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).
Change of Status to F-1 from J-1 or J-2: 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.
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.
Application Procedure
Individuals who choose to apply for a change of status to F-1 must follow the steps below.
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.
Before requesting your I-20:
- You should be certain of your plan to apply to USCIS for a change of status to F-1 (see ‘Reentry vs. Change of Status’).
- Newly Admitted Students to the University of Minnesota must have confirmed enrollment and claimed their UMN account.
To request your I-20:
Contact an F-1 advisor to notify ISSS of your intent to pursue a change of status to F-1. The ISSS advisor will send you a link to a MyISSS checklist for the Change of Status to F-1 process, which includes the I-20 request. Please be aware that you will need to provide funding documentation that meets ISSS’s financial documentation policies for the I-20 request.
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 your F-1 status has been approved, and you have reported it to ISSS (see #7).
2. Obtain the support of an immigration attorney when filing a change of status application with USCIS.
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 enrolled UMN Twin Cities students . 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.
Applicants may wish to check USCIS case processing times when deciding whether or not to request premium processing.
3. 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).
6. While your application is pending
It is important to notify ISSS of any updates to your change of status application, or any changes to your plans, so that your I-20/SEVIS record can be properly managed. Examples include: A significant delay in submitting your I-539 after receiving your I-20, a decision not to submit the I-539 at all, receiving a USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE).
Use the ‘Report an Update to ISSS’ form in your Change of Status to F-1 checklist in MyISSS to submit updates.
Important: Take action to avoid auto-cancellation of your SEVIS record!
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 action is not taken to prevent it from being cancelled.
To avoid automatic system cancellation of an F-1 record, you must notify ISSS as soon as you receive F-1 approval. If you do not receive F-1 approval at least 15 days before your I-20 Program Start Date, you must submit the ‘Report an Update to ISSS’ form to notify ISSS that your application is still pending.
ISSS will defer your I-20 Program Start Date to prevent the record from auto-cancelling, and issue an updated I-20 to you.
7. Change of Status to F-1 Approval or Denial
Change of Status to F-1 Approval
Your F-1 status is granted as of the effective date on the USCIS I-797 Approval Notice. Upon receiving the Approval Notice you must report your F-1 approval to ISSS.
- New Students: Complete your New Global Gopher Required Tasks.
- Continuing Students: Complete the ‘Report F-1 Approval’ forms in your Change of Status to F-1 checklist in MyISSS.
After completing the above forms, 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. If you are not already paying international student fees, they will be assessed as of your F-1 approval date and applied to your student account.
Failure to report your change of status in a timely manner may 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), notify ISSS by uploading the denial notice to the ‘Report an Update to ISSS’ form in your Change of Status to F-1 checklist in MyISSS. An ISSS advisor will follow-up with you; we recommend that you also consult with an immigration attorney as needed.
8. Important information about travel after a change of status to F-1
The I-797 Approval Notice is not valid for reentry to the U.S. in F-1 status. The first time you travel outside the U.S. after your change of status to F-1 is approved, you must apply for an F-1 visa if you will need to return to the U.S. in F-1 status.
