Changing Visa status? – Bay Area Immigration in California Once you get to the US, can you change your tourist visa to a student or work visa? If your status changes, it means that your goal has changed. For example, when you get a visa and enter the US, you tell the US government that you only want to stay for a short time. The change in intention can be seen as being planned and deliberate. If this false belief keeps you from entering the US, you could be banned for life. When you get a visitor visa, whether for business or pleasure. You usually tell the consulate that your stay will be short, no more than six months. Then, when you get to the US port of entry, you tell the interviewer the same thing. The US State Department (DOS) says that there is a presumption of lying. If you try to change your status in the US within 90 days of entering the country. Also, you have to show that you didn’t lie about your real plans. When you got the visa or when you were interviewed at the p