Applicants for change of status to F-1 student no longer need to submit subsequent applications.
July 21, 2021
USCIS announced new policy guidance that will eliminate the need for individuals who have applied for a change of status (COS) to F-1 students to apply to change or extend their nonimmigrant status while their initial F-1 application is pending. Under the previous policy, applicants needed to maintain status up to 30 days before the program start date listed on their Form I-20 which required them to file extensions, or an initial COS and subsequent extensions ensuring that they would not have a “gap” in status. The new policy will reduce workloads and costs for both the applicants and USCIS. USCIS is in now in the process of revising the Form I-539 instructions to reflect these changes.