B-1/B-2 to F-1

This article explains the requirements and process for changing your status from B-1/B-2 to F-1, followed by sharing real-life cases.

Applicable Situations

• Your visit to the U.S. is short, and you want to stay longer legally without leaving the country.

• You were accepted to a school after arriving in the U.S. and prefer not to leave and re-enter for a visa.

• You are unable to attend a visa interview for personal reasons, so you entered on a B visa and plan to change to F-1 status within the U.S.

 

Eligibility Requirements

• You Legally entered the U.S. on a valid visa.

• Your B-1/B-2 visa is valid.

• Your passport is valid.

• You did not violate terms of your current status.

• You meet the qualifications for applying for the new status.

 

Application Process

Step 1: Apply to Schools and Get Accepted

The first step in changing your status to F-1 is to apply to and get accepted by a higher education institution that admits F-1 international students. When selecting schools, keep the following in mind:

• Avoid choosing ESL (language schools) and community colleges, as  it may lower your chances of getting your application approved.

• Most U.S. universities have limited enrollment periods, and the process from application to admission typically takes 3-6 months. Therefore, if you are under time pressure, it might be better to choose accredited schools with lower admission requirements. Choosing schools with a fast admission process and short I-20 processing times can help avoid potential gaps between statuses.

Step 2: Prepare Application Materials

• Form I-539 (How to Fill out Form I-539?)

• Explanation letter (explain how your trips in the U.S. inspired your motivation to study)

• Proof of funding (such as recent bank statements from the past several months)

  • Tuition and Living Expenses: You must show that you can cover one year of tuition and living expenses in the U.S. The exact amount for the first year will be presented on your I-20.

  • Third-Party Financial Support: If your parents, relatives, or friends are covering your expenses, you need to provide their income proof, recent transaction records, and a letter explaining how they will support your education costs.

• Acceptance letter

• Form I-20

• Passport biographic page
• Visa page
• Form I-94

• SEVIS fee receipt

• Additional supporting documents

• Form G-1145 (for electronic notification of application/petition acceptance)

Step 3: Submit Application

You can submit your change of status application either online or by mail.

	By Mail	Online Submission
Pros	Can include family members in one application. No restrictions based on status; all types of change of status applications can be submitted by mail.	Easy submission and updates. Faster than mailing; no risk of lost mail.
Cons	Takes about 1 week to be delivered. Communication is entirely through mail; no online updates.	Not all types of applications can be submitted online (e.g., H-1B holders cannot submit applications within the U.S. online). Only accept individual applications.
How to Submit	USCIS Dallas Lockbox Address for USPS: USCIS Attn: I-539 P.O. Box 660166 Dallas, TX 75266-0166 Address for FedEx, UPS, or DHL:                  USCIS                  Attn: I-539 (Box 660166)                  2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business                  Suite 400                  Lewisville, TX 75067-8003 USCIS Elgin Lockbox Address for USPS:                  USCIS                  Attn: I-539                  P.O. Box 4010                  Carol Stream, IL 60197-4010 Address for FedEx, UPS, or DHL:                  USCIS                  Attn: I-539 (Box 4010)                  2500 Westfield Drive                  Elgin, IL 60124-7836	Application Link: https://www.uscis.gov/i539online

 

Fees

• Application Fee: $420 (online application); $470 (mail).

• Attorney Fees: Typically range from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on individual circumstances.

• SEVIS Fee: $350.

• Premium Processing Fee: $1,965.

 

Processing Time

The processing time for a change of status application usually ranges from 3 to 8 months; premium processing can guarantee a result within 1 month.

 

Real Cases

Case 1: Liu's Change of Status Application

Timeline:

• August 2021: After using OPT for 2 months, Liu returned to China for work.

• June 2022: Resigned from job in China.

• Late June 2022: Entered the U.S. on a B visa (an existing 10-year visa).

• Late August 2022: Received an offer for a second master's degree.

• Early September 2022: Began the process of changing status.

• Late November 2022: Successfully changed to F-1 status.

Although Liu met the requirements for a change of status, the attorney still suggested waiting an extra month before submitting the application. The reasons are as follows:

If you apply for a change of status immediately after entering the U.S., it will give the impression to USCIS that your motives are not genuine, which may lead to a denial. As mentioned in 5 Common Reasons for Denials of Changing Status to F-1, applying within the first 30 days is risky, 30-60 days is a gray area, and waiting until after 90 days is safer.

Case 2: Mrs. Zhang's Change of Status Application

In 2015, Mrs. Zhang applied for an investor green card and was waiting for her priority date. During this period, she stayed in the U.S. on a B-2 visa to stay with her child, who was attending high school. In 2019, Mrs. Zhang decided to change her status to F-1 to pursue an MBA while taking care of her child.

The primary challenge for Mrs. Zhang's case was that F-1 status does not allow immigrant intent, whereas she had already applied for an investor green card and owned property in the U.S. Therefore, her explanation letter was crucial to her application.

With professional assistance, Mrs. Zhang carefully craft her explanation letter. The letter stated that after getting married and having children, she had been out of the workforce, which significantly impacted her job skills and language proficiency. As her child became more independent, she aimed to pursue an MBA in the U.S. to enhance her job skills and improve her English.

Due to sufficient documentation, a convincing explanation letter, and timely submission (3 months before her B-2 visa expired), Mrs. Zhang's application process was smooth. USCIS did not request additional documents. Without premium processing, her status change was completed within 5 months.

 

Q&A

1. After changing my status from B-1/B-2 to F-1, can I travel internationally?

You must obtain an F-1 visa to re-enter the U.S. The F-1 status allows you to stay legally in the U.S., while the F-1 visa determines whether you can enter the country. A change of status within the U.S. does not provide a new visa. If you need to travel, you must obtain a travel signature from your school and apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

2. If I have applied to change my status from H-1B to B-1/B-2 after being laid off, but the processing time is too long and my application is still pending, can I now change to F-1 status? What should I do?

Yes, you can change to F-1 status, but the process and success rate depend on your current status:

• If your 60-day grace period for H-1B has ended, but the B-1/B-2 status has not yet been approved, you are currently "out of status." This means you can legally wait in the U.S. for the result but do not have a valid status. In this case, you can either wait for the B-1/B-2 approval and then change from B-1/B-2 to F-1, or hire an attorney to help you submit the B-1/B-2 to F-1 application along with an explanation letter. If you are fortunate, USCIS might process both your "H-1B to B-1/B-2" and "B-1/B-2 to F-1" applications simultaneously.

• If your 60-day grace period has not ended, you can revoke your previous application while simultaneously submitting a new change of status application from H-1B to F-1.