International Student Services

F-1 TO A TAMU J-1 CHANGE OF STATUS (COS)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY


NOTE: Sponsored students must see a Sponsored Student Program (SSP) Advisor before coming to ISS. An application for COS
must be requested ONLY if the sponsor requires it, but BEFORE the current Form I-20 expires. If your current I-20 has already expired,
speak to an ISS advisor. An F-2 dependents COS must be included in the F-1s COS.
If you are sponsored by an agency OTHER THAN Texas A&M University (i.e. LASPAU, IIE etc), please discuss your COS with SSP.
When a COS is approved, the student must then bring the new DS-2019 and new I-94 card (also for your dependents) to ISS so the
status can be updated.

The advisor will submit the COS application to BCIS after the student submits the following documents:

1. Previous and current Form I-20s, passports and I-94 cards (and for all F-2 dependents). Please bring all of your papers to avoid
confusion or delay in processing of your papers;

2. Sponsored Student Analysis Sheet. All support must be listed on the new DS-2019 (e.g. personal bank letter, funders support
letter with funders bank letter issued within the last six months). Financial bank documents must be presented on letterhead,
dated, and signed by an official. Please ask the bank official to include the account holder information, the account number, the
date the account was opened, the current balance, and the average balance. For funds provided by official sponsors (e.g.
agencies, governments, and/or companies) the most recent copy of the sponsorship letter is necessary. The ISS Advisor can
supply exact amounts of funding required by Texas A&M. Note: No matter what other sources of support exist, if the student is
employed by Texas A&M, he/she must provide a departmental letter (from the departmental payroll office) stating: job title, dollar
amount of award, or monthly or hourly salary, expected duration of the funding (i.e. 9 months or 12 months), and whether it makes
the student (and any dependents) eligible for in-state tuition and/or health insurance benefits.

3. Signed insurance responsibility statement (available from ISS) for the student's file. Since you are a sponsored student, this
statement also must be signed by an SSP Advisor;

4. a) For new students, Copy of Letter of Admission;
b) For continuing students, Departmental letter (on letterhead stationery) addressed "To Whom It May Concern" containing the
following information:
a statement that the student is in good academic standing (or explanation about the academic status);
the specific academic requirements remaining; and
the student's expected date of graduation (month/year).
For graduate students, this must be written and signed by the Academic Advisor, and also signed by the graduate faculty member
identified by the Office of Graduate Studies as authorized to sign as Department Head (Departmental Graduate Advisor). For
undergraduates, this must be written and signed by the Undergraduate Advisor.

5. A letter from an SSP Advisor stating that the sponsor requires the COS and the duration of sponsorship, or the expected date of
completion (M/Y), whichever comes first;

6. Completed Form I-539 available from DHS website http://uscis.gov/graphics/newforms.htm with necessary attachment(s);

7. Write check or money order to Department of Homeland Security. Please see their website for fee information at
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=94d12c1a6855d010VgnVCM100
00048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

8. F-1 applicants Letter, addressed To Whom It May Concern stating that: (a) he/she is in legal status (see #2 on the other side for
an explanation); (b) asking that his/her visa status be changed to J -1; (c) stating the reason the change is necessary (sponsor is
requiring it). You may attach a copy of sponsors request (if available);

9. Transcripts from all schools attended in the US;

10. Signed 2 year Home Residency Requirement Statement;

11. I-901 Receipt (SEVIS Fee): All individuals applying for a change of status to J -1 must pay the SEVIS Fee, including individuals
already in a SEVIS status. For online submission of the SEVIS Fee visit https://www.FMJ fee.com. See the ISS SEVIS Fee
handout for more information.



International Student Services

F-1 TO TAMU J-1 CHANGE OF STATUS (COS)

(Based on Federal Regulations, International Student Services and University Policies)


If Texas A&M did not issue the students current I-20, student MUST complete a transfer from the other school to
Texas A&Ms I-20 OR apply for Change of Status (COS) before the 15
th
class day to avoid losing legal student
status.

1. A Change of Status (COS) may be either submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, (USCIS) by an
International Student Services (ISS) Advisor OR done by leaving the US, obtaining a J -1 visa stamp at a US
Embassy/Consulate, and re-entering the U.S. as a J -1. Ask an ISS Advisor for details;

2. In order to apply to USCIS for a Change of Status, the F-1 (and family) must be in a legal status. If the F-1 is out
of status, a Reinstatement must be done before he/she can apply to change visa types. If the F-1 is out of status,
he/she must write a letter to be sent with the application explaining the details about being out of status;

3. The application must include a Form DS-2019 from the school the applicant will attend full time;

4. While the application is pending at USCIS, applicants must be registered for a full course of study in the first
available semester at the school they will attend;

5. If a change of status to J -1 is granted by USCIS, the next time the student leaves the country, he/she (and family)
must apply for a J -1 (and J -2) visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate before re-entry;

6. Applicant must have proof of health and repatriation insurance for the whole family;

7. If the I-94 card is marked for Duration of Status (D/S), and the I-20 was issued by Texas A&M, an ISS Advisor can
help with the COS. If the F-1s (or any of the F-2s) I-94 is NOT marked Duration of Status (D/S), but instead has an
expiration date, the COS application cannot be completed until the I-94 cards are corrected.

8. After COS is approved, a J -1 (and family) may legally stay in the U.S. for 30 days (grace period) after completion of
degree requirements;

9. Employment is not permitted during the 30-day grace period after the Form DS-2019 expires or the program ends,
whichever comes first.

10. Students who complete their degree requirements must depart from U.S. before the end of the 30-day grace
period, even if the DS-2019 is valid beyond that date.

11. There is no grace period for students who drop out of school. They have to make all attempts to leave U.S. as
soon as possible.









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