Change of Status

In order to change your status to J-1 within the United States, you will use your newly issued DS-2019 along with the documentation below. If you have not yet been issued a DS-2019, and you are a current student at University of Maryland, fill out a DS-2019 request form and attach a bank statement proving that you have financial support for your studies at the University of Maryland, including out of state tuition, books, health insurance and living expenses.

Submit the following to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services center:

• Form I-539
  
• I-797 form: Proof of payment of SEVIS I-901 fee ($180)
• Payable on: www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml
• Original copies of your financial support information
• $300 check payable to "Department of Homeland Security"
• Your signed DS-2019 form
• A photocopy of your I-94 card ( and those of any dependents to be changed to J-2). The I-94 is the white card in your passport.
• Supporting documentation verifying your current status, such as a visa stamp
  
• Cover letter explaining why you wish to change status.
• Anyone in A or G status will also need to fill out a form I-566* for clearance from their organization or embassy and the U.S. Department of State
• Please indicate clearly, "I-539 : Change of status form", on the outside of the envelope. Use a form of U.S. Mail that is traceable and retain photocopies of your application for your records.

NOTE: Forms I-539 and I-566 can be obtained form the International Education Services Office or from the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The application should be sent to the following address if you reside in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC (as indicated on your form I-539):

If your address is not local to the University of Maryland, please speak with an international advisor to determine the correct service center.

You should receive a notice from the USCIS within two to three weeks indicating that they have received your application. However, the Vermont USCIS usually takes about two to six months to make a decision. Other USCIS Offices may take even longer. If you will be a J-1 student and wish to work on-campus, you must wait until the change of status is approved by the USCIS. (After approval, J-1 students may work no more than 20 hours per week on campus while classes are in session, J-2 dependents can work in the United States with proper work authorization from USCIS.) For more information about the regulations governing J-1 students, please see an International Student Advisor in IES.

If your application is approved, you will have J-1 status inside the United States. If you travel outside the US and intend to return as a J-1 visitor(student, scholar,etc), you will need to obtain a J-1 visa from a US Embassy or Consulate abroad. If your application is rejected, please contact an advisor in IES.

The IES Office staff is available to advise you on the process of changing your status to J-1. Please call IES at 301-314-7740 to make an appointment or contact an International Student Advisor.