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Change of Immigration Status

Immigration Forms

Immigration Law & Regulations

From B-1/B-2 to F-1

According to the U.S. immigration regulations, visitors in B1/B2 status may not register for classes at an educational institution before they change their immigration status to F-1 or J-1. Therefore, if you are currently in B-1 or B-2 status and wish to pursue a full-time course of study, you MUST apply to change your status to F-1.

Once your change to F-1 has been approved, you are eligible to work on-campus. To apply for a change of status from B-1 or B-2 to F-1, you must first be admitted to the university. If you have not yet applied for admission, contact the International Student Services office at SUNY Plattsburgh via e-mail iss@plattsburgh.edu or by phone (518) 564-3287.

After you are admitted to a program of study at SUNY-Plattsburgh, the ISS office will issue you a SEVIS I-20; the I-20 is a document that allows you to apply for F-1 status.

After you have an I-20 document issued to you, contact the office of International Student Services (ISS), iss@plattsburgh.edu or (518) 564-3287. Make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor.

Please bring the following documents with you:

  1. Original, current financial documents verifying that you have adequate funds to cover your education and living expenses as a student for a minimum of 9 months (one academic year, fall and spring semesters).
  2. Your original SEVIS I-20 document (received from the ISS office).
  3. A completed I-539 form (obtained from the ISS office).  Also complete and attach the supplement if you have any dependents.  As the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will send their response back to the address listed on the I-539, make sure that address is valid for at least the next 4 to 6 months.
  4. Questionnaire for applicant for change of status from B-1/B-2 visitor to F-1 student status.  Please answer all these questions on a separate sheet of paper and include with the submission of completed Form I-539 and all other requested documentation.
  5. Your passport and dependents' passports, showing the following pages:  1) the photograph, 2) the passport number, 3) the passport expiration date, 4) the B-1/B-2 visa stamp.
  6. Your original I-94 card and dependents' I-94 cards.  This is the small white card attached to your passport.
  7. A check or money order payable to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security for $300.00.

  8. SEVIS fees receipt (form I-797) or (print out of the online payment)

  9. You will need to mail all of the necessary documents to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 75 Lower Welden St., St. Albans, VT 05479-0001. Expect to wait approximately 4-8 months for a response.

When you receive and answer from USCIS, please come to the ISS office with your:

ISS Staff will make copies of your documents to add to your immigration file.

If you travel outside the United States after USCIS approves your change to F-1 status, you will need to apply for an F-1 visa to be stamped in your passport while you are overseas. To do so, you will need to request an entirely new SEVIS I-20 from our office, to take to the American Embassy or Consulate overseas, where you will apply for the F-1 visa.

From F-2 to F-1

If you wish to apply to change from F-2 (dependent of an F-1 student) to F-1 (full-time student) status, you should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of F-1 status.

If your application to change to F-1 status is approved, you are immediately eligible for on-campus employment, and may apply for practical training permission to work off-campus after maintaining your status for one full academic year or longer. However, to apply for F-1 status, you must prove that you have adequate financial resources to cover a minimum of one year of entire cost of your school and living expenses. As an F-1 student, you must also be enrolled on a full-time basis during the Fall and Spring semesters. Students in F-2 status are not eligible for any type of employment/assistantships.

To apply to change from F-2 to F-1 status, you will need to make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor, e-mail iss@plattsburgh.edu or phone (518) 564-3287. You must be fully admitted to the State University of New York-Plattsburgh, and have received a letter of admission, as well as a SEVIS I-20 document from the ISS office.

Please bring the following to your appointment:

  1. Original, current financial documents verifying that you have adequate funds to cover your expenses as a student for a minimum of one year.
  2. Your SEVIS I-20 document (to be issued by ISS after admission).
  3. A completed I-539 form (obtained from our office in Kehoe 313).  As the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will send their response back to the address listed on the I-539, make sure the address is valid for at least the next 4 to 8 months.
  4. Copies of your I-94 card.  This is the small white card attached to your passport. (ISS will make the copies)
  5. Copies of your passport.  (ISS will make the copies)
  6. A check or money order payable to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security for $300.00
  7. Write a letter (1 page) to USCIS to explain why you want to change status to F-1
  8. Write a letter (1 page) to USCIS to explain how you supported yourself financially while you were in F-2 status and how you will be supported financially after you change status to F-1
  9. Copies of all of your spouse?s passport(s), visa(s), I-20s, and financial statements (ISS will make the copies)

  10. SEVIS fees receipt (form I-797) or (print out of the online payment)  

You will need to mail all of the necessary documents to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), 75 Lower Welden St., St. Albans, VT 05479-0001. Expect to wait approximately 4-8 months or longer for a response.

