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University of Florida

Change Of Visa Status

EVS recommends applying for the J visa in your home country and reentering the US in order to change your status even if you are already in the US.  

The J visa is a nonimmigrant visa. By applying in your home country, you demonstrate that you still have close ties with your home country. On the contrary, applying for an In-Country Change of Status in the US may give the appearance that you are unwilling to return to your home country.  

If you are approved for an In-Country Change of Status, your immigration status will change to J-1. However, you will not be issued a J visa. If you travel internationally in the future, you will then need to apply for the J visa in order to reenter the US.  

However, in certain cases, an In-Country Change of Status may be advisable. It is your responsibility to determine which option is best for you. If you have questions about the In-Country Change of Status process, EVS recommends consulting a qualified immigration attorney. 

  

Application Process 

You can only start the In-Country Change of Status application after you have received your UF DS-2019. 

  • Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee 
  • File Form I-539 with US Citizenship and Immigration Services 
    • Form I-539 must be filed before the expiration date of your current status 
  • You must receive the change of status approval before beginning J program activities 
  • Processing time for an In-Country Change of Status can range from 4 months to over a year 
    • You can check current processing times using this USCIS tool 
    • Premium Processing (expedited processing) is available for a fee 
  • You must complete the EVS Check-In process after receiving the approval notice  

 

If you will pursue a degree-seeking program, you must change to a student visa status. Most international students in the US use the F-1 visa. You cannot start a degree-seeking program while on a J-1 scholar visa.  

Generally, students will apply for F visa status in their home country. However, in some cases, students choose to apply for an in-country change of status.  

If you are subject to the 212(e) Two-Year Home Residency Requirement, you are not eligible for an in-country change of status unless you first obtain the 212(e) Waiver from the US government. If you are considering this option, EVS highly recommends that you speak to a qualified immigration attorney.  

 

Application Process 

You can only start the In-Country Change of Status application after you have received your Form I-20 from the university that you will attend.  

If you will attend UF you can find more information on the F visa process on the International Student Services website, including specific guidance on the In-Country Change of Status process.  

If you will attend another university, please contact the international student and scholar office at your new university for guidance.  

 

If you will change to another visa type, consult your immigration attorney or the institution that will sponsor your visa.  

If you are subject to the 212(e) Two-Year Home Residency Requirement, you are not eligible for an in-country change of status unless you first obtain the 212(e) Waiver from the US government. If you are considering this option, EVS highly recommends that you speak to a qualified immigration attorney.