Change of visa status from B2 to F1 being in the United States

[zora2009]

I tried to get a F1 visa in my country last January 2009 but it was denied to me. My daugther is a junior student in the same university I want to study a master in foreign language, so the officer said I wanted to come here (right now I am here as a visitor) forever.
On July the 31th I entered the country with my B2 visa and I am allowed to stay until January 30th 2010. After three weeks staying here I asked to the graduate school if I could get a change of my visa status from here. They said yes, so I want to try again. Therefore I went into the admission process again and I already got admission for next Spring 2010, but they said I need to wait 90 days for going trough the changing visa status process. It means that I would start it the first days of November but the semester will begin on January 4th, 2010.
My questions are: Do I have a real chance to get the change of status from here? If I start the process next November is there enough time to get the F1 status before classes start on January the 4th? May I use the same SEVIS number or fee I paid the first time I applied for the Visa in my country?
Thank you in advance!

[Tino]

My opinion is:
Apply for Change of Status (COS) immediately. Do not wait. You cannot attend school until it is approved. It may take 30 days. May take 6 months. May take a year. So apply asap.

Also, if you wait until the near end of your 180 days here on the B2, your chance of approval is lower, in my experience.

I recommend to apply using a qualified immigration attorney who has done multiple COS in the past. Cost, including COS fees and legal fees should be $700 to $2000, in my experience.

Tino

[zora2009]

Thank you very much Tino! I'll do that you said.... thanks again!