International Students

Change of Status

Sometimes prospective or current students hold an immigration status that limits their ability to study full-time or to work on campus or in internships off-campus. These students may wish to change their immigration status to become an F-1 or J-1 student to overcome those restrictions.

Immigration status can only be granted by an officer of the United States government, so a change of status cannot be authorized directly by Portland State. However, we can assist students with completing the procedures needed to change their immigration status.

There are two methods of changing status:

  1. Changing status within the U.S. by applying for a change of status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or 
  2. Leaving the U.S. to apply for a new visa and re-entering the U.S. with the new visa

Changing status within the U.S.

If you wish to change your status while staying within the U.S., you may file an application with USCIS. There are two options for submitting this application:

  1. You may submit your application materials online, or
  2. You may prepare your application on paper and submit the application to USCIS by mail or a courier service.

In both cases, the application will typically include the following elements:

  • Form I-539. If you apply online, you will fill this out within your USCIS account; if you submit the paper application, you should download the current version of this form and its instructions from USCIS’ website.
  • Application Fee. USCIS applications always require a fee. The fee must be paid at the time of application and is nonrefundable. Check the current application fee on USCIS’ website.
  • Biometrics Fee. Beginning October 1, 2023, USCIS eliminated the requirement for paying a biometrics fee and routine biometric collection for most Form I-539 applications. Applicants may be required to submit biometrics on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who are required to submit biometrics will be notified by USCIS of that requirement prior to the adjudication of their application.
  • Supporting Documents. You will need to include copies of your passport, I-94 record, proof of financial support, and documentation describing the reasons that you want to change status. If you currently hold a dependent visa status, you will also need to submit copies of your spouse’s or parent’s immigration documents.

Your request to change status within the U.S. will always require an I-20 issued for that specific purpose. The start date of the I-20 must remain in the future while the change of status application is pending. This means that the I-20 will need to be updated from term to term while USCIS continues to process the student’s application.

If your current immigration status allows you to study, you may choose to do so in that status. Full-time study completed in a different immigration status may be counted toward the academic year requirement for practical training authorization, but the change of status must be approved before you would be eligible to engage in any practical training.

Travel and Re-entry

Sometimes it may be necessary to change status more quickly than the change of status application process allows. You also have the option of departing the U.S. with a new Initial I-20, which you can use to apply for an F-1 visa outside the U.S. You would then use that I-20 and F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S., gaining F-1 status when you return to the U.S.

Comparing options for changing status

There are benefits and challenges for both of the options for changing status to become an F-1 or J-1 student. It is very important that you discuss your situation and future plans with your international student advisor in OISSS before taking any action to try to change your status. Below is an overview of the benefits and challenges for each option.

Changing status within the U.S.

Benefits

  • You may stay in the U.S. and study while you wait for the change of status application to be decided.
  • You may be able to count any terms of full-time study toward the one-academic-year requirement for becoming eligible to participate in off-campus practical training, such as CPT or OPT.
  • Although there will be an application fee, that fee is typically much less than the cost of travel.

Challenges or risks

  • You may not leave the U.S. while your application is pending or it will be automatically denied.
  • You must follow the requirements and restrictions of your current visa status until the change of status application is approved. This may limit your ability to engage in on-campus employment or be a full-time student.
  • Processing times may be unpredictable. It is not generally possible to request expedited review of a pending application.
  • You will not receive a new visa; your immigration status will be changed only for the time that you remain in the U.S. If you leave the U.S. after changing your status, you will need to apply for an appropriate visa in order to return to resume that status.

Travel and Re-entry

Benefits

  • You can achieve student status relatively quickly; once you successfully re-enter the U.S., you are in a valid student status.
  • You may work on campus immediately after obtaining the new status.

Challenges or risks

  • The cost of travel can be expensive, depending on the time of year and other factors.
  • Applying for a visa may be difficult, depending on the availability of appointments. You are not guaranteed to receive a visa, even if you have already been enrolling in classes before applying for your student visa.
  • If you have already been enrolling full-time in your program, any previous terms of full-time enrollment you have completed will not be counted toward your eligibility for off-campus practical training (CPT or OPT).
  • There is no guarantee that you will receive a new visa or be readmitted to the United States.