H-4 to F-1 Change of Nonimmigrant Status

Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses became available May 26, 2015. Consult your spouse's employer's immigration specialist to see if you should obtain F1 status or if you are eligible for work authorization in your current H4 status. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides additional FAQs about the new benefit.

Contact the International Office as soon as you know you must obtain F-1 status in order to discuss your options. If you have a graduate student appointment (employment), it may be best to travel, apply for an F-1 visa abroad, and reenter the U.S. in F-1 status to ensure that you will be able to start working on campus.

Instructions

1. Obtain an I-20 from the International Office. 
   If you are currently studying at Fresno State in H-4 status and wish to obtain F-1 status, request an I-20 from the International Office and submit supporting financial documentation and a copy of your passport identification page. Allow 1 week for processing. You will receive an email from the International Office when your I-20 is ready for pick up.
2. Review your options for obtaining F-1 status. Decide which option to use: "Travel and Reentry" or "Change Status in the U.S."
3. Prepare the required documents and follow the next steps for obtaining F-1 status (details below).

Option 1: Travel and Reentry

Review the International Office Visas page. Plan your travel and F-1 visa appointment accordingly. You can enter the U.S. with your I-20 and F-1 visa no earlier than 30 days before the I-20 start date.

Option 2: Change of Status in the U.S.

Submit your application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by mail.

Mail the following documents to the USCIS Lockbox

• Form I-539
• $370 fee: check or money order payable to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security”
  • You may also pay the filing fee with a credit card by completing form G-1450 and place the form on top of your application when filing. 
• Original I-94 card or photocopy of admission stamp and paper printout of I-94 record 
• Photocopy of the visa page and identification page in your passport
• Photocopy of the signed I-20 Issued in your name by the International Office
• Financial documents verifying easily accessible funds for tuition/living expenses, such as personal bank statement, family bank statement, etc. (not salary information)
• Photocopy of the H-1's Approval Notice (I-797)
• Photocopy of the H-1's I-94 card (front and back)
• A letter from the H-1 employer verifying that the H-1 is in status
• Detailed letter requesting and explaining the need to change status
• Photocopy of proof of payment of SEVIS fee  

Notes

While H-4 status allows full-time study, employment may be restricted. Certain H4 dependents may be eligible for employment authorization. If you are not eligible for work authorization, then you are not permitted to begin working on campus until the change to F-1 status is approved and you are within 30 days of your I-20 start date. 

F-1 status cannot begin earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20. You should submit your application several months in advance, and you must be able to maintain your current H-4 status until 30 days before the I-20 start date. If your H-4 status will expire prior to 30 days before your I-20 start date, your application will most likely be denied. Even though you are allowed to stay in the U.S. while the application is pending, if your application is likely to be denied, it will be better for you to travel, obtain an F-1 visa abroad, and reenter the U.S. in F-1 status.

Your foreign, non-U.S. address must be listed in the permanent address field in the Fresno State student portal. If this field currently shows a U.S. address, please update your foreign address at my.fresnostate.edu or submit your foreign address to intlstudentservices@csufresno.edu with your name and student ID number and we will update the student database in accordance with the F-1 regulations.