To be eligible for a change of status to F-1, you must have maintained and currently be in a valid immigration status, be admitted to a degree program at UB and have received an I-20.
The USCIS processing time for change of status applications is currently as long as 12 months. If you are considering changing status inside the U.S., please read the information on this page carefully.
The latest date you may request an initial I-20 is August 1 if returning for Fall Semester, January 1 if returning for Spring semester and, if returning in summer, one month before your summer classes begin.
A change of status is a change in one’s primary purpose for being in the U.S. There are two ways to change one’s immigration status to F-1.
Once you have changed to F-1 status you must comply with all requirements to maintain your status.
Changing ones status inside the U.S. is extremely complicated. The entire process can take more than one year. For this and other reasons, ISS will generally recommend changing status via travel rather than inside the U.S.
General eligibility requirements for change of status inside the U.S. include:
ISS will determine your eligibility for a change of status I-20 after we review the details of your case. If you are interested in exploring this option, please contact ISS to request an appointment with an International Student Advisor. If ISS determines that you are eligible for a Change of Status I-20, we strongly recommend that you retain an experienced immigration attorney to review your application before submitting it to the USCIS. Due to the complexity of the change of status process, ISS cannot review your complete application.
If you were previously a J-1 Exchange Visitor or J-2 dependent and were subject to the Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement (INA 212e), then you are not eligible to change your status inside the U.S. unless you have fulfilled your 2 year obligation or have an approved waiver of this requirement.
Issuance of a "Change of Status" I-20 does not mean that your immigration status was changed to F-1. F-1 status is granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To apply, you must submit a complete application to USCIS, including a copy of your I-20, Form I-539 and other supporting documents. Your immigration attorney will provide you with guidance on which documents are necessary to submit.
When you receive a response from the USCIS, you must report the outcome to the ISS. If your application is approved, email a photocopy of your I-797 Approval Notice to iss@buffalo.edu.
USCIS announced an I-539 filing fee increase starting April 1, 2024.
Estimated processing time with the USCIS is approximately 12 months. However, longer processing times are possible. After the USCIS receives your application, it will mail you a Form I-797 Notice of Receipt with your assigned case number. You can check the status of your application online by following the directions on the form.
Premium processing, which provides expedited processing, is available for Change to F-1 Status applications with USCIS. Please refer to USCIS's premium processing page for details on cost, eligibility, and timing.
ISS will defer the Program Start Date in SEVIS to a later date if your change of status is not approved by the Program Start Date printed on your I-20. ISS will continue to defer the Program Start Date until your change of status is approved.
You may not travel outside the U.S. while your change of status application is pending. If you depart the U.S. while your application is pending, it will be denied by the USCIS.
We recommend that you review the following resources:
If your current immigration status allows study, then you may attend classes while your change of status application with the USCIS is pending. However, you may not begin an assistantship or engage in employment under F-1 status until after your application is approved by the USCIS or you re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status, if changing status via travel.
If your current status does not allow study (i.e. B-1/B-2 visa holders), then you may not study until your change of status is approved or you re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status.
If you are an F-2 visa holder, you may study part-time (fewer than 12 credits) if your academic program permits part-time study. You may begin full-time study only after your change of status to F-1 is approved by the USCIS or after you re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status, if changing status via travel.