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Change of Non-immigrant Visa Status
If you are currently in the U.S. under a visa status that does
not allow full-time or part-time study, you may need to change
your visa status. Contact an international student advisor at
intlprog@sc.edu to learn if a change of visa status is
needed to study at USC.
Many students learn that they need to be on an F-1 or J-1 visa
in order to be a full-time student. You must be lawfully
maintaining your current visa status in order to be eligible for
a change of visa status. The procedures outlined below describe
what is needed to change from one non-immigrant visa status to
an F-1 or J-1 visa status.
To
apply for a change to F-1 or J-1status, you may either:
1. Travel out of the U.S., apply at a U.S. Embassy or
Consulate for a new type of visa, and then re-enter the U.S.
using the new visa classification.
- OR
-
2. Mail a Change of Status application to a USCIS Service
Center while remaining within the U.S. You can apply while
remaining in the U.S. unless you are a J-1 visa holder who is
subject to the
two-year home residence requirement.
If you are subject to this two-year home residency rule, you
must travel out of the U.S. to change your status or get a
waiver of the requirement. Make an appointment with an
international student advisor to discuss your options.
If you file for a change of status inside the U.S., you should
not leave the U.S. while the application is pending. Leaving the
U.S. may cancel the application.
If you will be changing status inside the U.S., the items
listed below are required for your application. It is strongly
recommended that you meet with an advisor in International
Programs to review and mail your application.
1. A letter from you, requesting the change of
status and explaining your circumstances and plans. It is
recommended that an international student advisor review your
letter before you mail your packet to the USCIS.
2. Completed
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
An international student advisor can help you with items you
don't understand. Remember to complete both sides of the form,
answer question Part 4, item 3, on a separate page when
necessary, and complete the mailing label.
3. Your original SEVIS I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) for
the new status. If you are a current USC student, please
complete an
I-20 request form and submit it to International Programs
for Students. New students will be issued an I-20 once
admitted.
4. Photocopies of your immigration documents for all current and
previous visa statuses:
- Picture page and name page of your passport
- Expiration date of your passport
- Visa page of your passport
- BOTH sides of your I-94 card
- Approval Notices you have received in the past
concerning your current and previous visa statuses
- If you are an F-2 or J-2 dependent, all current
and previous I-20s or DS-2019s
5. If you are currently in a dependent visa status, provide
photocopies of the immigration documents of the primary spouse
or parent:
- Picture page and name page of his/her passport
- Expiration date of your passport
- Visa page of his/her passport
- BOTH sides of his/her I-94 card
- Approval Notices he/she has received in the
past concerning a current and previous visa statuses
- If the primary is an F-1 or J-1, all current and previous
I-20s or DS-2019s
6. Financial documentation: evidence of funds for the full
amount of expenses listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 (scholarships,
personal or family bank statements and/or letter from your
academic department describing your assistantship);
7. Fee of $300: personal check made payable to
the Department of Homeland Security;
8.
Receipt of SEVIS fee payment ($100). For information on how to
pay the SEVIS fee,
click here. Please
note: on October 27, 2008, the SEVIS fee will increase to $200
for F1-visa holders and to $180 for J1-visa holders.
It
is strongly recommended that you meet with an advisor in person
or by phone to review and mail your application. Please allow
one to three months to process the application.
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