How To Change Visa Status From J1 To F1

Updated on March 15, 2022

Yous take been in the U.Due south. now for a while and your J1 visa has served you well. But, yous are pursuing new avenues and are looking to become another type of visa. What are your options and how tin yous change your visa status? More chiefly, how will you lot encompass the costs involved?

Below we take you through the steps on how you can apply for a J1 to H1B change of status or fifty-fifty change your status from J1 to F1. We besides show you how you can finance these changes with a personal loan from Stilt.

What is a J1 Visa?

J1 visas are only for a specific group of non-immigrants who are mainly in the U.Due south. to take part in work- and study-based visitor commutation programs. J1 visa holders are in the U.S. for programs that regard the promotion of knowledge and skills or for exchange in the fields of education, sciences, and arts.

Typical fields of work and study include the following:

Students
Au pair and EduCare
Teachers
Physicians from abroad
Government academic programme participants

Can a J1 Visa Holder Change Their Visa Status?

Generally, a J1 visa holder can change their status, provided all the requirements are met. Your unique situation and your efforts volition, nonetheless, determine your success. The biggest obstacle yous might face is the two-yr strange residency requirement.

2-Year Strange Residency Requirement

Before you go apply for the change of visa status yous need to sympathize the post-obit requirements with changing a J1 visa. There are some categories of J1 visa owners who need to fulfill a cumulative two-year strange residency period before they tin apply for whatever other visa. This ways you demand to stay outside of the U.S. for two years (preferably in your dwelling house country) earlier you can employ for a change of status, for example, a J1 to H1B modify of status.

Who is Subject to the Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement?

Here is a short listing of the groups of people who demand to fulfill the two-year requirement before beingness able to change status:

J1 owners who are government funding recipients (U.Southward. or International)
J1 owners who studied or worked in the field of the skills that are necessary in their countries of residency
Persons who took part in a graduate medical training program in the U.Southward. function of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

Tin can The Two-Year Foreign Residency Be Waived?

There are special circumstances nether which a J1 visa possessor does not have to fulfill the 2-year foreign residency flow before being eligible to change the condition of their visa.

You lot need to fulfill one of the scenarios below to be eligible for a J1 condition alter ii-year foreign residency waiver:

No Objection from the U.Due south. Diplomatic mission in Your Home Land – The U.S. embassy or consulate in your home state gives consent through a "no objection alphabetic character" granting you permission to change your visa status.
Request past an Interested U.S. Government Agency – A U.S. government agency lays claim that you are an integral function of a program and can non exit it for ii years.
Fear of Persecution in Your Home Country – Y'all can prove beyond reasonable doubt that you will be persecuted in your home land and yous would like to seek asylum in the U.S.
Exceptional Hardship to Your U.Southward. Citizen or Permanent Resident Spouse or Child – Your spouse or children are citizens or permanent residents (with a dark-green card) in the U.S. and they will experience exceptional hardship if y'all have to exit for ii years. The USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) would like to run across hardship beyond emotional, economic, or language difficulties. An case can exist that your child or spouse will be persecuted in your home country.
Asking by a State Department of Health – Foreign medical graduates who have been granted a job offering from a land-endemic health intendance facility that volition outset within 90 days of them receiving a waiver. The areas must be in need of doctors and the applicant needs to show a willingness to work for 3 years.

These requirements for a waiver need proof. You need to work with the USCIS and government government in your local area to go the necessary data or proof captured to state your case.

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Benefits of Irresolute Your J1 Visa Status

You probably already thought about some of the benefits of changing your J1 to H1B status. Or you would like a J1 to F1 alter of condition. Here are some more benefits of a J1 to H1B or J1 to F1 change of status.

Prolongs Your Stay in the U.S.

A J1 visa completes equally soon as your visitor or exchange program has concluded. Your J1 visa has a grace period upon the completion of your programme. The grace period usually lasts for xxx days which will give yous time to return abode. But, changing your J1 to F1 visa (for instance) will allow y'all to stay in the U.S. for much longer. Your new visa is no longer bound to the commutation plan that got you into the U.Due south. in the kickoff identify.

Opens New Task Opportunities (H1B)

A J1 to H1B change of condition volition open many job opportunities. H1B visa owners are in the U.Due south. considering of their specialized skills. In that location is a large need in the U.S. for the skill ready that makes an private eligible for an H1B visa. Naturally, you should be able to discover great job opportunities when you are eligible for a J1 to H1B visa change.

