The International Admissions Office is happy to help you with applying to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a change of your non-immigrant status to F-1 student status. The International Admissions Coordinator is available to advise whether changing your status is the right thing for you and about USCIS's requirements and procedures.

When you came to the United States, you had a particular reason or purpose. Perhaps you came as a tourist, for business, or to accompany another family member. That purpose is called your "status". When you arrived at the airport, the immigration inspector recorded your purpose (status) and a date to depart on a white card (Form I-94) that was stapled in your passport near your visa. If you did not have a date to depart stamped on the I-94, "D/S" should appear instead.

Now, however, your purpose for being here may have changed. Perhaps a relative or friend told you that you should think about attending school here, or your "principal activity" may be ending because you are thinking about leaving your job and returning to school.

If your principal activity, reason, or purpose for being in the U.S. has changed or ended, and you want to stay in the U.S. because you have a specific educational objective you want to pursue FULL-TIME, you will need to change your status to F-1 Student status to remain here lawfully.

You must have a status that the law allows you to change. USCIS law does not allow persons who hold the following statuses to change: C, D, J who have a 2-year residency requirement, K, M, N, S, WB, WT. A and G statuses must complete a Form I-566 and get approval from the Department of State before a change of status application can be sent to USCIS.

You must be here lawfully. The date on your Form I-94 cannot expire within 30 days of the semester you are applying for at HACC.

You must be accepted for a full course of study and have the financial ability to support the estimated costs of living and studying set forth by HACC. For more information about F-1 Student requirements, stop by the Admissions Office at the Harrisburg Campus in the Cooper Student Center for an International Application for Admission.

B statuses (other than "Prospective Student") must show that they did not intentionally apply for the wrong visa or deliberately enter the U.S. in the wrong status. If you knew that you were going to go to school when you applied for the visa, you will only be allowed to change your status if you said so on your visa application. Any evidence that you may have that will prove to USCIS that you were in the U.S. doing things as a tourist or business-person will be helpful to your application.

A change of status does not mean you will get a new visa. You can only get a visa at the American embassy or consular office in your home country. If USCIS approves your application, you may stay in the U.S. and study as long as you follow the rules, like studying full-time. The next time you want to go home you will need to get an F-1 visa to reenter the U.S. to attend school.

If interested in filing an application, or just receiving more information, call 717-780-2403 to schedule an appointment with the International Admissions Coordinator, or email us.