Can I study a course in the US while holding a B-1/B-2 visitor visa?

Visitors for business or pleasure are specifically barred from pursuing a full course of study. Short recreational classes that are not for credit toward a degree may be acceptable, but anything amounting to full-time study is not.

If you decide while in the US that you want to study full time, you must apply to change your status to F-1 student first and wait for approval before beginning classes. Starting a full course of study before the change is approved is a status violation. Many applicants instead apply for an F-1 visa from abroad once they have a school acceptance and Form I-20.