Allows You to Go an Education (F1)

A J1 to F1 change of status will allow you to get a U.S. didactics. F1 visa holders are in the U.S. with the main purpose of studying. But F1 visa holders may besides work on their campuses for 20 hours or less per week. They do not need permission from authorities to work those 20 hours per week. During holidays and recess, the F1 visa holder can work full-time on campus (40 hours per week). After the first yr of studies, the F1 visa holder tin can apply at the USCIS for permission to work at other jobs off-campus. This visa volition assistance you to get an education and it volition allow you to get some work experience in your field of studies besides.

How to Change from J1 to H1B

Permit'due south say you want a J1 to H1B change of status for your visa. That's great! Here are a few important things that you demand to understand and comply with to get your visa status changed.

H1B Eligibility and Chore Eligibility

There are eligibility criteria in place to govern H1B visa grants. You need to meet 1 of the following:

You must have a completed Bachelor's degree or higher in the field of your specialized skill prepare. The qualification must be obtained from an accredited U.South. institution or a recognized foreign school.
Yous must be the owner of an unrestricted state license, certification or registration that allows you to hold a job in the field of your specialized skill in the state y'all will be living in.

Your job also needs to exist eligible to grant you an H1B visa. It needs to meet 1 of the post-obit criteria:

The chore needs a minimum entry requirement of a bachelor's degree or higher.
The nature of the job's requirements and tasks demand a skill level of someone with the same degree or experience equivalent to it.
The employer requires a degree or equivalent to fulfill the chore.

Annual H1B Cap

Every year there are more people applying for H1B visas than the total H1B visas granted past the regime. The 2019 cap is 65,000 with an additional 20,000 for Primary's degree holders.

How to Utilize for a J1 to H1B Change of Status

Let's wait at how to use for your J1 to H1B visa modify.

1. Find an H1B Sponsor

Your H1B visa is dependent on a chore offer from an employer who is willing to be your sponsor. There are many means to find an H1B visa sponsor. Get yours and motion on to the next pace in the process.

2. Employer Submits Labor Weather condition Approving (LCA)

Your employer will file an LCA to start the application process later you have been hired. The LCA is filed at the Department of Labor (DOL). The LCA filing states details virtually your employment like salary, working conditions, and location. Basically, the DOL would similar to know that you will be treated fairly and equally as residents in your field of work and state of residence in the U.South. would exist.

The processing fourth dimension of an LCA approving may differ but you lot tin can read more virtually LCA blessing in our guide.

iii. Employer Submits Course I-129

In one case the LCA has been approved your employer will file the petition for a non-immigrant worker (grade I-129).

This Application Needs:

The application fee
Documents stating your instruction and experience evaluation
Preparation certificates
Professional membership documents
Your resume
Employment Agreement
And the letter of support from your employer

4. Applicant Completes Application at a The states Embassy or Consulate

You lot need to await for the petition to be approved. And then you demand to go to the U.S. diplomatic mission or consulate in your home country to procedure your new visa. It should accept betwixt 2-three days but it may differ in your home country.

Price of a J1 to H1B Condition Modify

The law requires an employer to pay the cost involved with filing an H1B visa application. The DOL actually does audits to confirm if only the employer paid the fees (fifty-fifty if the employee offered to pay themselves). This is put in place to protect the American workforce.

How to Modify from J1 to F1

As we explained above, you tin can also modify your status from J1 to F1.

You might have been in the U.S. on your J1 visa for a while and in the meantime, you've been admitted to a U.Southward. based academic program that is an SEVP -canonical school. Beneath nosotros show you how to get a J1 to F1 change of status.

Prove Fiscal Eligibility

A J1 to F1 alter of condition will allow you to study in the U.S. as a full-time student. You are only allowed to piece of work under very special circumstances mentioned higher up. You demand to evidence that you have the financial ways to pay for a full yr'southward worth of tuition, living expenses, insurance and all support for your dependents.

The Two-Year Residency Requirement

As we also mentioned before you lot need to either fulfill the two-year residency requirement in your home country or you need to take a successful application for a waiver. The USCIS will demand sufficient proof of this before you lot are allowed to change your status.

J1 to F1 Change of Status Application

Now for the practical part. How do you go the J1 to F1 application done?

Pay the SEVIS Fee and Receive an I-20

Once you are accustomed, you lot need to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to exist enrolled into the Educatee and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Your school will and so provide yous with an I-xx form that you need to present at your consular office visa status change interview. All of your dependents likewise need private I-twenty forms only they don't need to exist enrolled into the SEVIS.

