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Change of Status

Change of Status from B-2 to F-1

A change of non-immigrant status from B-2 to F-1 may be requested if the applicant arrived before or on April 12, 2002, is in possession of a valid Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure card in the passport),has been accepted for admission to TWU, and has been in the U.S. for more than 90 days. Change of status from B-2 to F-1 is possible before 90 days only if the visa officer has indicated "Prospective Student" on the B-2 visa. Please consult with the International Student Advisor to verify eligibility.

1. Form I-539, application for change of non-immigrant status.
   

2. Form SEVIS I-20 with item 11 completed by the student.
   

3. Copy of both sides of Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure card in passport). If dependents are in the U.S., please attach copies of both sides of their I-94(s). Dependents in B-2 status do not need to file a separate application, but they must be noted on addendum sheet of form I-539.
   

4. Check or money order for $300.00, payable to Department of Homeland Security.
   

5. Evidence of financial support. It is necessary to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to support his/her studies for at least the first year and to show source of income for subsequent years. A bank letter may be used to illustrate availability of funds for the first year; a notarized Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, may be used to show future support.
   

6. Copy of Passport Identity Page, which indicates expiration date of passport.
   

7. Copy of Visa.
   

8. Additional documentation as recommended by the International Student Advisor.

Please bring all of the above documents to the International Office. The International Student Advisor will review the application and forward the request to the BCIS Service Center for adjudication. Processing will take a minimum of two months and students will be notified when their documents have been returned.

Please note that on-campus employment eligibility begins upon receipt of the approved change of status. If you leave the U.S. and intend to reenter in F-1 status, you must request an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy before you return.

Change of Status from F-2 TO F-1

A change of non-immigrant status from F-2 to F-1 may be requested when the principal F-1 (spouse of the F-2) will be completing his/her academic program and departing from the U.S, and/or when the F-2 has been admitted to an academic degree program, intends to be a full-time student, and could benefit academically from being eligible to accept academic appointments such as teaching or research assistantships related to his/her academic field of study.

The documents which need to be submitted to BCIS to apply for a change to F-1 status are:

1. Form I-539, application for change of non-immigrant status.
2. Check for $300 made out to Department of Homeland Security.
3. Form SEVIS I-20 with item 11 completed by the student.
4. Xerox copies of both sides of F-1 spouse's I-94 and SEVIS I-20.
5. Xerox copy of both sides of applicant's I-94 card (Arrival/departure card in passport.)
6. Evidence of financial support. It is necessary to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to support his/her studies for at least the first year and to show source of income for subsequent years.
7. Passport identity page, showing date of expiration.
8. Copy of Visa of both applicant and F-1 spouse.
9. Additional documentation as recommended by the International Student Advisor.

Please bring all of the above documents to the International Office. The International Student Advisor will review the application and forward the request to the BCIS Texas Service Center for adjudication. Processing will take a minimum of two months and student will be notified when the documents have been returned.

Please note that on-campus employment eligibility begins upon receipt of the approved change of status. If you leave the U.S. and intend to reenter in F-1 status, you must request an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy before you return.

Change of Status from H-1 TO F-1

A change of non-immigrant status from H-1 to F-1 may be requested when the applicant makes the decision to discontinue temporary employment and to resume full-time student status.

The documents which need to be submitted to BCIS to apply for a change to F-1 status are:

1. Form I-539, application for change of non-immigrant status.
   

2. Form SEVIS I-20 with item 11 completed by the student.
   

3. Copy of front and back of Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure card in passport). If dependents are in the U.S. as H-4's, please attach copies of front and back of their I-94 cards. Dependents in H-4 status do not need to file a separate application to change to F-2, but an addendum to the form I-539 must list the dependents.
   

4. A copy of the I-797 (or I-171c), Approval Notice of the H-1 Petition.
   
5. Evidence of financial support. It is necessary to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to support his/her studies for at least the first year, plus the living expenses of his F-2 dependents, and an indication that the funds will be available for subsequent years.
   

