Changing to F-1 in the U.S.: What Questions Might an RFE Ask?

Hello everyone,

Changing to an F-1 student visa within the U.S., what we fear most is receiving an RFE from USCIS. What are the key points of an RFE? Let’s talk about them today.

The first point is insufficient funds. USCIS suspects that you don’t have enough money to pay your tuition. In this situation, the financial proof you provide to the school should be the same proof you submit to USCIS. That is usually sufficient.

The second point is whether your SEVIS information is incorrect. We have seen cases where the school entered the SEVIS information incorrectly, so USCIS issued an RFE. In this case, you should have the school carefully verify whether the SEVIS information is accurate. Another important point is that when submitting an F-1 application, you may need to repay the SEVIS fee. If the school informs you that this fee is required, then you must make sure to pay it. Otherwise, USCIS will issue an RFE requesting proof of payment.

The third point is that when applying for an F-1 from within the U.S., you are transitioning from a legal status to F-1. USCIS will ask whether you have maintained your previous status and if it was lawful. For example, if you are transitioning from H-1B, you must provide your previous H-1B approval notice and your pay stubs to prove that you have legally maintained your H-1B status and that you are changing from a lawful status to F-1.

The final point is that you must prove that your intention to switch to F-1 is genuine, that you truly want to study and not just maintain your legal status as a workaround to stay in the U.S. Many people have been in the U.S. for many years, studied before, obtained an H-1B visa, and now want to go back to school. In this case, you need to provide a personal statement explaining why you like this school, why you chose this major, and discussing your future plans to convince USCIS that you are not applying for F-1 just to maintain your status but genuinely want to study. This way, you can alleviate USCIS’s concerns and increase your chances of approval.

In summary, applying for an F-1 change of status is not just filling out a form. Finances, SEVIS records, intent, and lawful status all play a crucial role. If you have questions about changing status, feel free to reach out to us. Follow Zeng Law Group, PLLC in New York. Never be left without a solution. Bye-bye!

大家好，

在美国境内转F-1学生签证，我们最怕的就是移民局发RFE补件。那么RFE有哪几个点？我们今天就来说一说。

第一个点就是资金不足。移民局怀疑你没有足够的钱去支付你的学费。那么在这个情况下，我们提供给学校什么样的资金证明，就提供给移民局什么样的资金证明，一般就可以了。

第二个就是SEVIS信息是否错误。我们也遇到过学校把SEVIS信息填错了，所以移民局给他发了一个补件。那么这个时候，你们要让学校仔细核对SEVIS信息有没有填对。当然还有一个点，就是有些时候你在递交F-1申请的时候，是需要重新交那个SEVIS的费的。如果是学校说要交，那么咱们一定要记得交，不然的话移民局就会给你补件。

第三个点就是，我们是在美国境内从一个合法身份转到F-1。那么移民局就要问，你转之前的身份有没有维持，是不是合法的。比如说你是从H-1B转的，你就要提供你之前的H-1B的批准信、你的Paystubs来证明你合法维持了H-1B身份，然后你是从一个合法的身份转到F-1身份的。

最后一个点就是，我们要证明转F-1是一个真实的意图，我们是真正想读书，而不是说维持身份、曲线救国。很多人在美国很多年了，他又读了书，又拿了H-1B，现在又要转回到学校读书，这个时候我们就需要提供个人陈述（personal statement），讲讲你为什么喜欢这个学校，为什么喜欢这个专业，对于你自己未来的规划讲一讲，从而让移民局相信说你不是为了维持身份递交F-1申请的，你是真正的想读书。这样才能打消移民局的顾虑，你的案子才能获批。

综上，转F-1申请并不是简单的填写一个表格，资金、SEVIS、意图和合法身份都有非常多的作用。如果你也有转身份的问题，不妨找我们聊聊。关注纽约曾晖律师，不再无计可施。拜拜！

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