L1 to F1 COS

[kris2805]

Hi,

 

I'm in L1B visa and applied for COS to F1. I may have to leave my L1 employer during this COS processing. I would like to know if it will affect the decision for my COS application, as it takes 3-5 months and Can i stay till my application is processed ? 

 

Thanks

[jairichi]

Hi,

 

I'm in L1B visa and applied for COS to F1. I may have to leave my L1 employer during this COS processing. I would like to know if it will affect the decision for my COS application, as it takes 3-5 months and Can i stay till my application is processed ? 

 

Thanks

It will not affect the decision on your COS application. You are allowed to stay till a decision is made by USCIS on your COS application.

[pontevecchio]

The COS is predicated on you being in L1 status till the change to F1 is approved. NO, You cannot leave the L1 employer and stay here. You might as well get the F1 visa at the right time and return.

[kris2805]

Thanks for the quick response, but I'm more confused now as one reply is positive and the other one is negative. Can anyone please reconfirm which one is correct ?

[jairichi]

Thanks for the quick response, but I'm more confused now as one reply is positive and the other one is negative. Can anyone please reconfirm which one is correct ?

Pontevecchio is right as my answer was not specific. You have to be on L1 status till your F1 is approved.

[pontevecchio]

You need to be in status for a change to another status. If you quit you are not in L1 status and hence the COS to F1 is not legally permissible. No confusion. Jairichi was thinking of other circumstances.