Hello,
I am new on this forum and I hope someone can help me. I am a Fulbright Grantee with a J1 visa with the 2 year rule that applies. I am finishing my program this December and my J1 visa is finishing at the same time. I would like to stay here and work for a while, but with the J1 visa I only can stay 6 months and I have to have a full time job (35 hours/week) before I finish my studies to be able to renew my visa; that's what they call "Academic Training".
The other important thing is that I came to the US as an F-1. Besides my J1 visa I have an F-1 visa in my passport till 2009, the one that the school gave me before getting the Fulbright Scholarship.
I was wondering if I can go back to the F-1 visa that I already have. If I am an F1 I can do "Optional Practical Training" for a year, and I don't need to have a job before applying for the OPT.
I don't have a lot of time since if I want to apply for the AT as a J1 I have to do it a.s.a.p.
Thanks a lot.

