F-1 to F-2

To qualify to change from F-1 to F-2, you must:

• be in good legal standing with USCIS (must have maintained full-time status while in school),
• be a bona fide non-immigrant, and
• the F-1 principal, your spouse whose status you will be attendant to, must be in good status.

1. Request a dependent I-20 through Sunapsis. As part of the e-form requirements, you must demonstrate financial capability to support your spouse by submitting financial evidence of $10,000. If the e-form is approved by your advisor, you will be issued the dependent I-20 in 1-3 business days.
2. Once you have the dependent I-20, your F-1 spouse will use the document to proceed with one of two ways of changing status: 1) Through travel (DS-160 application completion and a scheduled visa interview at your home country); 2) Change of status within the U.S. with the USCIS Form I-539.
3. If travel is not an option to move forward with change of status, then proceed with change of status through Form I-539:
   
   1. Complete Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status)
   2. Upload all required documents.
   3. Make payment as part of submitting the online application.

You will be able to monitor your application status through your USCIS account.

When approved, you will receive USCIS notification (I-797C) confirming your changed status. Make sure that if you move, you have your mail forwarded.

It is advised that you do not travel outside of the U.S. with a change of status application pending.