How To Change Status From J1 To F1

Updated on March xv, 2022

You have been in the U.S. now for a while and your J1 visa has served you well. Merely, y'all are pursuing new avenues and are looking to go another type of visa. What are your options and how tin you change your visa condition? More than importantly, how will you cover the costs involved?

Beneath nosotros take y'all through the steps on how you lot can use for a J1 to H1B change of status or even change your status from J1 to F1. We besides show you how you can finance these changes with a personal loan from Stilt.

What is a J1 Visa?

J1 visas are only for a specific group of not-immigrants who are mainly in the U.S. to take part in work- and written report-based company exchange programs. J1 visa holders are in the U.S. for programs that regard the promotion of cognition and skills or for exchange in the fields of instruction, sciences, and arts.

Typical fields of piece of work and report include the following:

Students
Au pair and EduCare
Teachers
Physicians from abroad
Government academic programme participants

Can a J1 Visa Holder Alter Their Visa Status?

Generally, a J1 visa holder can alter their condition, provided all the requirements are met. Your unique state of affairs and your efforts will, however, make up one's mind your success. The biggest obstacle you might face up is the two-year foreign residency requirement.

Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement

Before you go utilise for the alter of visa condition y'all demand to understand the following requirements with changing a J1 visa. In that location are some categories of J1 visa owners who demand to fulfill a cumulative two-year foreign residency period before they can utilise for any other visa. This means you demand to stay outside of the U.S. for two years (preferably in your home state) earlier y'all can utilise for a alter of status, for example, a J1 to H1B alter of status.

Who is Subject field to the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement?

Here is a short list of the groups of people who demand to fulfill the ii-yr requirement before being able to change condition:

J1 owners who are government funding recipients (U.S. or International)
J1 owners who studied or worked in the field of the skills that are necessary in their countries of residency
Persons who took office in a graduate medical training program in the U.South. part of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

Can The Two-Twelvemonth Strange Residency Be Waived?

There are special circumstances nether which a J1 visa owner does not have to fulfill the 2-year strange residency flow before being eligible to change the status of their visa.

You demand to fulfill 1 of the scenarios below to be eligible for a J1 condition modify two-year strange residency waiver:

No Objection from the U.S. Embassy in Your Home Country – The U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country gives consent through a "no objection alphabetic character" granting you permission to alter your visa condition.
Request by an Interested U.S. Authorities Bureau – A U.S. government agency lays claim that you are an integral role of a program and tin not leave information technology for ii years.
Fright of Persecution in Your Habitation Country – You lot tin can testify beyond reasonable doubt that you volition exist persecuted in your dwelling land and y'all would similar to seek asylum in the U.South.
Infrequent Hardship to Your U.South. Citizen or Permanent Resident Spouse or Child – Your spouse or children are citizens or permanent residents (with a green carte) in the U.S. and they will experience exceptional hardship if you lot have to get out for two years. The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) would like to see hardship beyond emotional, economic, or linguistic communication difficulties. An example can be that your child or spouse will be persecuted in your habitation country.
Request past a Country Department of Health – Foreign medical graduates who take been granted a job offer from a state-owned health care facility that will starting time within 90 days of them receiving a waiver. The areas must exist in demand of doctors and the applicant needs to show a willingness to work for 3 years.

These requirements for a waiver demand proof. You need to work with the USCIS and authorities regime in your local area to go the necessary information or proof captured to state your case.

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Benefits of Changing Your J1 Visa Status

You lot probably already thought well-nigh some of the benefits of irresolute your J1 to H1B status. Or you would like a J1 to F1 modify of status. Here are some more benefits of a J1 to H1B or J1 to F1 change of status.

Prolongs Your Stay in the U.Due south.

A J1 visa completes equally before long as your visitor or substitution program has concluded. Your J1 visa has a grace period upon the completion of your programme. The grace catamenia usually lasts for 30 days which will give you time to return habitation. Just, changing your J1 to F1 visa (for instance) will allow you to stay in the U.Due south. for much longer. Your new visa is no longer bound to the commutation program that got you lot into the U.S. in the first place.

Opens New Job Opportunities (H1B)

A J1 to H1B modify of status volition open upwardly many chore opportunities. H1B visa owners are in the U.S. because of their specialized skills. At that place is a large need in the U.Southward. for the skill prepare that makes an individual eligible for an H1B visa. Naturally, y'all should be able to discover cracking job opportunities when you are eligible for a J1 to H1B visa change.

