Change of Visa Status

If you do Change of Status inside the U.S. you will receive F-1 status but not an F-1 visa. Later, if you depart the U.S., you must obtain an F-1 visa before U.S. reentry.

There is no guarantee that your academic department will hold your assistantship position while your change of status is pending due to institutional deadlines and policies that may prevent them from holding assistantships beyond a certain date each semester. Check with them directly. If your change of status is not approved by this date, you will lose your assistantship offer for that semester.

ISSS can make no predictions about the outcome of your Change of Status application. Factors that may influence your case include:

• Your current status
• Your immigration history in the U.S.
• Quality and appropriateness of your application materials
• Your ability to prove non-immigrant intent
• Your ability to document liquid financial support for your stay in the U.S.
• The academic level and focus of your studies in the U.S.

Current trends provide no guarantee that an application will be approved or denied, and you should prepare for both outcomes. Have a plan ready in case your request is denied.

Unfortunately, there is no expedited change of status option. If you need your status changed quickly, it is much faster to pursue the travel and re-entry option.

No. Because of the complicated nature of Change of Status applications and various factors we can't control, ISSS will only review your documents at face value and provide the required form I-20. We can offer general information and advice on working with a qualified immigration attorney.

ISSS will not process in-country Change of Status I-20s if your request arrives less than two months before the first day of classes for the next term. ISSS will process I-20s for any students wishing to travel home to change their status out-of-country.

Yes. Approximately 2-4 weeks after mailing your application to USCIS, you will receive a receipt notice informing you of the receipt of your application. This notice will contain your case number, which you can use to look view your case status online on the USCIS Website.  On the same page, you can also register to receive e-mail updates so that you are alerted when USCIS makes a decision about your case.

When USCIS is missing information or needs additional information to process your case, USCIS will mail a letter called a Request for Evidence (RFE) containing the specifics of items they are requesting and a specific deadline to reply. If you receive an RFE, ISSS can offer basic guidance on how to reply or clarification of the evidence requested. It may be best to work with a qualified immigration attorney if you receive an RFE.

To protect American national security, everyone who wishes to study in the U.S. must be identified as non-threatening to American interests. This happens automatically for many students, but students from certain countries and in certain fields of study are subject to closer scrutiny. For example, doctoral students in physics, chemistry, and biology are frequently subject to security clearances. Before these students are issued a visa, their background must be checked by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a process that can delay visa issuance for one to six months. If you believe your background may cause you to be subject to a long security clearance check, be sure to apply as early as possible for your visa. It is also advisable to work with an experienced immigration attorney in such cases.