I-539 Filing Online Instructions

  1. Submit visa document request e-form to International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) and obtain a Change of Status I-20.
  2. Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.
  3. Create your United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) account or log in to your USCIS account
  4. Select "File a form online" under "My Account."
  5. Choose " Application to Extend. Change Nonimmigrant Status (I-539)."

Follow the instructions and complete each step in the order they are presented to you.

  • What is the change of status you are requesting (F-1 Student Academic)
  • What is the effective date of change? (the Program Start date listed on your I-20)
  • What date are you requesting your current or requested status be extended until? (Program End date listed on I-20)
  • Required documents:
    1. Your nonimmigrant Arrival/Departure Record (I-94) (Obtain and upload your “Most Recent I-94” from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website.)
    2. Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student (Change of Status I-20)
    3. Proof of ability to pay (Upload a copy of financial documentation that demonstrates your ability to pay for your studies and support yourself, and any accompanying dependent family members, while you are in the United States.)
  • Additional evidence:
    • Please review our list of Status-Specific Documents you may also need to submit with your application – this is a suggested list, ONLY. You MUST consult with your immigration attorney in preparing a successful petition specific to you
  • Pay the filing fee for the online application. You must pay with a valid credit or debit card or provide your bank routing and checking account numbers to have money taken directly from your U.S. bank account.

Tips For Uploading Documents

  1. Use a scanner or take pictures of each document. Make sure each image you attach is clear and that all text is readable.
  2. Accepted file formats: JPG, JPEG, or PDF
  3. Accepted file name characters: English letters, numbers, spaces, periods, hyphens, underscores, and parentheses
  4. No encrypted or password-protected files
  5. Maximum size: 12 MB per file
  6. Upload no more than five documents at a time.