Allows You lot to Get an Instruction (F1)

A J1 to F1 change of status volition let yous to get a U.S. education. F1 visa holders are in the U.S. with the main purpose of studying. But F1 visa holders may also work on their campuses for xx hours or less per week. They do not need permission from authorities to work those 20 hours per week. During holidays and recess, the F1 visa holder can work full-time on campus (40 hours per week). After the first year of studies, the F1 visa holder can apply at the USCIS for permission to work at other jobs off-campus. This visa volition aid you to get an instruction and it volition allow you to become some work experience in your field of studies as well.

How to Modify from J1 to H1B

Let's say you want a J1 to H1B change of status for your visa. That's bang-up! Here are a few important things that you lot need to understand and comply with to get your visa condition changed.

H1B Eligibility and Job Eligibility

There are eligibility criteria in identify to govern H1B visa grants. You need to meet one of the following:

Y'all must have a completed Available's degree or college in the field of your specialized skill set. The qualification must exist obtained from an accredited U.S. institution or a recognized foreign school.
You must be the possessor of an unrestricted land license, certification or registration that allows you to concord a job in the field of your specialized skill in the state you lot will exist living in.

Your job also needs to exist eligible to grant you an H1B visa. It needs to encounter 1 of the following criteria:

The task needs a minimum entry requirement of a available's degree or higher.
The nature of the job'southward requirements and tasks demand a skill level of someone with the aforementioned degree or experience equivalent to it.
The employer requires a degree or equivalent to fulfill the job.

Annual H1B Cap

Every year at that place are more people applying for H1B visas than the total H1B visas granted by the government. The 2019 cap is 65,000 with an boosted 20,000 for Master'south caste holders.

How to Employ for a J1 to H1B Alter of Condition

Let's wait at how to utilize for your J1 to H1B visa change.

1. Find an H1B Sponsor

Your H1B visa is dependent on a job offer from an employer who is willing to be your sponsor. There are many ways to observe an H1B visa sponsor. Get yours and move on to the next step in the procedure.

ii. Employer Submits Labor Weather condition Blessing (LCA)

Your employer will file an LCA to start the awarding process after yous have been hired. The LCA is filed at the Department of Labor (DOL). The LCA filing states details about your employment like salary, working conditions, and location. Basically, the DOL would like to know that you will exist treated fairly and equally as residents in your field of work and state of residence in the U.South. would be.

The processing time of an LCA approval may differ but you can read more near LCA approval in our guide.

3. Employer Submits Form I-129

One time the LCA has been canonical your employer volition file the petition for a non-immigrant worker (form I-129).

This Awarding Needs:

The awarding fee
Documents stating your education and experience evaluation
Grooming certificates
Professional membership documents
Your resume
Employment Agreement
And the alphabetic character of support from your employer

iv. Applicant Completes Awarding at a US Diplomatic mission or Consulate

You demand to wait for the petition to be approved. Then yous need to go to the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country to process your new visa. It should take betwixt two-3 days merely it may differ in your home country.

Price of a J1 to H1B Status Change

The police force requires an employer to pay the cost involved with filing an H1B visa awarding. The DOL actually does audits to confirm if only the employer paid the fees (even if the employee offered to pay themselves). This is put in place to protect the American workforce.

How to Alter from J1 to F1

As nosotros explained higher up, you can also alter your status from J1 to F1.

Yous might have been in the U.S. on your J1 visa for a while and in the meantime, you've been admitted to a U.Southward. based bookish plan that is an SEVP -approved school. Below we show you how to get a J1 to F1 change of condition.

Prove Fiscal Eligibility

A J1 to F1 change of condition volition allow y'all to study in the U.Southward. every bit a full-time student. You are merely immune to piece of work under very special circumstances mentioned above. Y'all need to bear witness that y'all have the financial means to pay for a full twelvemonth's worth of tuition, living expenses, insurance and all support for your dependents.

The 2-Yr Residency Requirement

As we too mentioned before you need to either fulfill the two-year residency requirement in your home country or you lot demand to take a successful application for a waiver. The USCIS will need sufficient proof of this earlier y'all are allowed to modify your condition.

J1 to F1 Change of Status Application

At present for the practical role. How do you get the J1 to F1 application done?

Pay the SEVIS Fee and Receive an I-20

Once yous are accepted, y'all need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to be enrolled into the Student and Exchange Company Data Arrangement (SEVIS). Your schoolhouse volition then provide you with an I-20 form that you demand to nowadays at your consular office visa condition modify interview. All of your dependents also need private I-twenty forms but they don't need to be enrolled into the SEVIS.

