Change of Immigration Status
Changing from F-1 to Another Status
Some students may opt to change their immigration status throughout their time at EMU, (for example: F-1 to H-1B, F-1 to L-1, etc). If you are currently on a F-1 visa and need to change your visa status, you can fill out the Change of Immigration Status Form on our website.
Before OISS ends your F-1 record, we advise that students have a change of status approval notice (Form I-797 from USCIS) that shows they have been approved for a new visa status.
If the application to change status has not been approved but is still pending, we advise students against choosing to end their F-1 record. Students may put themselves at risk of not having a legal immigration status to stay in the U.S. in the case that the application is denied. We strongly suggest speaking to an immigration attorney if you are considering ending your F-1 record while the application is still pending.
Once OISS ends your F-1 record you will be responsible for following the regulations and requirements of your new status. OISS advisors can only advise students in the F-1/J-1 visa category. If you have current F-1 work authorization you should know this will end the day your record has ended.
Changing from Another Status to F-1
Students who are currently studying at EMU in another non-immigrant status, but wish to change to the F-1 category, are encouraged to come in and talk to an OISS advisor to help work through the potential scenarios and requirements for changing status.
Students should contact the Office of International Admissions and have them add a new application on their record showing their plan to study in F-1 status. You will then need to submit the appropriate funding documents showing enough funding to study for one year along with the Financial Statement of Responsibility form. Once International Admissions has updated your profile to reflect the change, you will be given an I-20. There are two ways to apply for an F-1 visa:
- Plan to apply for the visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the U.S. You will need to plan your travel accordingly to ensure that you give yourself enough time to get the visa and return to the U.S. to continue your studies. Please be aware that you can only enter the U.S. in F-1 status no earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20. If you plan to apply for the visa using this method International Admissions will process and send the I-20.
- Apply for an in-country change of status through USCIS while staying in the U.S. in your current valid non-immigrant status. OISS will process the change of status and send you a detailed set of instructions with your I-20 on how to apply. OISS strongly recommends that students who choose to apply this way consult with an immigration attorney as the change of status application can be difficult to fill out and submit. OISS advisors can only provide minimal guidance on filling out the Form I-539. Students who choose to apply this way must stay in the U.S. and continue to follow their current visa requirements while the application is pending. If the applicant departs the U.S. with a pending change of status, the application will be considered to be abandoned.