Immigration Information
> Change of Status to F-1

1. Travel outside the U.S. to change your visa status to F-1:

Although students can apply for an F-1 visa at any U.S. Embassy/Consulate outside the U.S., we recommend that students travel to their home country to apply for an F-1 visa. If you travel outside the U.S. to apply for an F-1 visa, you should bring the following documents with you to your visa interview:

• Complete a visa application form, available online at: http://usembassy.state.gov/ 
• Photographs for your visa application: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_photo.html
• Original I-20 from the International Admissions office: http://www.stthomas.edu/admissions/international/
• Admission letter
• SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt: this $100 fee must be paid at least 3 days prior to your visa interview. See the instructions enclosed with your I-20 form or online at: www.fmjfee.com
• Visa fee, check with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where you apply for your visa for the fee amount
• Valid passport 
• Original school transcripts and public examination certificates (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, etc.) if applicable
• Original or certified copies of documents that establish the necessary financial support for the expenses listed on your I-20. This should be the same financial support information used to obtain the I-20 from St. Thomas. Completed I-134 Affidavit of Support available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf 
• Evidence to demonstrate strong ties to your home country 

2. Apply for a change of status to F-1 within the U.S.: 

Students who prefer to file a change of status application within the U.S. must meet with an Immigration Advisor in OISS to file a change of status application. Change of status application processing is currently taking approximately 4 to 5 months. Students who travel outside the U.S. while their application is pending and students whose change of status application is denied, should proceed with option (1) above in order to return to the U.S. to continue their studies in F-1 status at the University of St. Thomas.

The following documents are required to change your immigration status to F-1 within the U.S. 

• Brief letter to explain why you want to change your status to F-1 (i.e. to receive the benefits of F-1 status such as travel abroad, off-campus internship opportunities, and to be eligible for practical training after graduation). You should explain how this degree program would benefit you when you return to your home country in the future.
• I-20 form issued from the International Admissions office for the purpose of change of status. You will have to submit an original copy of your financial verification to International Admissions in order to have an I-20 issued. You will pick up your I-20 from OISS when you have your appointment.
• A completed I-539 form (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status). This form is available at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-539.htm. List the OISS address as your current address: 
                                          c/o OISS
                                          Mail #5014, 2115 Summit Ave
                                          St. Paul, MN 55105-1096
• A check or money order made out to "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services" for $300. 
  **Notice: $300 is the new fee as of July 30, 2007**
• Photocopy of your SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt. You can pay it online at: www.fmjfee.com 
• Photocopy of the front and back of your I-94 (white Arrival/Departure card stapled inside your passport). It is sufficient to send a photocopy, since USCIS will generate a new I-94 card as part of the change of status approval notice.
• Photocopy of your current immigration status documents, visa stamp, and passport information pages. 
• Original or certified copies of documents that establish the necessary financial support for the expenses listed on your I-20. This should be the same financial support information used to obtain the I-20 from International Admissions (see above). Completed I-134 Affidavit of Support available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134.pdf.
• Dependent family member documentation: if dependent family members currently in the U.S. plan to change their status to F-2 (dependent of F-1), their information should be included on the I-539 form, they should each be issued I-20 forms. You will need to include photocopies of the front and back of their I-94, passport information pages, visa, etc.
• If you are married and your spouse has a different last name, a photocopy of your marriage certificate is recommended. 
• If you are currently in F-2 visa status, you will need to verify that your spouse/parent maintained F-1 status as a full-time student during his/her studies.
• If you are currently on a dependent visa (H-4, F-2, J-2, TD, or other) you should include a photocopy of your spouse/parent’s I-94, visa, passport information pages, and other immigration documents.

Visa Categories not allowed to change status to F-1 within U.S.
Students in the visa categories listed below are not allowed to change status to F-1 while in the U.S. These non-immigrants may still be eligible for F-1 status, but only if they obtain an F-1 visa and re-enter the U.S. as explained in option (1) above.

• M-1 students 
• C, D and K non-immigrants 
• J-1 Physicians in the U.S. for medical training 
• J non-immigrants subject to 212(e), 2-year rule
• WT and WB visitors under the Visa Waiver Program

Enroll as a Full-time Student while application is pending
Once you submit the change of status application, you must enroll at the University of St. Thomas as a full-time student (12 credits per semester for undergraduate students, 6 credits per semester for graduate students) even before the application has been approved since we do not know when a decision about your application will be made. (See exceptions to this rule below). If your change of status to F-1 is approved and you are not a full-time student, you could be out of immigration status and required to apply for re-instatement to correct your immigration status.

Exceptions to Full-time enrollment while application is pending
B-1, B-2, and F-2 visa holders who apply for a change of status to F-1 are not allowed to begin their studies until their change of status to F-1 has been approved by USCIS. 

Schedule an appointment
Contact the Office of International Student Services (OISS) at 651-962-6650 to schedule an appointment with an Immigration Advisor to begin the change of status application process. An advisor will discuss your specific circumstances and may recommend that you include additional documents with your application, depending on your unique situation. If you bring the original documents to your change of status appointment, the Immigration Advisor will make the necessary photocopies for your application.