When you receive and answer from USCIS, please come to the ISS office with your:

ISS Staff will make copies of your documents to add to your immigration file.

If you travel outside the United States after USCIS approves your change to F-1 status, you will need to apply for an F-1 visa to be stamped in your passport while you are overseas. You will need to request an entirely new I-20 from our office, prior to traveling, to take to the American Embassy or Consulate overseas, where you will apply for the F-1 visa.

From J-1 or J-2 to F-1

If you are currently in J-1 or J-2 status, and wish to pursue a full time course of study at SUNY-Plattsburgh, you should seriously consider applying to change your status to F-1. From the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) viewpoint, it is the most appropriate status for a full-time student who is not in J-1 status. If you remain in J-2 status while you are a full-time student and later apply to adjust to permanent resident status, USCIS officials may question you as to why you did not change to the appropriate status.

To apply for a change of status from J-1 or J-2 to F-1, you must first be admitted to the University. If you have not yet applied for admission, contact the International Student Services office via email iss@plattsburgh or phone 518-564-3287. If you are admitted to a program of study at SUNY-Plattsburgh, the ISS office will issue a SEVIS I-20; the I-20 is a document, which allows you to apply for F-1 status.  However, you are eligible to apply for a change to F-1 status ONLY if you are NOT subject to the "two-year residence requirement," or if you obtain a waiver of the requirement.

To determine whether or not you are subject to this requirement, look at the bottom left corner of your DS-2019 (or your spouse's DS-2019). If this states "not subject to the two-year residence requirement," and the same notation has been made below your J-1 or J-2 visa stamp (in your passport), you are probably eligible to apply to change your status once you have been admitted to a university. If you are subject to the two-year residency requirement, you may be able to obtain a waiver from your sponsor and USCIS. You may obtain more information on the waiver process from the ISS office.

After you have been admitted to SUNY-Plattsburgh, and would like to register for your first semester of classes, contact the Office of International Student Services, iss@plattsburgh.edu or 518-564-3287. Make an appointment to see an International Student Advisor. Bring the following documents with you:

  1. Original, current financial documents verifying that you have adequate funds to cover your expenses as a student for one year
  2. Your original SEVIS I-20 document issued by the ISS office (will be issued at the appointment)
  3. A completed I-539 form (obtained from the ISS office).  Also complete and attach the supplement if you have any dependents.  As USCIS will send their response back to the address listed on the I-539, make sure the address is valid for at least the next 4 to 6 months
  4. Your original I-94 card and dependents' I-94 cards.  This is the small white card attached to your passport
  5. Your passport and dependents' passports.  (ISS Advisor will need to see the expiration date and the J-1 or J-2 visa page(s)
  6. The original page of all DS-2019s issued to you or your spouse.  (Advisor will send copies only)
  7. A check or money order payable to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security for $300.00
  8. The waiver of the 2-year residence requirement from the Department of State (if relevant)
  9. Write a one page letter to explain why you want to change status to F-1

  10. SEVIS fees receipt (form I-797) or (print out of the online payment)  

The ISS Advisor will help you complete and mail all of the necessary documents to the United States Citizenship and Immigration services, 75 Lower Welden St., St. Albans, VT 05479-0001. Expect to wait approximately 6 months or longer for a response.

When you receive and answer from USCIS, please come to the ISS office with your:

ISS Staff will make copies of your documents to add to your immigration file.

If you travel outside the United States after USCIS approves your change to F-1 status, you will need to apply for an F-1 visa to be stamped in your passport while you are overseas.  You will need to request an entirely new I-20 from our office, prior to traveling, to take to the American Embassy or Consulate overseas, where you will apply for the F-1 visa.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

If you have any questions about international admission or financial aid at SUNY-Plattsburgh, please contact:

International Student Services
 State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Kehoe Administration Building, Room 209
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901 USA

Phone: (518) 564-3287
Fax: (518) 564-3292
E-mail: iss@plattsburgh.edu

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