Change of Status to F-1

Eligibility Requirements for Change of Status to F-1

  • The applicant's current nonimmigrant status must be valid at the time USCIS receives the change of status to F-1 application.
  • The applicant must (a) be in their current visa status for at least three months before filing a change of status to F-1 application with USCIS; or (b) provide to USCIS proof of no preconceived intent to study at the time of last entry to the U.S.
  • The applicant’s most recent entry to the U.S. must not have been under the Visa Waiver Program as a visitor for business (WB status) or tourism (WT status).
  • Note: If an applicant is currently in J-1/J-2 status and subject to 212e or the 2 year home residency requirement, the applicant is not eligible to apply for a change of status in the U.S. unless they have obtained a waiver of this requirement.

Application Procedure

Individuals who choose to apply for a change of status to F-1 must follow the steps below.

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1. Obtain an F-1 I-20

The Form I-20 is a "certificate of eligibility" for F-1 status; the form alone does not grant F-1 status itself. The process for obtaining an I-20 depends on whether the student is (a) newly admitted to the University and has not yet begun taking classes; or (b) currently enrolled at the University of Minnesota.

Newly Admitted Students to the University of Minnesota

After admission to the University, confirm your enrollment, so you will be eligible to receive an I-20. If you have questions about the requirements to receive your I-20, email [email protected]

Students Currently Enrolled at the University of Minnesota

Submit a completed Financial Certification Statement to an ISSS adviser during drop-in hours or a scheduled appointment. If you expect to have funding from the University of Minnesota after acquiring F-1 status, and you want that funding indicated on your I-20, you will need to submit evidence of the funding (for example, a scholarship offer letter) with your Financial Certification Statement.

An AI “Determine Current Visa Status” registration hold will be added to your UMN record as part of the I-20 processing. This hold will be removed once you complete the International Student Preparation Course and ISSS Check-in after you have received an F-1 approval notice (Form I-797) from USCIS.

2. Obtain the support of an immigration attorney when filing a change of status application with USCIS.

  1. Obtain the support of an immigration attorney when filing a change of status application with USCIS. Student Legal Service (SLS) is available to assist all UMN Twin Cities students paying the Student Services Fee. SLS intake staff will help determine eligibility for services. Alternatively, you may find and hire your own immigration attorney.

3. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee

Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee and save a copy of the SEVIS fee receipt.

4. File your change of status to F-1 application with USCIS

  1. To complete Form I-539 online, go to the USCIS website, click on “file online,” and create a USCIS account, if you do not already have a USCIS account.
  2. Decide if you will request Premium Processing

Applicants may request a premium processing upgrade by filing a Request for Premium Processing and paying the Form I-907 fee. Premium Processing may be requested when filing Form I-539 or after the applicant’s Form I-539 is pending with USCIS. USCIS guarantees it will take adjudicative action on properly filed premium processing cases within 30 calendar days. Otherwise, USCIS will refund the premium processing fee. 

  1. After you are signed into your USCIS account, follow the prompts to complete your application, and upload the following required items.
  • Signed and dated letter from the applicant explaining why a change of status is needed
  • Signed and dated Form I-20 with “Change of Status Requested” annotated on page 1
  • Photocopy of applicant’s passport identity page
  • Photocopy of applicant’s Form I-94
  • Proof of funding that is greater than or equal to the funding amount indicated on the I-20 (for example: scholarship offer letter, bank statement, family member's letter of financial support, etc.).
  • I-901 SEVIS fee receipt

5. Pay the I-539 form fee online

Pay the I-539 form fee online as the final step of filing your change of status application with USCIS. (Applicants who file Form I-539 are no longer required to pay the biometric services fee as part of the application process. In most cases, change of status to F-1 applicants will not be scheduled to attend a biometric services appointment. However, if USCIS determines biometrics are required, the applicant will receive a notice with information about appearing for their biometric services appointment).

Check Case Processing Times

After filing Form I-539 change of status applicants will receive a Form I-797C receipt notice. Applicants may use information on the receipt notice to check case processing times.

Change of Status to F-1 Approval

Your F-1 status is granted as of the effective date on the approval notice. Upon receiving the F-1 change of status approval notice (Form I-797), please complete two required eforms in your MyISSS account by clicking on Report Change of Status to F-1 Approval. The two eforms are named "F-1 Approval Upload" and "F-1 Immigration Regulations Quiz." After submitting the completed eforms, an ISSS staff person will update your UMN record to indicate you are in F-1 status as of the effective date on the approval notice. Failure to report your change of status in a timely manner by completing the two eforms could result in the loss of your newly gained status.

Change of Status to F-1 Denial

There is no guarantee that USCIS will approve a change of status request. If you receive an F-1 change of status denial notice (Form I-797), ISSS recommends you notify ISSS by email at [email protected] and consult with an immigration attorney as needed.

Problems Related to Change of Status Applications

The F-1 SEVIS record for a change of status to F-1 applicant will automatically cancel 60 days after the Program Start Date on the I-20, if the application is not approved or action is not taken to prevent it from being cancelled. To avoid automatic system cancellation of an F-1 record, ISSS recommends that the applicant email [email protected], if it has been 30 days past their I-20 program start date, to defer their start date to a future date. It may take USCIS several months to adjudicate a change of status application, so the I-20 program start date may need to be changed multiple times while the change of status to F-1 application is pending with USCIS.  

Change of Status to F-1 from B-1 or B-2 Visitor Status

Although there is no guarantee, if a change of status to F-1 applicant has a "prospective student" notation on their B1/B2 visa, the applicant should be able to obtain a change of status to F-1. Otherwise, the applicant must establish that they did not have intent to study in the U.S. before entering as a visitor, and that the intention to study arose after entering the U.S. as a visitor. USCIS will generally deny an application for change of status to F-1, if it determines the applicant intended to study in the U.S. before entering as a visitor, inferring that the student misrepresented their purpose in coming to the U.S. by failing to reveal the intent to study when applying for a visa. 

Change of Status to F-1 from B-1 or B-2 Visitor Status

Although there is no guarantee, if a change of status to F-1 applicant has a "prospective student" notation on their B1/B2 visa, the applicant should be able to obtain a change of status to F-1. Otherwise, the applicant must establish that they did not have intent to study in the U.S. before entering as a visitor, and that the intention to study arose after entering the U.S. as a visitor. USCIS will generally deny an application for change of status to F-1, if it determines the applicant intended to study in the U.S. before entering as a visitor, inferring that the student misrepresented their purpose in coming to the U.S. by failing to reveal the intent to study when applying for a visa. 

Last updated: March 1, 2024