COS from H1B to F1 (Ph.D). H1B valid till 2013.
1. For COS, whats the processing time? If COS is pending until Semester start date
a) Can I still join PhD program? If I can, should I quit my current job before joining PhD even if I ve COS pending with USCIS?
b) If suppose I quit my current job and join PhD with pending COS, later if my COS gets denied, will I loose my H1B status? Or will I ve the 15 day time period to get in to another job in H1B after the COS gets denied?
2. If I attend a visa interview @ a US consulate to get F1 (instead of COS from H1B to F1), should I ve quit my current job before attending visa interview for F1? If I need not quit job, if in case F1 visa gets rejected, can I come back and continue with my current job in H1B?