Complete Your Online Awarding

Complete the online application and DS-160 form. Upload a photo in the explained format, pay the application fee (which should be around $160), get your payment receipt and shop all this documentation to bring along to your J1 to F1 visa change interview.

Schedule and Prepare for Your Interview

You must schedule your interview early considering waiting periods may vary per country and embassy.

You will need the following at your interview:

Valid passport
Your completed DS-160 form
Application fee payment receipt
Passport photo
The I-twenty form issued to y'all by your schoolhouse

Boosted information that will exist of value during the interview is any proof and eligibility for your studies like previous degrees and qualifications. Proof of your financial stability will be needed as well. Making apply of clearing attorneys can help you in this procedure (simply it will, of course, come at a toll).

Nourish Your J1 to F1 Modify of Status Interview

Attend the interview with the consular officer at which your application, eligibility, and proof of intent will be examined. The officeholder will determine the success of your visa awarding.

An F1 visa may be granted more 120 days before your semester of studies start, but your visa is but valid thirty days before the showtime of your course.

Price of a J1 to F1 Condition Change

The fees which you will need to pay for an application are as follow:

$160 – Application fee
$200 – SEVIS fee

That makes a total of $360, but you still need to prove your financial ability to finance your studies for a total year too. The toll of this volition exist determined by your tuition fees and living expenses. Loans for international students have helped many people cover all these actress upfront costs.

Delight annotation the following, you are not required by the authorities to have medical aid insurance. But, many schools crave international students to have medical insurance. You will exist forced to accept the schools sponsored medical insurance (which can be expensive) if you lot don't have a recognized program of your ain. Store around and find a solution that suits your needs too as the requirements of your school.

Finance Your Change of J1 Status with a Stilt Loan

Whether you lot want an H1B visa or a J1 to F1 change of condition, both these processes volition require costs that may be across your means right at present. Yous might also need the assist of an attorney which can be quite expensive.

We accept good news, yet! A personal loan for a not-U.Due south. denizen from Stilt tin can help to cover these costs. Stilt does not require borrowers to accept a cosigner or a minimum credit score. Here's how getting a loan with Stilt works.

Stride 1

Determine how much coin y'all need and use online with your electric current visa. Take a wait at the eligibility criteria necessary for an application and make sure you assemble all the required information. Your application and information you provide will determine the loan offering yous go.

Step 2

You will receive feedback within 24 hours of your application. A promissory notation volition be sent to y'all with a loan offering once all the information is verified. Sign and return that note if y'all want to accept the loan. The funds volition reverberate in your account within 2-3 business organization days.

Last Pace

At present all you demand to do is repay the loan. Fix your payment method online and repay your loan in the monthly installments.

Getting a loan with Stilt is that simple!

Determination

In that location are great benefits to changing your status from J1 to F1 or J1 to H1B. Don't let the price involved hold you dorsum. Utilise for a non-resident personal loan from Stilt today to assist you lot finance your status change

Need a Loan? Become One in 3 Elementary Steps

If you lot are considering applying for a personal loan, just follow these 3 simple steps.

Apply

Employ online for the loan amount you need. Submit the required documentation and provide your best possible awarding. Stronger applications get better loan offers.

Take

If your application meets the eligibility criteria, the lender will contact you with regard to your application. Provide any boosted information if required. Before long you'll have your loan offering. Some lenders send a promissory note with your loan offer. Sign and render that notation if you wish to accept the loan offering.

Repay

The loan then gets disbursed into your U.S. depository financial institution account within a reasonable number of days (some lenders will be every bit quick every bit 2-3 concern days). Now you demand to set upwards your repayment method. Y'all can cull an autopay method online to help you pay on fourth dimension every month.

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Well-nigh Stilt

Stilt provides loans to international students and working professionals in the U.Southward. (F-1, OPT, H-1B, O-1, L-i, TN visa holders) at rates lower than whatsoever other lender. Stilt is committed to helping immigrants build a better financial futurity.

We accept a holistic underwriting arroyo to make up one's mind your interest rates and make certain you lot get the everyman charge per unit possible.

Learn what others are saying about us on Google, Yelp, and Facebook or visit us at https://www.stilt.com. If you accept any questions, ship us an email at [email protected]

Frank Gogol

I'one thousand a house believer that data is the cardinal to financial liberty. On the Stilt Blog, I write nearly the complex topics — similar finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants brand the most of their lives in the U.South. Our content and brand take been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

Source: https://www.stilt.com/blog/2019/02/j1-to-h1b/

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