There are times when you must complete and send in government forms.
If you change your address, you must come to the office and fill out a AR-11 form. The government must be informed within 10 days of the change.
If you require re-instatement or want to change your non-immigrant status, you will need to fill out form I-539. In addition you will need to receive an I-20 from the IELP, provide an original bank statement verifying funds of at least $11,500.00, pay the USCIS a fee of $290.00 in the form of a money order or certified check, provide copies of your I94, passport and visa and write a letter of explanation to the government.
REINSTATEMENT is required when you:
- Are absent more than permitted;
- Did not register for and attend full time;
- Did not attend the school you were authorized by the government to attend;
- Remained in the U.S. beyond the appropriate time and did not apply for an extension;
- Committed any other violation of immigration regulations.
In your letter, you should explain very carefully and truthfully how you became out of status. Assure the government that it will not happen again and that you intend to continue to study in the United States and you will follow the government rules and regulations of being an F-1 student.
CHANGE OF STATUS is required when you want to change your status from, for example, F-2 to F-1 or B-2 to F-1. You may either return home and apply for student status from there or you can file for change of status while in the United States by filing form I-539 and submitting the appropriate documents. You MAY NOT file for a change of status if the status that you now hold is expired. In addition to the above requirements, you must also pay the $200 SEVIS fee online at fmjfee.com.
In your letter, you should explain how and when you decided to go to school and apply for a change of status. Since you did not intend to be a student at the time of your visa application at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, describe very carefully how you came to change your mind. The decision should be based on new information you received from reading, speaking to friends from home, or talking to your other people. The immigration officer who reads your application may suspect that you knew you were going to be a student before you entered the US. If s/he suspects that you knew, s/he may consider your original application for your current visa status fraudulent and deny the application. In your letter, you should explain your specific academic or professional goals. You should also demonstrate how being educated in the United States will make a better life for you in your home country. It is critical that you confirm that your intent is to obtain an education and then return to your home country. Keep in mind that Nonimmigrant Student (F-1) status is a non-immigrant classification and that your plans must be to remain temporarily in the United States.
If your change of status to F-1 is NOT approved by the original start date in section 5 on your I20, you MUST notify the IELP office to defer the start of your program.
You are not considered an F-1 student until the government approves your application. Once an application for change to Nonimmigrant Student (F-1) status has been approved, you must register for and successfully complete full-time enrollment during the remainder of your stay at Temple University, beginning the first available session after approval of the application.
You use the same form for both a reinstatement request and a change of status request. It is important that you know that a reinstatement or a change of status may take months and you cannot leave the country during this time.
If you have already installed the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you may access the form by clicking here.
To access this form, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you may obtain a free copy by following the directions at the following link: click here to download.
After you fill out the form, bring it and any other required documents to the IELP office. The office will prepare them, and will contact you to arrange an appointment with the Assistant Director.
