not get I-20 by 31st July. The I-20 will take another couple of weeks to come and only after that can I apply for change of status to F1. How much time can lapse between last day of H1-B and filing for F1 change of status? Will it be ok to apply for a visitor visa?

[CCR]

If you're sure you want to pursue the degree and not use it for a fill-gap then its fine to have a gap for around a month or so. To an extent the immigration system is reasonable but unfortunately there is no hard and fast written rule as to how many exact days are permissible between 2 statuses.

If you do both the F1 and B2 you are simply complicating your case.

[pontevecchio]

The basic question is "when do the classes start"?