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Current Students - Maintaining Your Status
Change of Status to F-1 Student
Non-immigrants in the United States who have maintained lawful status may
change to another visa status if their primary purpose for being in the United States
changes. Individuals who are currently in J status (J-1 or J-2) may be
ineligible to change status, depending on whether the exchange visitors are
subject to the two-year
home country requirement. Students who are interested
in changing their status should read the information below, review the
change of status checklist and
then make an appointment to meet with an international student advisor in
the OIE to process the paperwork. Call 706-425-3154 to make an appointment.
Your Options:
- Change of status through travel:
Once a student is admitted to the University of Georgia by the admissions office an I-20 can be issued to allow a student to travel home and request an F-1 visa. Once a student is issued an F-1 visa and re-enters the U.S. with their I-20 they have effectively changed their non-immigrant status. The travel option, while the cost can vary depending on the students' home country, allows the student to control when the change of status will be processed and will help a student to ensure that they will have the legal ability to begin classes in the semester they are admitted. A student who already intends to travel at some point before they begin their studies should talk to an international student advisor about being issued an I-20 to change their status using this process.
- Change of status through a paper application to USCIS:
To change nonimmigrant status to F-1 from another nonimmigrant status, a student should complete the change of status application. Materials that will be required are:
- Form I-539, completed by printing clearly all information and signed by the intending student.
- Form I-20 indicating “change of status requested” obtained from the OIE
- Receipt for proof of payment for I-901 SEVIS fee http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
- Original bank documents or graduate assistantship offer letter to document financial support for tuition and living expenses for the first year of studies. Additional amounts will be required if you have any dependents.
- Cover letter addressed to USCIS requesting the change and explaining why the change is needed.
- Original I-94 Arrival Departure Record.
- Proof of current lawful status. (If on a dependent visa, provide photocopies of primary visa-holders legal status—such as: the I-94 ; and the I-797, DS-2019 or I-20 ID)
- Photocopies of I-94s for any dependents who will be changing status with you.
- Check or money order for $200, payable to "USCIS"
Read the supplimentary information to prepare your supporting materials for requesting a change to student status.
Cautions
If you are in a visa status in which you are not authorized to work or study (i.e., F-2), you may not be employed as an F-1 student in any capacity or study until you receive notification from USCIS that your status has been officially changed. This process can be lengthy, so it is essential to apply for the change of status as soon as possible if you have been offered an assistantship.
If you would like to change from B-1/B-2 visitor’s visa to F-1 or J-1 student visa, it is important to know that this is not possible in the U.S., unless the visitor’s visa or I-94 has "prospective student" written on it. A denial of the change would result in a notice from USCIS requesting the student to voluntarily depart the United States.
Assistance from OIE
Make an appointment at the Office of International Education, 425-3154, to see an international student advisor.
Bring all materials to the office at your scheduled appointment time. The materials will be reviewed and suggestions made; however the student is responsible for filing the petition with USCIS.
A person who has changed status while in the U.S., and intends to travel outside the United States, must obtain a new entry visa from a U.S. consulate or embassy before returning to the United States.
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Prospective Students