Change of Status INSIDE the United States
This option requires the submission of a Change of Status (COS) application to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the applicant may remain in the U.S. while the application is pending.
We advise the applicant to keep copies of all documents submitted to USCIS. We recommend filing the I-539 Change of Status application online. But the case may be filed only after obtaining the I-20 Form from the university.
The Change of Status application process is lengthy. You may visit USCIS Processing Times for current averages; select “Form I-539,” “Change of Status to F or M Student or J Exchange Visitor,” and the service center to get an estimated processing time. When the case is filed, USCIS will provide the applicant with a receipt and the case number. The applicant can use the case number to track the status of the application on the USCIS site.
Once the Change of Status has been APPROVED, the applicant must provide a copy of the Approval Notice with attached I-94 to UFIC within 15 days of receiving it. The student will also need to complete the mandatory Check-in only after receiving the approval.
USCIS application fee amounts change periodically. Refer to USCIS for the latest information on the current application fee and requirements for the I-539 Application. The fee will be paid when submitting the I-539 application online.
We advise gathering the following documents before filing the case with USCIS.
- Form I-20 from the school the student will attend
- Current I-94 record
- Proof of financial support. For any financial statements submitted to USCIS, they request the most recent 3 months of financial statements. All statements must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation.
- Copy of current passport, valid for at least 6 months in the future
- Evidence of the current lawful status in the U.S. If on a dependent visa, have evidence of the primary visa holder’s current lawful status in the U.S.
- If filing with dependents, copies of the dependents' passports and evidence of the dependents' current lawful status in the U.S.
- I-901 SEVIS Fee The I-901 Fee is paid after the student receives the I-20 from the university.
A letter of explanation as to the reason for seeking the change of status.
If interested in filing a change of status case seeking F-1 status, the applicant must first obtain the Form I-20 from the university. Please either contact a UFIC advisor or join their office hours meeting to request the initiation of the I-20 process. Before proceeding, we will need to know the following basic information:
- Your current status in the U.S. and the expected end date of that status
- If already a UF student, the expected graduation semester
- If on a dependent visa, the date of your 21st birthday
- The semester for which you want the F-1 status to be effective
- Confirm that you wish to change your visa status within the U.S. by filing the I-539
We will then initiate the application for the I-20. The student must complete and submit the I-20 application. Upon review of the submitted application, we will process the I-20 and notify the student by email. The student will then download the I-20, print it, sign and date it, and use it for the change of visa status application.
- I-539 Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
- Financial Support Guidelines – To assist in calculating the amount needed for proof of funds
- I-94 Record – Needed as part of the application
- SEVIS fee payment – Payment must be made after the I-20 is issued
- Case Status Online – To check the status of the application on the USCIS site
- USCIS Processing Times – To check the current processing times for applications pending at USCIS
- USCIS Change of Address – To update the mailing address with USCIS in the event the applicant moves
- Official USPS Change of Address – To update the mailing address with the U.S. Postal Service in the event the applicant moves
Contact Us
If you cannot attend your specific F-1 advisor’s Virtual Office Hours, you may send your questions by email using the Contact Us form. Your F-1 advisor will reply to your email.