Hello!

I was admitted to Yale MBA class of 2009. I am currently in the US holding H1-B Visa. I received an email from the International Student Office a couple of days ago regarding my legal status. Here is part of the email:

"...Although it is possible to change your status from H-1B to F-1 from within the US, we are not recommending this option to incoming SOM students.  Although a change of status approval from immigration through the change of status process allows a seamless flow from one category to the next, it can create travel issues because you will not have the F-1 visa in the passport, which can only be obtained through visa application at a US embassy outside the US.  Because SOM now has required trips outside the US of limited duration during term time, students without valid F-1 re entry visas have not been able to participate in this trips, which I believe are a program requirement.  Thus, I advise you to plan to travel outside the US when you conclude your H-1B employment, leaving enough time for an F-1 visa application prior to the start of school. ..."

For people who have similar situations as I do, do you guys plan to "travel outside US prior to the start of school" to obtain a student visa?

Thanks a lot and look foward to seeing you all on campus!

I think the email is very clear. Because you need valid visa to go abroad and return, you will need go to cansulate no mater when. The problem is that he suggests you to do so now.

To welldone2007:

You are absolutely right in saying "you will need go to cansulate no mater when". Originally, I planned the visa interview appointment when I return from the international trip. I do not think there is any problem/difficulty to get the visa at that time. However, the school suggest/advise (not required) me to do it now. The problem is I am not sure having a student visa before the start of class is required by the program or not. If not, I still prefer to do the visa interview later after I return from the International Trip. I guess I need to talk to the MBA program to find it out. But i really doubt there is a clear regulation. The MBA program will just refer me to talk to the International student office. sigh... 

To ddff:

If your schools does not have an international trip during your first-year study, you do not need to worry about it. Besides, the school did not send the email first, it replied to my inquiries about how to switch my status.

Thank you guys for reply!