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I'm an Indian citizen, and I need to attend a business meeting from 13th of July in the US sponsored by my company. Hence I will require a B-1 visa for 10 days in mid July.

However, soon after the meeting, I'll be moving for studies and hence will need an F-1 visa from 10th of August for staying at an institute in the US for the next few years. The college will be sending me the I-20 this week.

How should I proceed to book slots with the consulate? Will there be any effect on either of the visas? I cannot seem to find information on such a case. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  • Does the business meeting begin more than 30 days before the beginning of your program of study? – phoog May 18 '18 at 17:22
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    One can hold different non-immigrant visas simultaneously. You can however only have one status which is the one you enter the USA with, unless you subsequently change status. – user 56513 May 18 '18 at 17:51
  • @TheZealot even after you change status, you still have just one status; it's just that you subsequently have a different status from the one you had before the change. – phoog May 18 '18 at 20:20
  • @phoog updated the question with dates. No it is within 30 days. – Manikanta Reddy D May 19 '18 at 2:01
  • @TheZealot I didn't quite understand the holding two visas and have one status when you enter the USA. Does this mean I should be able get them both and choose B1 when I enter in July and F1 in August? – Manikanta Reddy D May 19 '18 at 2:06