Change of Status

Change-of-Status to F-1 within the U.S.

If you are currently in a visa status other than F-1 student status and would like to change to F-1 status, an application for change of status must be filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Please consult with an International Student Services Department advisor before filing your change of status application.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO FILING A CHANGE-OF-STATUS REQUEST:

I-539 PETITIONS FOR CHANGE-OF-STATUS ARE SLOW: Please be aware that Change-of-Status petitions take a very long time to process – as long as 6 – 10 months at US Citizenship and Immigration Services (check I-539 Processing times for the Vermont Service Center). If you require a fast decision, it is possible to file an I-907 Petition for Premium Processing with USCIS along with an additional filing fee.
NO F-1 STUDENT BENEFITS UNTIL CHANGE-OF-STATUS APPROVED: Until the change-of-status is approved, you will not be eligible for any on-campus or off-campus work authorization benefits eligible to an F-1 student, and you may not be allowed to study full-time if you are transitioning from an F-2 dependent visa or B-1/B-2 visitor visa categories that restrict college-level study.
NO TRAVEL WHILE CHANGE-OF-STATUS CASE IS PENDING: Once the I-539 Change-of-Status petition is submitted to USCIS, you cannot leave the United States for any reason until the case has been processed. If you leave the U.S., even for a Caribbean Cruise, your I-539 petition will be considered “abandoned,” and the case will be cancelled by USCIS. Only once the I-539 Change-of-Status petition has been approved will you be able to travel internationally.
CHANGE-OF-STATUS APPROVAL IS NOT A VISA: Once the Change-of-Status is approved, you will receive an I-797 Approval Notice granting you F-1 Student status. However, the approval notice form is not a visa and cannot be used for re-entry to the U.S. You will need to apply for an F-1 Student visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate the next time you travel internationally beyond North America (see Student Travel Requirements page)
B-1/B-2 TO F-1 APPLICANTS: If you are currently on a B-1/B-2 Visitor Visa Status and you want to apply to change status to an F-1 or J-1 student visa status, applying for a Change-of-Status within the first 90 days of entry to the U.S. in B-1/B-2 status will likely result in a denial and may be considered fraudulent entry based on a misrepresentation of status based on 9 FAM 302.9-4(B)(3)(g)(2) – Inconsistent Conduct Within 90 Days of Entry. This change to the Foreign Affairs Manual was published on September 20, 2017.
NO BRIDGE PETITION REQUIRED: Effective July 20, 2021, USCIS no longer requires someone in another visa status to maintain their status continuously while awaiting a change-of-status. All that is required as an applicant for a change-of-status is that your nonimmigrant status is unexpired at the time of filing the I-539 change-of-status to F-1 application, and that you otherwise remain eligible for a change-of-status. This is what is known as “timely filing” of a petition. See USCIS’s Special Instruction Page for more information.

CHANGE-OF-STATUS STEPS

Step One — MEET WITH ISSD AND APPLY FOR I-20

Meet with an ISSD advisor to assess your eligibility for a Change-of-Status to F-1 student status.
Complete and submit the I-20 Request Form with required proof of funding.
ISSD will prepare the F-1 I-20 and any necessary F-2 Dependent documents for a spouse and children and provide them to you.

Step Two — PREPARE YOUR I-539 PETITION (AND I-907 PETITION IF EXPEDITING)
International Student Services Department cannot prepare your change-of-status petition.

ISSD strongly advises you to seek the assistance of competent legal counsel to represent you in applying for a Change-of-Status to F-1 Student status. A list of immigration attorneys can be found on https://ailalawyer.com/.

General guidance for applying to USCIS for a Change-of-status can be found on the USCIS Website.

While International Student Services Department cannot help you prepare your petition, below you will find a generalized list of documents needed to be submitted to USCIS:

