Changing Visa Status from J1 or B1/B2 to F-1
Changing visa status from a J1 or B1/B2 to F-1 student status is possible, but there are important steps to follow. Read on to find out more about the process! For information about the F-1 visa, check out our previous blog on the topic. It can be found here.
Changing from a J-1 Visa to an F-1 Status
A J-1 visa allows individuals to come to the United States for work or study exchange programs. Some J-1 visa holders must return to their home country for two years before they can apply for other visas. This is called the “Two-Year Home Country Residency Requirement.”
- Check if You Have the Residency Requirement. If you need to return to your home country for two years, you will either have to do so or apply for a waiver (permission not to return).
- Get Accepted to a School. You need to apply and be accepted to a school in the U.S. that can give you a Form I-20. This form proves that the school has accepted you to study. NAC can provide the I-20 to you if you meet our requirements.
- Apply for a Change of Status After you receive your Form I-20, you must apply to change your visa status through USCIS by filing Form I-539.
- There are deadlines you will need to follow.
- NAC does not help with the paperwork. You will need to include more documentation than the I-20 and I-539.
- We recommend you work with a lawyer, but it is not required.
- Wait for Approval It can take several months for your change of status to be approved.
- Study Allowed While Waiting. While waiting to change your status from J-1 to F-1, it is possible to begin your studies.
Changing from a B-1/B-2 Visa to an F-1 Status
A B-1/B-2 visa is for people who come to the United States for business purposes or to be a tourist. If your goal is to study in the U.S. full-time, you should change to an F-1 visa.
- Apply to a School. You need to apply to a school that is approved for international students and get a Form I-20. NAC can provide the I-20 to you if you meet our requirements.
- Apply for a Change of Status. After you receive your Form I-20, you must apply to change your visa status through USCIS by filing Form I-539.
- There are deadlines you will need to follow.
- NAC does not help with the paperwork. You will need to include more than the I-20 and the I-539.
- We recommend you work with a lawyer, but it is not required.
- No Study Allowed Before Change. Changing from a B-1 or B-2 visa to an F-1 visa does NOT allow you to begin your studies until the F-1 status is approved.
Things to Know
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USCIS) will make all decisions regarding change of status visas. Some important things to know:
- When your visa status changes in the U.S., you will not get a new visa stamp in your passport. Instead, your new status will be shown on your new I-94 and I-20 forms.
- If you want to travel outside the U.S., especially for more than 30 days, you may need a new visa. To get the new visa, you must go to a U.S. embassy in the country you are visiting. Visas are given by the Department of State, not USCIS. ONce your status is changed, our advice would be to stay in the U.S. until you finish your studies. It can be difficult to get a visa in another country after you change your status in the U.S.
- The most important part of changing your visa is to stay in legal status throughout the process. This will help you avoid any issues.
We are not lawyers at NAC, so we cannot help you apply for the change of status. NAC can, however, offer support to help you make the best decision for you. We would also love to welcome you to our school and community! Please contact us if you have any questions.