Can I keep another status (e.g., F-1) after obtaining the H-1B?

Generally, no. Inside the United States you may hold only one active immigration status at a time. When the H-1B takes effect through a change of status from F-1, your student status ceases automatically, even if the F-1 visa stamp remains in your passport.

It is important to distinguish between a visa and a status. The stamp in your passport is an entry document; status is the legal basis on which you remain in the country. Once you begin working under the H-1B, it is the H-1B rules that govern your stay, not the F-1 rules.

This does not prevent you from taking classes while employed under the H-1B, but enrolling in a course does not restore or preserve F-1 status. The F-1 carries its own requirements, such as full-time enrollment and intent to study, which do not apply to the H-1B, a category designed for specialized work.

• One active status at a time: an active H-1B ends the F-1.
• A visa stamp and a status (basis for remaining) are two different things.
• Studying under the H-1B is allowed, but it does not equal maintaining F-1 status.

Because each case has its own details, it is worth confirming the current rules with USCIS or with an immigration professional before any status transition.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.