If you are gonna get TA/RA, your best option will be to collect your I20 and apply for visa from Nepal or Canada. That way your you can be employed as a TA/RA by your school. However, if you dont wanna take the risk of traveling out of US, then you can apply fot change of status to f1. That may take several months but you can still take your classes. Only after being approved, you are eligible to apply for TA/RA. Regarding visitor visa application to Canada, it is an easy online process. You dont have to attend an in person interview, and it takes 1.5-2 months. Good luck.

pokharako keto · Apr 30, 2014 9:02 PM

I don't have TA or RA, I just have out-of-state tuition waiver which means I have to pay in state tuition. I was told that for those who need to change the status from f2 to f1 fro the first time need to go to their home country. But I cannot risk going to Nepal as I don't have any assistantship. Is it possible to change the status from Canada or any other countries outside US? Where can I find more info about changing the status without going outside the US? Are you sure that we can continue taking classes without changing the status to F1? Anything more on Canada will also be very useful. Thanks a lot.

lahure787 · Apr 30, 2014 9:54 PM

International Student dept at your school will have more information about that. Here's a link to Cornell Isso that you might find useful : http://www.isso.cornell.edu/im... There is no restriction as such where you apply for F1 visa. If you intend to apply through canada, google cic canada and fill up visitor visa online application, single entry application costs $120. They will review your application and will let you know if you are approved. Once approved, you can mail your passport to Canadian Consulate at LA, they will send you back your stamped passport within next two days. Then take an appointment at US consulate in Canada (Calgary, Ottowa, Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto) In most cases, your passport will be ready go collect from US consulate in 2 days. Remember that your F2 visa will be annulled after you get F1. And, if you are not gonna get TA or RA, I guess you might as well do change of status in US itself.

pokharako keto · Apr 30, 2014 10:10 PM

Instruction from Cornell says you are NOT eligible to enroll into classes unless you are F1. Better to take inputs from your school's isso.

pokharako keto · Apr 30, 2014 10:18 PM

I want to add a question to this. Does my visa gets cancelled if I change the school? Lets say I got visa for 4 yrs for A university and I transferred to a community college after a semester. If I want to go to Nepal for summer, do I have to get another visa before coming back to US? Thanks

kaalubaby · May 1, 2014 5:32 PM

@Pokhara ko Keto : Thank you very much for all your help. I am looking into all my options :) Have a good time !!!

lahure787 · May 2, 2014 7:15 PM