6. Letter from the employer indicating the reason and date of departure from employment. Please note that the BCIS allows only 10 days from leaving employment to either file an application to BCIS or to leave the U.S. If the 10 day period has already lapsed, a change to F-1 status can only be accomplished by leaving the U.S., applying for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate and returning as an F-1 student.
   

7. Check or money order for $300.00, payable to Department of Homeland Security.
   

8. Passport identity pages of student and dependents, showing expiration date.
   

9. Copies of visa of student and dependents.
   

10. Additional documentation as recommended by the International Student Advisor.
    

Please note that on-campus employment eligibility begins upon receipt of the approved change of status. If you leave the U.S. and intend to reenter in F-1 status, you must request an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy before you return.

Change of Status from H-4 TO F-1

A change of status from H-4 to F-1 may be requested when the applicant can no longer maintain valid H-4 status because the H-1 principal alien has discontinued employment, or because the H-4 applicant is the child of an H-1 principal alien and has reached his/her 21st birthday. It may also be requested if the H-4 has been admitted to an academic degree program and intends to be a full time student and could benefit academically from being eligible to accept on-campus employment.

The documents which need to be submitted to BCIS to apply for a change to F-1 status are:

1. Form I-539, application for change of non-immigrant status.
   

2. Form SEVIS I-20 with item 11 completed by the student.
   

3. Copy of both sides of Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure card in passport.)
   

4. Evidence of financial support. It is necessary to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to support his/her studies for at least the first year and to show the source of income for subsequent years.
   
   
5. Letter from employer of the H-1 principal alien indicating that the H-1 is currently employed, or, if applicable, the reason and date of departure from employment.
   
   
6. Check or money order for $300.00, made payable to Department of Homeland Security.
   
   
7. Form I-797, approval of H-1 status.
   

8. Passport identity pages of both the H-1 and H-4.
   
   
9. Visas of both the H-1 and H-4.
   
   
10. Additional documentation as recommended by the International Student Advisor.

Please bring all of the above documents to the International Office. The International Student Advisor will review the application and forward the request to the BCIS Texas Service Center for adjudication. Processing will take a minimum of two months and students will be notified when their documents have been returned.

Please note that on-campus employment eligibility begins upon receipt of the approved change of status. If you leave the U.S. and intend to reenter in F-1 status, you must request an F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy before you return.

Change of Status from J-1 TO F-1

A change of non-immigrant status from J-1 to F-1 may be requested when the principal J-1 non-immigrant does not have a two-year home country residency requirement OR if he/she is eligible for a waiver of the above requirement.

The documents which need to be submitted to BCIS to apply for a change to F-1 status are:

1. Form I-539, application for change of non-immigrant status
   
   
2. Form SEVIS I-20 with item 11 completed by the student.
   
   
3. Copy of both sides of Form I-94 (Arrival/departure card in passport). If dependents are in the U.S., please attach copies of both sides of their I-94 cards. Dependents in J-2 status do not need to file a separate application to change status to F-2, but dependents must be noted on the addendum sheet to form I-539.
   
   
4. Check or money order for $300.00 payable to Department of Homeland Security.
   
   
5. Evidence of financial support. It is necessary to show that the applicant has sufficient funds to support his/her studies for at least the first year and to show source of income for subsequent years. A bank letter may be used to illustrate availability of funds for the first year. A notarized form I-134, Affidavit of Support, may be used to show future support.
   
   
6. Passport identity page of student and dependents, showing expiration date.
   
   
7. Copies of visas of student and dependents.
   
   
8. Additional information as recommended by the International Student Advisor.

Please bring all of the above documents to the International Office. The International Student Advisor will review the application and forward the request to the BCIS Texas Service Center for adjudication. Processing will take a minimum of two months and students will be notified when their documents have been returned.