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University of Florida

Change of Status OUTSIDE of the United States

For Newly Admitted students who choose to travel abroad to apply for the F-1 visa, the International Student Advisor will process an I-20 for the student, following the I-20 Process for Degree Students. The student will use the I-20 to apply for the F-1 visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy in the home country. F-1 status is obtained once the student enters the U.S. with the valid Passport, F-1 visa, and I-20. More information about the Visa Process and U.S. Port of Entry is available on our website.

For Currently Enrolled students who choose to travel abroad to apply for the F-1 visa, the International Student Advisor will process an I-20 for the student. 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 travel outside the U.S. to apply for the F-1 visa abroad

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 visa application process at a U.S. consulate or embassy in the home country. F-1 status is obtained once the student enters the U.S. with a valid Passport, F-1 visa, and I-20. More information about the Visa Process and U.S. Port of Entry is available on our website.

After the student enters the U.S. in F-1 status, the student will need to complete the mandatory Check-in.

The "travel option" allows for more control of the change of status process since arriving in the new status will depend on how soon the student can travel to apply for the F-1 visa and how soon the student is able to return once the F-1 visa is granted. If international travel is already planned to occur at some point before studies begin, the method for applying outside the U.S. is recommended.

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.