Required Documents for Change of Status to F-1 from within the United States
Original SEVIS Form I-20: The I-20 will be prepared by the Office of Undergraduate Admission (Contact: Scott Allen) for undergraduate students and by the Graduate School Admissions office (Contact: Tamika Hairston) for graduate and professional school students.
Receipt confirming payment of the SEVIS Fee (Form I-901): For payment instructions, please refer to our section on Paying the SEVIS Fee. If you pay the SEVIS fee online, you will be able to print a confirmation receipt immediately. You must wait until you receive your I-20 to pay the fee, as you will need to provide your SEVIS ID number and Emory's school code.
Completed Form I-539: This document must include information for yourself and any prospective F-2 dependents. If you are unsure about any of the questions, you should leave it blank and fill it out with your International Student Advisor. The address section should be left blank.
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Tips for filling out Form I-539:
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In Part 2, Item 1, you should select "b. A Change of Status" and write or type in “F-1” next to “the new status I am requesting is:”
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In Part 2, Item 2, you will indicate whether dependent family members will be changing their status to F-2.
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In Part 3, Item 1, where asked for “I/We request that my/our current or requested status be extended until...,” you should write in the program end date from Form I-20 followed by “D/S,” and complete the remainder of the Form I-539.
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Part 4 of the Form I-539 requests information about employment. If you have not been employed in the United States since last admitted, you will need to attach a current financial statement to the Form I-539 to show your source of support. (If you have been employed illegally, you are out of status and should not proceed with the application.)
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Dependent family members changing their dependent status to F-2 should be listed on Supplement 1 on Form I-539.
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A letter explaining why you are requesting a change of status. This is extremely important: your letter should clearly explain your current status, your plans for study at Emory, and your long-term plans. Keep in mind that F-1 status is a NONIMMIGRANT classification. This means that you must show that you will continue to maintain ties to your home country – whether in the form of a residence, an expected job offer, or continuing family ties. The letter should list all items included in the petition. Address the letter as: "Dear Immigration Official."
If you are requesting a change of status from H-1B or L-1, you should give your dates of employment and request the date on which you want your F-1 status to begin. For example, if your last day of employment is August 25, you should request for your F-1 status to start on August 26. Be aware that the F-1 effective date MUST be within 30 days of the program start date in item 5 on your I-20. If you plan to leave your employment more than 30 days before the program start date, you should leave the United States and apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Copy of your letter of admission to Emory University. Also include official transcripts from the Registrar's office if you have already begun study in your current status.
I-539 fee: a personal check or money order made payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security” for $290. This single fee includes any F-2 dependents listed on Supplement 1 of Form I-539. Those in A-1, A-2 or G-1 through G-4 non-immigrant status are not required to pay the fee.
Original Form I-94 for both you and your prospective F-2 dependents.
Financial support document/certificate showing how you intend to fund your studies at Emory, including living expenses. The amount of support should be equivalent to the amount listed on the current financial certificate for your school. If you are receiving funding from your school, you must have a letter stating the amount and duration, differentiating the amounts for tuition and stipend. If you are not receiving funding from your school to cover all expenses, you will need to fill out an updated financial certificate and include an official letter from your financial instituion or your sponsor’s financial institution verifying that you/your sponsor have sufficient funds to cover your expenses. Your sponsor will need to sign a section of the financial certificate confirming the agreement to sponsor you.
Copies of your immigration documents indicating status (ex: Form I-797), visa stamp, passport identification page and, if applicable, passport expiration page. If you have dependents who will change to F-2 status, copies of their immigration documents must also be included along with copies of documents proving their relationship to you (i.e. birth certificate for children; marriage certificate for spouses) and certified translations of these documents, if not in English. If you are in a status as a dependent of someone else, you will need to include copies of documents proving the primary visa holder's relationship to you (i.e. your birth certificate if you are a dependent child; your marriage certificate if you are dependent spouse) and certified translations of these documents, if not in English. Please also provide copies of his or her immigration documents and proof that he or she has been maintaining status (ex: for a parent or spouse in H-1B status, an employment verification letter and paystubs for the current and previous two months should accompany your application).
ISSS will also provide a letter of support as the Emory representative for the application.