Changing to F-1 status
The international student adviser will not issue an I-20 form for a prospective student until international admissions has officially accepted the student into a VCU program, including the English Language Program.
The prospective student also must demonstrate eligibility for a change of status to F-1. If the prospective student has allowed his/her current status to expire, he/she is not eligible for a change of status.
The following information is required for a change of status:
- VCU international admissions acceptance letter
- Proof of financial support for the academic year in the form of bank statements and sponsorship letters. (This should correspond with the number of months on the I-20 form or the number of ELP sessions that the student wishes to attend.)
- Form I-20 (issued by immigration services)
- Form I-797 receipt from SEVIS fee payment ($200)
- Copies of relevant passport pages (bio page with birthday, expiration date and visa stamp)
- Copy of I-94 front and back (entry stamp must be legible). A new I-94, reflecting the new status, will be generated. The process takes approximately six months.
- Copies of corresponding documents of primary status holder (if student is in dependent status)
- Form I-539 (front and back, adding any dependents* on supplemental page)
- Letter from student explaining request for change of status and non-immigrant intent
- Additional documentation of non-immigrant intent (legal proof of property ownership in home country, household registers, letters of employment, etc.)
- $290 filing fee check made out to USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
The international student adviser will contact you when the new I-20 has been issued. You will need to come to our office to sign and date the I-20. After we have obtained your signature, the application will be mailed to USCIS. You will be contacted as soon as we receive the change of status approval notice.
*Please note: If the student has dependents and wants to change them to F-2, we must see proof of appropriate financial support for them ($5,000 per academic year for each additional dependent). We will also need copies of the passport biographical page and front and back of I-94 card for each dependent.
