SDSU international students and applicants often have a visa status other than F-1 student. Some students are in H-4 visa status, for example, and it is permissible to be a student in that visa status. However, many students find that they want or need to change to F-1 visa status. The ISC offers the following information to help you make that change.
The following are brief definitions of some common visa types. For more information, including full definitions of the different visa types, view the U.S. Department of State U.S. Visa page.
*For children, the dependent status ends on their 21st birthday. These dependents must change to another status before this happens and should meet with an ISC advisor at least 9 months before their 21st birthday to allow plenty of time to change their status.
The International Student Center recommends that you consult an immigration attorney to help you determine whether you should apply to change your status in the U.S. or in your home country.
A change of status will not give you a new visa stamp in your passport and will not allow you to travel and re-enter the U.S. The next time you leave the U.S., you will be required to apply for a new visa before you will be allowed to re-enter the U.S. USCIS processing times change regularly, but currently a change of status application in the U.S. is taking 8 to 9 months.
Currently the ISC is not offering workshops for those who want to change to F-1 visa status. Instead, please contact the ISC to make an appointment with an ISC advisor.