What is the change of status?

Visa is the entry permission issued by the department of state. But the status is given in form I-94 when a person enters into US by Department of Homeland security. Generally, the visa a person holds determines his status when he enters to US. Another words, a person with a Visitor visa will have a visitor status, generally valid for six months in the USA, and person with F-1 (Student visa) will have F-1 status.    Change of status allows foreign nationals holding a nonimmigrant status in the U.S. to change status to another nonimmigrant category while in the U.S. This process is called Change of Status.  That means that a person with a certain non-immigrant status can either extend their non-immigrant status or change to that of another non-immigrant status without leaving USA.

Who may apply for change of status or Extension of status.

You may be eligible to change your status to another nonimmigrant status if:

• You have lawfully entered into the U.S. with a nonimmigrant visa

• Your nonimmigrant visa status remains valid

• You have not committed any crime that would make you ineligible

• You have not violated terms of your visa/status in US.

Certain nonimmigrants who are maintaining status and wish to change to another status including:

Diplomatic and other government officials, and their dependants and employees on an A visa

Temporary visitors for business or pleasure on B visa category

Academic students on F-1 visa and their dependants on F-2 visa

Representatives to international organizations and their dependants and employees on G visa

Representatives of foreign media on I visa and their dependants

Exchange visitors on J-1 visa and their dependants on J-2 visa

Vocational students on M-1 visa and their dependants on M-2 visa

Temporary workers on H  L O P Q or R visa and their dependants

All these non-immigrant categories can extend their status as well.