Change to F-1 Status

After entering the U.S., there are two methods to change from one visa status to another. Once approved for F-1 status, you become eligible for F-1 status benefits including Off-Campus Employment.

Change Status Inside the U.S.	Change Status Outside the U.S.
Remain in the U.S. and apply by mail to USCIS for a change of status.	Leave the U.S., apply at a U.S. consulate or embassy for a new visa and re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.
If you are remaining in the U.S., you will receive a Form I-20 for a Change of Status by petition and filing instructions.	If you are leaving the U.S. for the change of status, you will receive an Initial Form I-20 to take to the U.S. consulate.
Your I-20 will indicate “Issue Reason: Change of Status.”	Your I-20 will indicate “Issue Reason: Initial.”

See our Change of Status Guide for more details regarding the two options above.

Eligibility

• You must be admitted to a degree-seeking program at UT Dallas. 
• You must be prepared to enroll full-time and meet the F-1 enrollment requirements at UT Dallas for each fall and spring semester of F-1 status. If your first semester in F-1 status is the summer semester, you will be required to enroll full-time.
  • For more information, visit Enrollment Requirements.
• Visa categories NOT eligible for a Change of Status are: C, D, K, M, WT/WB visitor, and ESTA. Those with J-1 status who are subject to the 212(e) two-year home country physical requirement cannot change status in the U.S. unless a waiver has been granted.
• You must be in an active, valid non-immigrant status.
  • If status is already expired or will expire more than 30 days before requested I-20 start date, ISSO believes the safest option is to apply for an initial I-20 for Change of Status Outside the U.S.
  • If your status will expire more than 30 days before your requested I-20 start date, but you plan to submit a Change of Status petition to USCIS before your status expires, the ISSO can issue an I-20 for Change of Status Inside the U.S. upon request. However, applying with a gap of more than 30 days between your status expiration and I-20 start date could lead to a denial. It is best to consult an immigration attorney for advice.

Change of Status Application Process

1. Gather required documents to request your I-20
   • Carefully review the Change of Status Guide before beginning the process.
   • Complete UT Dallas Financial Affidavit. Ensure all account owners listed on your submitted financial documents have signed section D of the affidavit as sponsors.
   • Financial support documents such as:
     • Bank statement on bank letterhead or other supporting documents
     • UT Dallas TA/RA letter, if you have been granted an assistantship.
     • UT Dallas Scholarship letter, if you have been granted a scholarship.
     • All supplemental funding documents must meet the requirements listed on the UT Dallas website, and must meet the minimum Estimated Expenses total required to issue your I-20.
   • Copy of the pages in your passport that contain your picture, name and date of expiry.
   • Evidence of current immigration status (I-797A Approval Notice or I-94).
2. Submit the iComet eForm for Change of Status
   • Log in to iComet using your NetID and password
     • What if I can’t log in?
   • After logging in, click “F-1 Current Students”
   • Click “Change of Status”
   • Complete and submit all 3 sections of the Change of Status form:
     • You must submit all 3 sections (Change of Status Request, Financial Affidavit, Dependent I-20 Request) for the request to be considered complete. If a section is missing or you do not submit all sections of the form together, your incomplete request will be closed by an ISSO advisor.
       
     • In the Change of Status Request section:
       • Indicate if you wish to change status inside the U.S. by I-539 Petition to USCIS or outside the U.S. by travelling to a consulate abroad.
       • Upload copy of passport ID page. This is the page that shows your name, photo and expiration date. 
       • Upload proof of current non-immigrant status (I-797A, I-94)  
       • Provide valid foreign address. A legitimate non-U.S. address is required to issue an I-20 document.  
       • Provide current US address.
     • In the Financial Affidavit section:
       • Upload a complete UT Dallas Financial Affidavit Form.  Ensure all account owners listed on your submitted financial documents have signed section D of the affidavit as sponsors.
       • Upload supplemental financial support documents. All supplemental funding documents must meet the requirements listed on the UT Dallas website, and must meet the minimum Estimated Expenses total required to issue your I-20.
     • In the Dependent I-20 Request section:
       • Indicate if you will also be applying for F-2 dependent visas for spouse or children.
       • If yes, upload copy of passport ID page for each dependent.
       • Note that additional proof of funding documentation is required to include dependents. Please carefully review the Estimated Expenses totals for adding dependents.
   • Once you have submitted a complete Change of Status request that meets all requirements, the ISSO will issue you an I-20 document, and you may begin the application process for F-1 status. Please note that your I-20 document will be sent directly to your UTD Email once approved. You cannot retrieve the document from the approval notification in the iComet portal.
3. Apply for your F-1 status
   • If you are applying by I-539 petition inside the U.S., see our Change of Status Guide for full checklist, instructions, and status considerations for submitting your application to USCIS.
   • If you are applying by travel outside the U.S. to a consulate abroad, you can find detailed instructions on the visa application process on our Visa Preparation webpage. You can also visit our Pre/Post Arrival Resources webpage for resources to prepare you for the visa interview, and a summary of your application steps on the Change of Status Guide.
4. Notify the ISSO of your application status
   