Form I-539: “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status” and an additional Form I-539A for each F-2 dependent co-applicant.
The current I-539 Application Fee – check should be made payable to the “U.S. Department of Homeland Security“.
Form I-907 Premium Processing Application and Filing Fee if you require a fast decision.
A cover letter from you addressed to the USCIS requesting the change of status and explaining your circumstances. Include why you entered the U.S. in your current status, why and how your intentions changed after arrival in the U.S. and any other relevant information.
Proof of financial support (bank statement, assistantship letter, etc.) equivalent to one year of study including living expenses.
A newly-issued Form I-20 from International Student Services Department.
SEVIS Fee Receipt (pay online).
A letter of acceptance from SFBC.
Photocopies of the following pages of your passport:
1. Passport ID page (with your picture on it)
2. Passport page that includes current expiration date
3. The most recent US Visa page of your passport
Copy of your I-94 Record.
Photocopies of additional immigration documents pertaining to your current status (e.g. H-4, E-2 or L-3 I-797 Approval Notices, F-2 I-20s, J-2 DS-2019s, etc.).
If you are currently in a dependent visa status (e.g. F-2, E-2, J-2, H-4, etc.), please include copies of the passport, visa, and supporting immigration documents for the primary visa holder (e.g. the F-1, J-1, or H-1B visa holder who sponsors your current status).
SPECIAL NOTE FOR WORK VISA HOLDERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS: If your visa status is based on employment or as the dependent of someone who holds a work visa (e.g. H, L, E, TN visas), it is recommended to include documentation of the principal visa holder’s proof of current employment and valid status.
DEPENDENTS: If your application includes the sponsorship of any F-2 dependents (spouse or children), include:
1. a Form I-539A for each dependent included on the I-539;
2. a copy of the documents listed in items 8, 9, and 10 above, for each dependent;
3. proof of your relationship (marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates),
4. and a newly issued F-2 Dependent I-20 form for each dependent.

Step Three — SUBMIT PETITION TO USCIS
Ship petition to the appropriate USCIS Office: https://www.uscis.gov/i-539-addresses (if filing Premium Processing, see Direct Filing Addresses for I-907).

Please make a photocopy/scan of your entire application and supporting documents for your files before sending them to USCIS. Send the application to the appropriate USCIS filing address as indicated in the instructions for form I-539.

IMPORTANT: When you receive an approval for your Change-of-Status from USCIS, please report to International Student Services Department immediately. Send or bring a photocopy of your I-20, I-797 “Approval Notice” and new I-94 record to ISSD.

Changing from F-1 Status to Another Immigration Status

NOTIFY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF ANY CHANGE
For any international student of SFBC, upon approval of any change-of-status from your current F-1 to any other visa (e.g. H-1B approval), please make sure to update ISSD by submitting a copy of the I-797 Approval Notice from USCIS or new visa and I-94 record to issd@sfbc.edu or bringing a copy in-person.

ISSD will update your immigration records in Populi, notify HR of the updates for I-9 reporting purposes, and will make sure your SEVIS Record is updated properly for those on F visa status.

After Permanent Residency/Green Card is Approved

NOTIFY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF PERMANENT RESIDENCY
For any international student of SFBC, upon approval of your Permanent Residency, please make sure to update ISSD by submitting a copy of the front and back of your Green Card (or I-551 Immigrant Visa Stamp if PR was granted at the Consulate/Embassy) to issd@sfbc.edu or bringing a copy in-person.

ISSD will update your immigration records in Populi, notify HR of the updates for I-9 reporting purposes, and will make sure your SEVIS Record is updated properly for those on F visa status.

TRAVEL AS A PERMANENT RESIDENT
USCIS has information regarding travel as Permanent Resident, including what documents you need to be able to re-enter the U.S., what additional petitions you must file in case your trip abroad will last longer than 1 year, and what to do in case your Green Card is lost during travel.

REPLACING/RENEWING GREEN CARD – KEEP CARD EXPIRATION DATES IN MIND
USCIS has information on what to do to replace your Green Card, such as when the card may be expiring, your card was lost or stolen, your name has changed, etc.

After U.S. Citizenship/Naturalization is Approved

USCIS has a great deal of information on applying for U.S. Citizenship. USCIS has tools to help you determine your eligibility to apply for Citizenship.

NOTIFY INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF NATURALIZATION
For any student who obtains U.S. Citizenship, please make sure to update ISSD by submitting a copy of your Naturalization Certificate or U.S. Passport to issd@sfbc.edu or bringing a copy in-person.

ISSD will update your immigration records in Populi to code you as a U.S. Citizen.

IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE DISCLAIMER

ISSD strongly advises you to seek the assistance of competent legal counsel with regard to any questions related to status as a Permanent Resident or seeking U.S. Citizenship via Naturalization. A list of immigration attorneys can be found on https://ailalawyer.com/. Additionally, you can find immigration assistance through a network of immigration advocates.

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