F1-h4-f1

[gaur8]

Hi,

Please give me a suggestion for my situation:

I came to US on F1 visa in 2008, graduated with MS in Dec 2009. I got admitted to Phd for Fall 2010, but deferred to Fall 2011 due to personal reasons. Right now I have filed for H4 and it is in process. I want to join PhD in Fall 2011 on F1. How do I change my status from H4 back to F1. The visa stamp on my passport is F1 and it is valid till Nov 2012. Does this make any difference?? Either if I got to India or file for COS here in US?

Please advice. Thank you!

[kabkaba]

Two options. COS or leave US, get F1 Visa and enter.
COS takes longer, up to 2-3 months. Potential for denial is less.
F1 Visa is quicker, but potential for denial is higher. But once you change status to F1 and want travel outside of the US, you have get F1 Visa sometime or the other anyway.