Consummate Your Online Application

Complete the online awarding and DS-160 form. Upload a photo in the explained format, pay the application fee (which should be around $160), get your payment receipt and store all this documentation to bring forth to your J1 to F1 visa modify interview.

Schedule and Prepare for Your Interview

You must schedule your interview early because waiting periods may vary per country and diplomatic mission.

You will need the post-obit at your interview:

Valid passport
Your completed DS-160 form
Application fee payment receipt
Passport photo
The I-20 form issued to you past your schoolhouse

Additional information that will be of value during the interview is whatsoever proof and eligibility for your studies similar previous degrees and qualifications. Proof of your financial stability volition be needed too. Making use of clearing attorneys tin can aid you in this process (but it will, of course, come at a price).

Nourish Your J1 to F1 Change of Status Interview

Attend the interview with the consular officer at which your application, eligibility, and proof of intent will be examined. The officeholder will determine the success of your visa application.

An F1 visa may exist granted more than 120 days before your semester of studies kickoff, but your visa is only valid 30 days before the showtime of your course.

Cost of a J1 to F1 Status Change

The fees which you will need to pay for an application are every bit follow:

$160 – Application fee
$200 – SEVIS fee

That makes a total of $360, only you notwithstanding need to prove your financial power to finance your studies for a full yr too. The cost of this will be determined past your tuition fees and living expenses. Loans for international students have helped many people embrace all these extra upfront costs.

Please note the following, you are not required by the government to take medical aid insurance. Only, many schools crave international students to have medical insurance. Yous will be forced to have the schools sponsored medical insurance (which tin can be expensive) if you lot don't accept a recognized plan of your own. Shop around and discover a solution that suits your needs as well every bit the requirements of your school.

Finance Your Modify of J1 Status with a Stilt Loan

Whether you desire an H1B visa or a J1 to F1 change of status, both these processes volition crave costs that may be beyond your ways right now. You might besides need the help of an attorney which can be quite expensive.

We have good news, however! A personal loan for a not-U.S. citizen from Stilt can aid to embrace these costs. Stilt does not require borrowers to have a cosigner or a minimum credit score. Here's how getting a loan with Stilt works.

Stride 1

Determine how much money yous need and apply online with your electric current visa. Accept a look at the eligibility criteria necessary for an application and make sure y'all assemble all the required information. Your application and information you provide will determine the loan offer y'all get.

Stride 2

Y'all will receive feedback within 24 hours of your awarding. A promissory notation will be sent to you with a loan offer in one case all the data is verified. Sign and return that note if you want to accept the loan. The funds will reflect in your account within 2-3 business concern days.

Final Step

Now all you need to practice is repay the loan. Set up your payment method online and repay your loan in the monthly installments.

Getting a loan with Stilt is that elementary!

Conclusion

There are corking benefits to changing your condition from J1 to F1 or J1 to H1B. Don't let the cost involved hold yous dorsum. Use for a non-resident personal loan from Stilt today to help you finance your status alter

Need a Loan? Get Ane in iii Elementary Steps

If you are considering applying for a personal loan, but follow these 3 simple steps.

Employ

Apply online for the loan amount you need. Submit the required documentation and provide your best possible awarding. Stronger applications get better loan offers.

Take

If your awarding meets the eligibility criteria, the lender volition contact you with regard to your awarding. Provide whatsoever additional information if required. Before long you'll take your loan offering. Some lenders send a promissory annotation with your loan offer. Sign and return that note if you lot wish to accept the loan offer.

Repay

The loan and so gets disbursed into your U.S. bank account within a reasonable number of days (some lenders will be equally quick as ii-3 business days). Now you need to prepare your repayment method. You tin cull an autopay method online to assistance yous pay on fourth dimension every month.

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Well-nigh Stilt

Stilt provides loans to international students and working professionals in the U.S. (F-ane, OPT, H-1B, O-1, L-1, TN visa holders) at rates lower than whatever other lender. Stilt is committed to helping immigrants build a improve financial time to come.

Nosotros take a holistic underwriting arroyo to determine your interest rates and make sure you become the lowest rate possible.

Larn what others are saying near us on Google, Yelp, and Facebook or visit us at https://www.stilt.com. If y'all have whatsoever questions, send us an electronic mail at [electronic mail protected]

Frank Gogol

I'm a firm believer that information is the key to fiscal freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write nigh the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the about of their lives in the U.S. Our content and make have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.