• Meet with your ISSS Advisor to discuss your options if you are considering a change of status to F-1 student status.

• Read the handout on Change of Status to F-1 Student Status – click here.

• Complete Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.

• Pay the $100.00 SEVIS fee (see the handout for payment options). Obtain a copy of the receipt of payment to submit with your application for change of status to F-1 student status.

• Prepare a letter addressed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) requesting the change of change of status and explaining why it is needed.

• Purchase a money order in the amount $300.00, made payable to the Department of Homeland Security. Money Orders can be purchased at U.S. Post Offices, Publix supermarkets and banks.

• Bring the following, original documents to International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS):

• Your passport (and the passports of any dependents included in your application for change of status).
• Your Form I-20 (and the Forms I-20 of any dependents included in your application for change of status).
• Your Form I-94 (and Forms I-94 of any dependents included in your application for change of status).
• Proof of enrollment at the University of Miami (if available).
• Photocopy of financial support documents for yourself (and for any dependents included in your application for change of status).
• Letter addressed to CIS requesting the change of status to F-1 student status and explaining why it is needed.
• Money order in the amount of $300.00.
• Payment receipt for your $100.00 SEVIS fee.

• Make an appointment to meet with your ISSS advisor. Bring all the above forms and documents to ISSS for your advisor to review and to submit the application to CIS.

• Please allow five business days for processing of your application for change of status to F-1 student status. If your ISSS advisor deems your application acceptable, she will submit your application to CIS. CIS takes at least three to four months to adjudicate an application for change of status to F-1 student status.

• ISSS will notify you once the receipt notice for your application for change of status to F-1 student status has arrived so that you can collect the receipt notice. The receipt notice includes your application receipt number on the upper left side of the page. To check the status of your application, please go to www.uscis.gov and click on Case Status Online on the left side of the screen. Click on Finding the Status of Your Case and type in your application receipt number to find out the status of your application.

• ISSS will subsequently notify you once CIS has sent a decision regarding your application for change of status to F-1 status. If CIS does not approve your application, ISSS will contact you to collect the rejection letter. If CIS approves your application, ISSS will contact you to collect your approval notice with new Form I-94 along with your Form I-20 showing your approved change of status to F-1 student status, and she will activate your F-1 SEVIS record.

• Please e-mail your ISSS advisor if you have any questions regarding change of status to F-1 student status.