Change of Visa Status

If you want to change the purpose of your stay in U.S., you must file a request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the appropriate form before your authorized stay expires.

In general, you may apply to change your nonimmigrant status if you were lawfully admitted to the U.S. with a nonimmigrant visa, your nonimmigrant status remains valid, you have not violated the conditions of your status and you have not committed any crimes that would make you ineligible. Until you receive approval from USCIS, do not assume the status has been approved and do not change your activity in the United States.

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) can assist you with the change of visa status process for the following non-immigrant statuses:

  • If you are a UO student in F-1 status and need to change to F-2 dependent status,
  • If you are in F-2 status and have been admitted to the UO and need to change to F-1 status,
  • If you are in another nonimmigrant visa status (i.e. E2, L2, H4) and need to change to F-1 status before you turn 21 years of age

 
Please download the appropriate packet below, depending on your status, then schedule an appointment with an international student advisor in the Division of Global Engagement, Oregon Hall, 3rd floor. To schedule an appointment, call 541-346-3206.

Change of Status to F1

Change of Status to F2

Premium Processing Now Available if You Are Changing to F or J Status

Premium processing is now available if you have filed or are filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status to change your status to one of these student or exchange visitor statuses:

  • F-1 (academic students)
  • F-2 (spouses and children of F-1)
  • J-1 (exchange visitors)
  • J-2 (spouses and children of J-1)

If you fall into an eligible category above and:

  • Your Form I-539 is already pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): As of June 13, you may request premium processing.
  • You have not submitted your Form I-539 yet: Starting on Monday, June 26, you can submit a premium processing request together with your Form I-539.

How To Request Premium Processing

If you want to request premium processing for these categories:

  1. First complete your biometrics appointment. Even if USCIS accepts your premium processing request, it will not start the premium processing clock until you and all co-applicants on the Form I-539 have submitted biometrics.
  2. Then submit Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service online through your USCIS online account or by paper. 
    • You must submit Form I-907 the same way you submit Form I-539—either by submitting both online or by mailing both paper forms to USCIS.

    • Do not file your Form I-907 and/or Form I-539 with another benefit request. USCIS may reject your form if you do so (including if you file multiple Forms I-907 together).

  3. Remember to pay the Form I-907 filing fee separately from the Form I-539 filing fees. If you submit a single, combined fee payment for multiple forms, USCIS will reject your entire filing. The premium processing fee for these categories is $1,750. The Form I-539 filing fee is $370 and the biometrics fee is $85 for each applicant.

Why This Matters

Expanding premium processing may help address how stakeholders, specifically foreign students, have experienced delays related to lengthy processing times. Earlier this year, the agency expanded premium processing to certain F-1 students seeking optional practical training (OPT) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions.