Change of Status by Travel and Re-Entry to the United States

To change your status, you must choose one of two methods:

If you are considering changing your current immigration status to a different immigration status, keep in mind that every immigration status has different rules and benefits. You may want to explore the rules and benefits of your current status as well as the one you are considering changing to and visit with an ISS advisor during Immigration Advising Hours to discuss the benefits and consequences of changing your status.

ISS primarily advises students who are changing to an F or J category status. If you are planning on changing to a category other than F or J, you may visit with an ISS advisor for general information or you may consider contacting a qualified immigration attorney.

Overview

In order to change your status by traveling outside of the U.S. and re-entering, you must apply and interview for your new visa category at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside of the United States. The Consulate Officer at the embassy or consulate will consider issuing your requested visa stamp based on your visa application materials and your in-person interview.

The amount of time this method will take varies by embassy. Check the visa wait times at your embassy.

It is best to apply for your new visa in your home country, or in a country that accepts "third country national" applications if travel to your home country is not possible. Not all embassies and consulates will accept "third country national" applications, so make sure you check with the embassy where you plan to apply before you make your travel arrangements. Make sure you allow extra time for the visa application process, including sitting for the in-person interview and for any visa processing delays that you may encounter.

ISS primarily advises students who are changing to an F or J category status. If you are planning on changing to a category other than F or J, you may visit with an ISS advisor for general information or you may consider contacting a qualified immigration attorney.

Supporting Documentation

Each U.S. Embassy and Consulate has different requirements for the documentation you will be asked to present during your in-person interview. It is best to have all documentation prepared and with you at the interview, even if the Consulate Officer does not end up asking to review the document. Find the website for the embassy where you will be applying for a visa, and determine which documents your embassy will require you to present during the interview.

 

I will apply for this type of visa

Common documents you will be required to present at your visa interview:

  • Applicant’s passport page(s) showing name, photo, date of birth and expiration date
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160
  • A photograph of the applicant, taken within the last 6 months
  • Any other documents required by your specific embassy or consulate
  • F-1 I-20 (just pages 1 & 2; be sure to sign at the bottom of page 1)
  • I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
  • Evidence of financial support: Past four months of bank statements or proof of GTA/GRA/scholarship are acceptable (a letter from the bank with current balance is insufficient)

How to get your F-1 I-20 form

  • For students currently enrolled at KU
    1. Login to iHawk
    2. Click on 'ISS Services for All Students'
    3. Click on 'Change of Status to F-1 I-20 Request' and submit all forms in this e-form group.
    4. Forms 1 - 3 can be submitted in any order
    5. Form 4 becomes available only after forms 1 - 3 are submitted.
    6. Once you submit form 4, schedule an appointment with an ISS immigration advisor in order to have your request reviewed and the change of status I-20 issued.
  • For new students
    1. Apply for and be admitted to KU. On your application, make sure you indicate what status you are in now and what status you are requesting to be in during your studies at KU
    2. After you have been admitted (and after you have accepted your admission if you are a graduate student), you will receive an email from ISS asking you to complete several forms in iHawk
    3. Once you have completed the forms in iHawk, an ISS Document Specialist will review the E-forms and may contact you for additional information
    4. After a final review of all of your E-forms, documents and additional information, your I-20 will be issued.

Common documents you will be required to present at your visa interview:

  • Applicant’s passport page(s) showing name, photo, date of birth and expiration date
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160
  • A photograph of the applicant, taken within the last 6 months
  • Any other documents required by your specific embassy or consulate
  • New primary F-1's updated I-20
  • New primary F-1's I-94
  • New primary F-1's visa
  • New primary F-1’s passport page(s) with name, date of birth and passport expiration
  • Proof of relationship between F-1 and F-2 (marriage or birth certificate; as appropriate)
  • F-2 dependent I-20 (just pages 1 & 2; make sure F-1 signs at the bottom of page 1)

How to get your F-2 I-20 if F-1 primary is a KU Student

Your new primary F-1 must request to add you as their dependent F-2 by:

  1. Primary F-1 logs in to their iHawk
  2. Primary F-1 clicks on ‘F-1 Student Services’ in the menu and then ‘I-20 Requests’
  3. Click on ‘Start a New Request’
  4. Click on ‘I-20 Add Dependents(s)'
  5. Complete the form. You will need to upload scans of the new F-2’s passport, and financial documentation that proves the F-1 can pay for the support of the F-2 in addition to the F-1’s academic expenses
  6. The F-1 must meet with an ISS immigration advisor after submitting the e-form and have the dependent F-2 I-20 issued
  7. An ISS advisor will create new I-20s for the primary F-1 and the new F-2 dependent

How to get your F-20 I-20 if F-1 primary is not a KU Student

  • Contact the institution that issued the F-1 primary’s current I-20 for instructions on how to get an F-2 I-20.
  • Applicant’s passport page(s) showing name, photo, date of birth and expiration date
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160
  • A photograph of the applicant, taken within the last 6 months
  • Any other documents required by your specific embassy or consulate
  • New, original DS-2019; be sure to sign exchange visitor certification
  • I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt
  • Evidence of financial support. USCIS Form I-134 is recommended. Other evidence that may be sufficient: Past 4 months of bank statements (a letter from the bank is insufficient)

Common documents you will be required to present at your visa interview:

  • Applicant’s passport page(s) showing name, photo, date of birth and expiration date
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160
  • A photograph of the applicant, taken within the last 6 months
  • Any other documents required by your specific embassy or consulate
  • J-2 dependent DS-2019 (have J-1 sign at the bottom before submitting)

How to get your J-2 DS-2019 if J-1 primary's DS-2019 was issued by KU

Your new primary J-1 (parent or spouse) must request to add you as their dependent J-2 by:

  1. New primary J-1 logs in to their iHawk
  2. New primary J-1 clicks on ‘J-1 Student Services’ in the menu and then ‘DS-2019 Requests’
  3. Click on ‘Start a New Request’
  4. Click on ‘DS-2019 Add Dependents(s)’
  5. Complete the form. You will need to upload scans of the new J-2’s passport, and financial documentation that proves the J-1 can pay for the support of the J-2 in addition to the J-1’s academic expenses
  6. The J-1 must meet with an ISS immigration advisor after submitting the e-form and have the dependent J-2 DS-2019 issued
  7. An ISS advisor will create new DS-2019s for the primary J-1 and the new J-2

How to get your J-2 DS-2019 if J-1 primary's DS-2019 was not issued by KU

  • Contact the institution that issued the J-1 primary’s current DS-2019 for instructions on how to get a J-2 DS-2019.

Additional Supporting Documentation

  • Evidence of financial support for both the J-1 and J-2 without the J-2 having to work
    • Past 4 months of bank statements or proof of a GTA/GRA/scholarship are acceptable (a letter from the bank with current balance is insufficient)
  • New primary J-1 parent or spouse’s updated DS-2019
  • New primary J-1 parent or spouse’s I-94 (front and back)
  • New primary J-1 parent or spouse’s visa used to enter the U.S. and any Change of Status I-797 Approval Notice obtained after entry
  • New primary J-1 parent or spouse’s passport page(s) showing photo, name, date of birth and expiration date
  • Proof of relationship between J-1 and J-2 (marriage or birth certificate; as appropriate)
  • Applicant’s passport page(s) showing name, photo, date of birth and expiration date
  • Confirmation page of the application form DS-160
  • A photograph of the applicant, taken within the last 6 months
  • Any other documents required by your specific embassy or consulate
  • Letter-explaining interest in traveling, plans to go home and ties to home country (non-immigrant intent)
  • Evidence of financial support- Past 4 months of bank statements are acceptable (a letter from the bank with current balance is insufficient)
  • Evidence of return air ticket home

Depart the United States and Apply for Visa

Depart the United States

We usually recommend that you depart once you have all the required documentation necessary to begin your visa application.

Apply for your visa interview

  • Complete the DS-160 online visa application.
  • Print and keep the DS-160 barcode (confirmation) page.
  • Find the embassy or consulate where you intend to apply for your visa.
  • Follow the embassy's online instructions for scheduling a visa interview and paying the visa fee.
  • Consult the embassy or consulate where you will apply as to what materials are required for your interview.

 

Report your Arrival

Bring proof of your change/new status to ISS:

  • If you are a new student, upload the most recent entry I-94 in the new status through your pre-arrival checklist in iHawk before orientation.
  • If you are a currently enrolled (continuing) student, bring your new I-94 in the new status and visit with an ISS advisor.