Changing Status to J-1

If you are already in the United States in another nonimmigrant status, you may be allowed to apply for a change of status to J-1 by submitting the I-539 change of status application to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

However, I-539 applications are costly, complex, and can take a long time to process. Because this, the I-539 change of status application is generally not recommended for J-1 exchange visitors. It is typically much faster for new J-1 applicants to return to their home country and apply for a J-1 visa to travel to the United States, rather than applying for a change of status to J-1 while remaining in the United States.

In general, the steps involved in the USCIS change of status process are:

1. Exchange visitor applicant and sponsoring department complete the MUSC J-1 sponsorship application process
2. If approved, MUSC issues Form DS-2019 and sends form to J-1 applicant
3. Exchange visitor applicant pays SEVIS I-901 fee
4. Exchange visitor applicant completes and submits USCIS Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status and pays the USCIS I-539 filing fee
5. If approved, USCIS sends exchange visitor Form I-797 Approval Notice indicating change of status to J-1

Please be aware that MUSC cannot assist you with completing the USCIS Form I-539 application to request a change of status to J-1. We recommend that you hire an immigration attorney if you think you need assistance with this application. In addition, you are responsible for paying all fees associated with the I-539 change of status application. USCIS fees are set by the U.S. government and are subject to change at any time.

It is important to understand that you cannot begin the J-1 program at MUSC until you receive the official approval notice (Form I-797) from USCIS, indicating that USCIS has approved the I-539 change of status application and granted you a change of status to J-1.

USCIS processing times for I-539 change of status applications (requesting change of status to J-1) are highly variable and are subject to change at any time. In general, applications requesting a change of status to J-1 can take anywhere from 9-15 months to be processed by USCIS. USCIS does offer premium processing service for the I-539 application. Premium processing is an optional service that will expedite the processing of the application for an additional fee. Premium processing will ensure that the application is processed within 30 days, in most cases.

Again, the change of status application is rarely used for J-1 exchange visitors and is typically not recommended. If you have been offered an Exchange Visitor Program at MUSC, and you are considering pursuing a change of status to J-1, please contact the Center for Global Health to discuss your individual circumstances.