Ultimate Guide for H4 to F1 Change of Status – 2025
Admission to a University is a very serious commitment which needs a lot of planning. Thing is even more complicated when landing status is an issue. H4 dependents who want to resume college have two possible choices 1 Enroll in the program on H4 visa, and 2 change the status to F1 visa. Read this blog to know more about these options.
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After being granted I 20 by University, you should process to change your immigration status to F 1-Visa immigration. You may travel to a country and get F1 Visa stamped or stay in the US and apply to change status to F1. The change of status petitions may take 3 to 9 months depending on the service center where your petition is assigned. The most recent processing times can be found here You can apply to the program, when your H4 to F1 change of status petition is still awaiting processing with USCIS although you must continue to be in H4 status until your COS is approved. In case your H4 visa may lapse before your H4 to F1 COS is granted you are to file another change of status petition to extend the H4 status. There are USCIS regulations regarding this at: You are able to take classes during the period you are awaiting the COS to F1, but will not gain access to those, that is OPT or CPT until COS to F1 is approved. Note that change of status is merely to effect the adjustment of the status whilst you are within the US. When you go out of the country you have to attend a US consulate and get the F1 visa stamped.
The reasons behind H4 to F1 Change of Status
Through F1 visa you may work under Practical training (CPT/OPT).
Changing status is easy to do it between F1 and H1B during employment.
F1 visa holders are allowed to work as assistants to the teachers, graduate assistants, or residence assistants at the concerned universities.
Students who undertake STEM degree based on F1 status can avail an extension of their stay.
H4 to F1 Change of Status
You will be required to send the H4 to F1 change of status petition I-539 online. The cost of Changing the status is $370 as at writing this. You must also pay $85 biometric fee. After filling in the form, you will be compelled to submit the following supporting documents to USCIS:
Copy of I-20 of the university
The admission letter granted to you by the University informing you of the success of your admission
Copy of Sevis fee receipt. Sevis fee is now percentage 200 and can be paid online
Copy of latest I-94
Photocopy of your passport – submit only the first page, the last page and all the visa stamp pages
A copy of all prior I-797A approvals in case you had filed any H4 extension
Financial ability to fund the living costs and the tuition fees. Include your H1B wife/husband bank statements of previous 3 months. The amount held in the bank account should exceed that on I-20
A cover letter with the reasons as to why you are requesting a change of status (H4 to F1). As F1 is a non-immigrant visa, you must demonstrate the desire to go back to your home country after attaining your degree
Copy of your marriage certificate
Copies of the spouse to H1B passport- only first page and last page, all pages that have stamp in it
The latest I-94 of H1B spouse
The 3 last pay slips of your H1B spouse
Cover letter by H1B spouse that you are supporting their education
Send all the above at the Dallas Lockbox. The newest filing addresses are available here: The lockbox location will forward a receipt notice to you and forward the case documents to a corresponding USCIS service center in order to grant approval.
In U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
USCIS
PO Box 660166
Dallas, TX 75266
In the case of FedEx, UPS and DHL deliveries:
USCIS
ATTN: I-539
2501 US 121 BUS
Suite 400
1467 W Hal Todd Dr, Lewisville, TX 75067
After having received the receipt notice, you can review status of your H4 to F1 change of status petition on the USCIS case status site. You may also contact your school DSO in case you have any questions regarding the changing of the status H4 to F1.
What to expect during H4 to F1 Visa interview and the common questions asked during interview
As stated above, the Change of status (from H4 to F1) will only change the immigration status as long as you are within the US. However, when you visit another country you will be required to have the F1 visa stamp at a US consulate. The F1 visa interview process can be read about at the F1 visa interview tips blog. There are also some accompanying risks in F1 Visa stamping with conversion of the H4 to F1. The two most popular questions at F1 visa interview are as follows Why do you want to change to F1 status and What are you going to do after you graduate? Authority to work on CPT and OPT are justifiable reasons of converting the H4 to F1. The question concerning post graduation plans is there to ascertain the academic interest to stay permanently in the US. Given that you have already been living in the US, and that your spouse is in the US on an H1B visa, the consular officer will have a ground to suspect that you will immigrate to the US on F1 nonimmigrant visa. The consular officer should be assured that your attachments to the home country are strong and you will resume in the home country upon the completion of your graduation. The prospect of the stamping of the H4 to F1 is particularly dim where your spouse is already undergoing the process of green card. Therefore, you should be conscious about the dangers of stamping when seeking this type of surgery. It is also recommended that you attend the F1 visa interview in your motherland other than Canada or Mexico since it will be easier to demonstrate the ties to your home country. This is a risky practice but is possible to come to the US on H4 visa and resume studies with F1 visa rejected.