Changing Nonimmigrant Status

A person's nonimmigrant status must match the purpose of his/her stay in the U.S.  A change of status may be necessary when the objectives of the visit have changed. For example, a person may come to the U.S. to study on an F-1 student visa and then later decide to change to a J-1 Research Scholar to do postdoctoral work after completing his/her Ph.D. degree.

Changing non-immigrant status can be a complex process.

The timing of the change is critical and must be done with care to avoid falling out of status during the transition. Before you undertake a change of status, it is critical that you speak with an advisor at Berkeley International Office about the process as early as possible to determine the appropriate process and timeline. If you choose to change status by applying to USCIS, BIO also recommends that you consult with an immigration attorney experienced with F/J student or J scholar change of status cases.

In general, there are two ways to change nonimmigrant status: 

  1. Travel outside the U.S. to apply for a new F or J visa and re-enter in the new F or J status, or
  2. Remain in the U.S. and request a change of status by application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You must consult a BIO advisor if you choose this option. You can also review our Changing Status to F-1/J-1 Student via USCIS Handout for general information.

After Changing Status, you must:

  1. Complete Online Arrival Confirmation & Address Reporting
  2. Complete the MANDATORY iStart 101 course modules
  3. Review Top 10 Tips for Maintaining Your F/J Status
COMPARE THE DIFFERENT PROCESSES

CHANGE BY TRAVEL

CHANGE BY USCIS
See BIO's USCIS Change of Status Handout

Cost

Filing for a Change by USCIS requires you to file a Form I-539. Please follow these steps to be sure you are filing the correct form and fee when you file your application.

Processing
Time

Changing non-immigrant status via travel requires applying to a U.S. consulate outside the U.S. to obtain the new visa stamp, so the length of time is dependent on how long that process will take.  You MUST be physically present in the country in which you are applying for the visa. Visit your local U.S. embassy or consulate website to confirm operating status and current processing times. Security checks can take an additional 3 months.

Due to  the possibility of delays, longer processing times or security checks, we recommend speaking with a BIO advisor regarding your travel timing and strategy before choosing this option.

NOTE:  Your re-entry date to the U.S. may be up to 30 days prior to your DS-2019 or I-20 start date.  If your re-entry date is delayed, notify your department and Berkeley International Office immediately.

USCIS processing time for a change of status can vary, and includes not only the application processing time but also obtaining BiometricsProcessing times are subject to change and not guaranteed. Check USCIS Processing Times for the Service Center at which you submit your I-539 request. 

Standard USCIS processing has ranged over the years from 4-19 months.

Premium Processing is available by filing the Form I-907 at the time of filing your I-539 Change of Status OR you can choose to file the I-907 later to upgrade your processing.  Premium processing provides processing within 30 calendar days for Form I-539 applicants requesting a change of status to F-1/ F-2, or J-1 J-2 status, once all prerequisites, including receipt of of any required biometrics, have been met. Upgrade premium processing times only begin from the date you upgrade the application. For more information, see How do I request Premium Processing?

NOTE:  This process does NOT provide you a new visa stamp. The next time you travel outside the U.S. you will need to visit a U.S. consulate or embassy to apply for a new visa that reflects your changed status.

While the application is processing, the change of status petitioner may not leave the U.S. or the application will be considered abandoned.

If you are changing to J-1 and your current US immigration status expires while the change of status is pending, this may cause serious problems with the change of status request. 

Other Concerns

Third Country Visa Applications: It can be much more difficult to obtain a visa stamp in a 3rd country, such as Canada or Mexico, if you are not a national of that country. If you intend to apply for a visa in a country other than your home country, you will need to check with the consulate to determine if they will accept a Third Country National Applicaiton for a change of status. (Some consulates don't process TCNs, some won't process a TCN for a new visa category.)  If denied a visa, you must return to your home country to apply for a visa there. Berkeley International Office does not recommend applying for a visa stamp in a 3rd country, including either Canada or Mexico, unless you are a legal resident of that country.   

Due to time constraints, changing non-immigrant status via application to USCIS may not be the best option for certain student/scholars needing to begin full-time study or employment within within a timeframe shorter than current USCIS processing times. (USCIS processing has ranged over the years from 4-19 months.) Check USCIS Processing Times for the Service Center at which you submit your I-539 request and consult a BIO advisor to determine if change via USCIS is the right option for you.

If you are changing to J-1 and your current U.S. immigration status will expire during your Change of Status processing time, changing status via USCIS may not be possible or may have a very high risk of denial.

Study or Employment in B-1/B-2 Status:
Visitors in B-1/B-2 status cannot begin full-time or degree-seeking study or begin employment until the change of status to F-1 or J-1 is approved by USCIS.

Study or Employment in F-2 Status:
F-2 dependents may not begin employment until the status change to F-1 or J-1 is approved by USCIS. F-2 spouses and children may enroll in UC Berkeley academic programs for less than a full course of study. F-2 spouses and children may not enroll full-time in a UC Berkeley program until a change of status to F-1 or J-1 is approved by USCIS. 

Employment Issues:
F-1 or J-1 employment cannot be authorized until the change of status to F-1 or J-1 has been approved by USCIS. This means you must have received your I-797 Change of Status approval notice from USCIS.

If your Change of Status is approved with a future effective date, F-1s may not begin on-campus employment until 30 days before your I-20 start date. J-1 students cannot begin employment until they have been approved for on-campus employment authorization

Until the F-1 or J-1 change of status has been approved, refer to the employment authorization rules which apply to your current visa status. Be aware that if your current visa status expires and your F-1 or J-1 change of status is still pending, no employment authorization is possible.

Prior J-1 Status Holders:
Individuals subject to the J-1 Two Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement are not eligible for change of status within the US unless they have proof that they have been waived of the requirement.