@ SSK if someone have not passed the substantial presence test — aren’t eligible. I have nothing to say if IRS form was filed incorrectly. For example , F1 would not be eligible in 3 years. H1 and J1 are different. I’m just trying to clear up the misconceptions.
This exactly from IRS website
Date of entry into United States: 08-15-2015
Student F-1 visa
Exempt individual for 5 calendar years (2015 through 2019)
To determine whether W meets the substantial presence test (183 days), begin counting days on 01-01-2020.
Number of nonexempt days in United States during 2020: 366 days
366 days
Count days as follows:
Current year (2020) days in United States (366) × 1 = 366 days
Prior year (2019) days in United States (0) × 1/3 = 0 days
Year before that (2018) days in United States (0) × 1/6 = 0 days
Total = 366 days
W meets the substantial presence test on 07-01-2020 (the 183rd day of 2020). W's residency starting date under IRC § 7701(b) is 01-01-2020 (the first day he was present in United States during the calendar year in which he met the substantial presence test).