S2 Q&A: Once I'm admitted, what does the change of status actually look like?

Admission -> you pay what the school requires to issue the I-20 -> the school issues an I-20 for change of status -> you pay the SEVIS I-901 fee and file Form I-539 with USCIS from inside the US, keeping your current status while it's pending. Regular processing is unpredictable (often months); premium processing costs an extra USCIS fee (see the current USCIS fee schedule) and means USCIS acts within 30 business days once it has everything it needs, which is why many of our COS students choose it. I'll send the step-by-step guide by email, and our senior admission consultant walks the filing timing with you.