With certain exceptions, an alien already in the U.S. can apply for a change to F-1 status if he or she has maintained lawful nonimmigrant status up to the time the application is filed.

Required documents/evidence

• Certified translations for foreign language documents

  Please submit certified translations for all foreign language documents. The translator must certify that s/he is competent to translate and that the translation is accurate.  The certification format should include the certifier's name, signature, address, and date of certification.  A suggested format is:

  Certification by Translator

  I     typed name    , certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and                      languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of the document attached entitled                       .

   

  Signature                                                        
  Date                                          Typed Name
                                                    Address

   
• Mail to Dallas Lockbox filing addresses:

For U.S. Postal Service (including US Postal Service Express mail):

USCIS
P.O. Box 660166
Dallas, TX 75266

 

For Express mail and courier deliveries
(e.g. UPS, Fed Ex, DHL, etc):

USCIS
ATTN: I-539
2501 S. State Highway 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

• Applicants filing a Form I-539 at a USCIS Lockbox facility may also elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their application has been accepted, by completing an E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance(Form G-1145), and attaching it to the first page of their application.

*Make file copies of all documents before sending to USCIS.

* Please submit a copy of the "Notice of Action" document (I-797) as you receive it from the USCIS.

Restrictions on changing to F-1 status from certain statuses

Certain nonimmigrants are not permitted to change status to F-1 while in the U.S.  Such nonimmigrants may still be eligible for F-1 status, but the only way they can get F-1 status is through obtaining an F-1 visa and re-entering the U.S.

The following nonimmigrants are not permitted to change status to F-1 in the U.S.:

• M-1 students
• C, D, and K nonimmigrants
• J-1 physicians admitted to receive graduate medical education or training
• J nonimmigrants subject to the 212(e) 2-year foreign residence requirement
• Aliens admitted as visitors under 8 C.F.R. 212.1(e)
• WT and WB visitors admitted under the Visa Waiver Program

School attendance pending adjudication of change to F-1 status

An applicant for change of nonimmigrant status to F-1 may start attending school even before the application has been submitted or approved, except for the following, who must wait until their change of status application is approved by USCIS:

1. Nonimmigrants changing to F-1 from B-1 or B-2 status
2. Nonimmigrants changing to F-1 from F-2 dependent status (except in the case of F-2 minors studying at the primary or secondary level)

F-1 employment not possible until change of status is approved

In all change of status cases, no F-1 benefits are available, including any kind of employment, until the student receives notice from USCIS that his or her request for change of status has been approved.

Departure from the U.S. while change of status is pending invalidates application

A nonimmigrant who travels abroad while an application for change of status is pending is considered to have abandoned the change of status application.  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will deny the application if they become aware of the departure.

Change from B-2 to F-1 status

Requests for change from B-2 status to F-1 status receive special scrutiny by USCIS.  A visitor in B-1 or B-2 status is not permitted to begin a course of study until USCIS approves the change of status application.

Change from a dependent status to F-1 status

In addition to the required documents for requesting a change to F-1 status, an alien wishing to change status from a nonimmigrant dependent (e.g., an F-2 spouse) must establish that he or she has been maintaining valid dependent status.  Since the status of a dependent depends upon the status of the principal, he or she must provide evidence of the validity of the status of the principal, including copies of the principal's Form I-94 and any other status document.

For more detailed information, please visit "How Do I Get Permission to Change to a New Nonimmigrant Status? " in the USCIS website.

USCIS Processing Time

USCIS Online Change of Address

Go to "Check-In after Change of Status Approval" page

Welcome

Advantages

Cost Estimates

Success

Area Attractions

TOEFL

SEVIS I-901 Fee

U.S. Immigration (USCIS)

Housing and Transportation

Placement Tests

Credentials Evaluation Service