- Change of status
Visa is the entry permission issued by the department of state. But the status is given in form I-94 when a person enters into US by Department of Homeland security. Generally, the visa a person holds determines his status when he enters to US. Another words, a person with a Visitor visa will have a visitor status, generally valid for six months in the USA, and person with F-1 (Student visa) will have F-1 status.   Change of status allows foreign nationals holding a nonimmigrant status in the U.S. to change status to another nonimmigrant category while in the U.S. This process is called Change of Status. That means that a person with a certain non-immigrant status can either extend their non-immigrant status or change to that of another non-immigrant status without leaving USA.
Who may apply for change of status or Extension of status.
You may be eligible to change your status to another nonimmigrant status if:
- You have lawfully entered into the U.S. with a nonimmigrant visa.
- Your nonimmigrant visa status remains valid.
- You have not committed any crime that would make you ineligible.
- You have not violated terms of your visa/status in US.Â
Certain nonimmigrants who are maintaining status and wish to change to another status including:
Diplomatic and other government officials, and their dependants and employees on an A visa
Temporary visitors for business or pleasure on B visa category
Academic students on F-1 visa and their dependants on F-2 visa
Representatives to international organizations and their dependants and employees on G visa
Representatives of foreign media on IÂ visa and their dependants
Exchange visitors on J-1 visa and their dependants on J-2 visa
Vocational students on M-1 visa and their dependants on M-2 visa
Temporary workers on H Â L O P Q or R visa and their dependants
All these non-immigrant categories can extend their status as well.