Menu
Notice to Applicants
When you enter the United States in nonimmigrant status, you do so for a specific purpose, such as study, work, or travel. You may enter the U.S. with one purpose and later change your purpose. When this happens, you may need to obtain a new status. Different visas and status categories allow different activities. The purpose of F-1 student status is to allow individuals to remain in the United States for the purpose of pursuing full-time studies at an approved school.
UCEDA International is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant F-1 students.
We collect these required documents to support your eligibility for F-1 student status.
Once your documents are all ready, the school will create a Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility” for you. Then you can schedule a meeting with a Designated School Official to help you:
Government fee for processing and adjudicating your request (online filing only $420)
Government fee to activate your Form I-20, visit www.fmjfee.com
School fee to process your application to become a student in the Intensive English Program
These fees are nonrefundable.
Complete information about government fees and instructions for the Form I-539 can be found at www.uscis.gov/i-539
Notice: UCEDA representatives are not immigration attorneys. We strongly advise you to consult an immigration attorney about your plans to apply to obtain F-1 status.
After sending the complete package to USCIS, you should receive a Form I-797 Receipt Notice in the mail. You may also receive a Request for Evidence (RFE). Please send a copy of these to the school so we can continue to provide support.
Monitor the status of your application at egov.uscis.gov/casestatus
Important notes:
Let us know when your F-1 status is approved!
New sessions begin at UCEDA on the first Monday of every month. Once your case is approved, you must start classes in the next available session and pay the corresponding tuition. Failure to report to class will result in termination of the Form I-20.
To maintain F-1 student status, continue coming to class and making academic progress.
Can I Change Status?
You may be able to change status if:
• You are maintaining your current status.
• You are eligible for the new status.
• Your current status does not prohibit change of status in the U.S.
You generally cannot change status if:
• Your period of authorized stay has already expired.
• You have otherwise violated the conditions of your current status.
• You hold C, D, K, or vocational M status.
• You were admitted under the Visa Waiver Program
Advantages of Change of Status
– Ability to stay in the U.S. during processing
– No visit to the embassy or consulate required
– High rate of approval for good applications
Disadvantages of Change of Status
– You must still obtain a visa stamp to match your status the next time you travel outside the U.S. (except for trips under 30 days to Canada or Mexico)
USCIS updates case processing times on their website monthly. To know how long it generally takes to process benefit requests, please check case processing times
