S2 Q&A I'm on H-1B and waiting on an extension/lottery result — can I apply to a Day 1 CPT school as a backup without committing to anything?

 Receiving admission and an I-20 does not by itself obligate you to enroll. If you are changing from H-1B to F-1 status, you only need to file a Change of Status (COS) if your situation requires it.