L1 to F1 Conversion

Hi,

I am currently on an L1 visa and will be applying for F1 visa soon (for MS). I also want to visit India for a month in the meanwhile and hence I cannot use the COS process (leaving the country in between would cancel the appliation). So, can I do the following?

  • Obtain my 1-20
  • Leave for India and get F1 visa stamped (still want the L1 to be valid)
  • Enter US with the L1 visa (still employed…no reason to stop earning money)
  • Cross the country to change the status just before joining grad school

Any details would be appreciated.
Thanks.