   • If applying by I-539 petition inside the U.S.:
     • At the start of each semester ISSO will reach out to you and ask you to report the status of your USCIS application using the Report Your Change of Status eForm. You will be sent a link to this form by email.
     • If your change of status application is still pending with USCIS after your I-20 program start date, action must be taken before Census Day of each semester that your application is pending, or your I-20 will be cancelled and cause a denial of your USCIS application.
     • After you are approved and receive your I-797A approval notice, submit a copy to the ISSO through the Report Your Change of Status eForm as soon as possible so that we can register your F-1 SEVIS record as “active.” You must report to the ISSO as soon as you receive your change of status I-797A approval notice. Failure to do so will jeopardize your status.
     • See below regarding steps for “New Student Check In” after your approval.
   • If applying by travel at a consulate abroad:
     • Once you have secured an F-1 visa, you may enter the U.S. no sooner than 30 days before the program start date on your I-20, and no later than the program start date.
     • See below regarding steps for “New Student Check In” after your approval.

Waiting Times

• The waiting times for visa appointments vary from country to country. Check the website of the U.S. consulate you will visit for specifics.
• USCIS processing times vary each semester. You can check the current estimated processing times through the USCIS processing times tool.
• Students in visa categories not approved for study, such as B-2, should not enroll until they are approved by USCIS for change to F-1 status or re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.
• If you decide to change how you are applying for change of status (through petition to USCIS or by applying outside the U.S.), you must obtain a new I-20.

Complete New Student Check-In

All new F-1 students must check-in. After you have reported your approval to the ISSO, you will be required to complete New Student Check In to complete the registration of your F-1 SEVIS record. If you do not complete the check-in requirements, a registration hold will be placed on your student account, and your new F-1 status may be endangered.

You can read about the New Student Check In steps on our Report Your Arrival web page.

If you were approved by I-539 petition inside the U.S. and there are no F-1 Status Workshop sessions available at the time that you are approved, you will instead be sent a link for an online version of the workshop to complete your requirement.

Maintain your current immigration status while your application is pending.

• Submit your Change of Status application before your current status expires. If your status expires before you filed an application with USCIS to change your status, or if you have otherwise violated the terms of your status, then USCIS may not approve your application. USCIS has a guide that may assist you.
• Be prepared in the event your application is denied. A change of status approval is not automatic. If your application is denied, you may be required to depart the United States immediately.
• Do not engage in activities reserved for F-1 status until after you receive notice from USCIS that your application has been approved. This includes F-1 employment such as on-campus employment or CPT. Once approved for F-1 status, you may be eligible to apply for CPT internships after you have established that you have been lawfully enrolled full-time in a U.S. university for at least one academic year (two consecutive long semesters) immediately prior to the semester in which the CPT will take place, and you have met other CPT requirements.
• Do not enroll in classes if your current immigration category does not allow it. Enrolling in any classes if you are B-1/B-2 is a violation of your current immigration status. Enrolling full-time if you are F-2 is a violation of your current immigration status. Even though UT Dallas will allow you to enroll and attend classes, if you are in one of the above immigration categories, you will be violating your current immigration status.
• Enroll in and begin full-time study if you are in an immigration category that allows study such as H-4, L-2, or E-2.

Manage relevant UT Dallas deadlines while your Change of Status application is pending

You are responsible for managing not only your immigration application and status, but also various deadlines and requirements from other UT Dallas offices.

• Office of Enrollment Services: If you are not lawfully permitted to study and your change of status application will not be approved in time to begin classes for the term which you were admitted, please consult the Office of Admissions and Enrollment early to determine relevant deadlines to defer your admission.
• UT Dallas financial award granting office: If you are not lawfully permitted to work and you received a scholarship, assistantship or other financial award, please consult with the office which extended the award to you to determine your options and relevant deadlines if the change of status application is not approved by the start of classes.
• Bursar’s Office: If you register for classes tuition and fees will be assessed. Refer to the UT Dallas Academic Calendar and Bursar’s Office for payment and refund rules and deadlines in the event that you withdraw from the classes.
• Registrar’s Office: Contact the Registrar regarding adding and dropping classes, as well as information regarding Texas State Residency for tuition purposes. You can email residency@utdallas.edu for more information.

Change to F-1 Status FAQs