Due to the complexity of J status regulations, the Office of International Affairs recommends that you speak with an advisor before you begin the application process. If you are subject to Section 212(e), also known as the “two-year home residency requirement,” you cannot change to F-1 status in the United States unless you have received a recommendation for a waiver of the requirement from the Department of State. If you are eligible to change status while in the United States, you will need to be admitted to a full-time academic program to be issued a Form I-20.
Application Procedure
Your request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of status should consist of the following:
- Completed Form I-539 with the processing fee. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Department of Homeland Security. View the most current fee information.
- Receipt for paying SEVIS I-901 Fee
- Copy of pages 1 and 3 of the Form I-20, signed and dated
- Copy of the front and back of the Form I-94 card or printed copy of the electronic I-94 card and copy of admission stamp
- If J-2, copies of J-1’s valid DS-2019 and I-94
- Copy of financial verification
- Copies of the pages in each individual’s passport that include biographical information, passport picture and passport expiration
- Statement about why you need to change status from J-1 or J-2 to F-1
If you have been offered an assistantship, please include and highlight in your letter: “Please expedite: Assistantship pending.” Also, write on the bottom left corner of the envelope, “Expedite: Assistantship pending.”