Form I-539

These questions and details are about your current immigration status. They are not about any future status that you may be changing to.

Question 11: Enter the passport number of the passport you used to enter the US. It is OK if this has now expired.

Country of Passport of Travel Document Issuance will be the country that issued the passport. This is located at the top of your passport biographical page. It is typically the same country of your citizenship.

Question 1: Select the reason you are filing the I-539

Question 2: Leave Blank

Question 4: If filing an application for yourself only, indicate 1. If you are also filing the Change of Status to include family members (spouse and children) include the total number of family members and also attach Form I-539A.

Question 5: University of Cincinnati

Questions 6: SEVIS ID located in the top left corner of page 1 of your I-20 or the top right corner of your DS-2019.

Question 1: 

• If requesting an extension of your current F-1/J-1 status, or requesting a Change of Status to F-1 or J-1 this will be the “Program End Date” on the recently issued I-20 (Page 1, under Program of Study), or the “To” date listed in page 1, box 3 of your DS-2019, plus 30 days.
• If requesting OPT/STEM OPT, this will be the end date of the requested OPT/STEM OPT period located on page 2 of your I-20, plus 30 days.

Question 2: No

Question 3: No

Question 8: You will likely only have one SEVIS ID number, located in the top left corner of your I-20. But, if you have had other SEVIS ID numbers and the Education Level from past I-20s or DS-2019s that you have used to enter the US, enter the details here. Do not write down SEVIS ID numbers from documents that were issued but never used to enter the US.

You are the Principal Applicant. Complete this section only if anything is different from Part 1.  For example, perhaps you have a new passport.

Question 3: This is asking if you have applied for an immigrant status, such as Permanent Residency/Green Card. If you are checking ‘Yes’ to this question, please contact our office to discuss.

Question 8a: This includes any national military service.

Part 6 and Part 7 can be left blank if you are completing the I-539 on your own without the help of an interpreter or a second person.

Financial aid budgets and scholarship award amounts can be affected by your residency classification for tuition purposes. 

If you are in the process of changing your immigration status, your residency for tuition and costs purposes could be affected. Contact Enrollment Services to understand how your aid package or specific aid awards and your tuition costs could be related to your change in immigration status.

Type and sign a statement that declares why you want to change your status to F-1, what degree you are pursuing, and how this will help you with your long term plans back in your home country. Include your current address in your home country and state your intent to return home once the degree has been awarded. There is not a sample or template available for this. Your letter merely needs to state the details explained.

Additional Document Requirements by Visa Status:
Review the additional document requirements by visa status section on our Change Your Visa Status webpage and provide any additional documents detailed.

• If you are currently in the US in a dependent status (for example F-2, J-2, H-4, L-2), upload the principal alien's (your spouse or parent's) passport (identity page only), I-94 or I-797 and any other immigration documents that explains their current US immigration status. 
• If you are a dependent of your spouse, you will need to include a copy of your marriage certificate (with English translation if necessary)
• If you are a dependent of a parent, you will need to include a copy of your birth certificate (with English Translation if necessary)

USCIS will require proof that you have a residence overseas. This can be a rental agreement, property deed, mortgage, land holding certificate in your or your parents'/family name. Utility bills are also necessary.

Upload your proof of funding. If you have more than one document, please combine them into one PDF. Do not forget to include scholarship letters.

• If you are using funds from a sponsor (family member, friend etc.), you will also need to have that family member/sponsor complete a Form I-134.
• If you have family/sponsor that lives in the Cincinnati area that will provide you free room and board, please complete the Room and Board Affidavit, and include proof that they family/sponsor owns/rents a property in the Cincinnati area. This can include rental agreement, property deed or mortgage along with utility bills.

Do not wait until your current authorized period of stay is about to expire. The process should begin well in advance so you have sufficient time to:

• Determine whether an Extension of Stay is required.
• Meet with an academic advisor.
• Document the academic reason for needing additional time.
• Obtain financial documentation.
• Request an updated Form I-20 from UC International Services.
• Prepare and file Form I-539 with USCIS, when required.

Students may begin the extension process up to six months before their current authorized period of admission expires.

Students applying for an extension in conjunction with an OPT application should file 90 days before their current authorized period of admission and the I-765 application for work authorization can only be filed 90 days in advance of the program end date.

Before UC International Services can issue an updated Form I-20, you must demonstrate why additional time is needed to complete the academic program.

Academic Advisor Documentation

The student's academic advisor or academic department should provide documentation addressing:

• The student's current academic program and major.
• The expected new program completion date.
• The academic requirements that remain outstanding.
• The specific reason additional time is needed.
• The student's academic progress.
• A proposed timeline for completing the remaining requirements.
• Confirmation that the student is expected to complete the program by the requested new end date.

The explanation should be specific and factual. Simply stating that the student "needs more time" is generally not sufficient.

Acceptable Reasons for Additional Time

The new regulations recognize circumstances that may justify additional time, including certain:

• Compelling academic circumstances.
• Documented medical circumstances.
• Circumstances beyond the student's control.

Examples of academic circumstances may include:

• A change in major.
• Unexpected research problems.
• A change in faculty advisor.
• The need to refine a research topic.
• Delays in research funding.
• Other unexpected academic circumstances.

An extension should not be based simply on your inability or unwillingness to complete the program within the expected period. The regulations specifically identify academic probation or suspension and repeated inability or unwillingness to complete the program as circumstances that do not support an extension.

Financial Documentation

You should also be prepared to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support yourself during the additional period requested. Examples of financial documentation may include:

• Recent personal bank statements.
• Scholarship or assistantship documentation.
• An affidavit of financial support from a sponsor, together with supporting bank statements.
• Official government scholarship or sponsorship documentation.
• A completed Form I-134. If you have family/sponsor that lives in the Cincinnati area that will provide you free room and board, please complete the Room and Board Affidavit, and include proof that the family/sponsor owns or rents a property in the Cincinnati area. This can include rental agreement, property deed or mortgage along with utility bills.

Once the student has gathered the necessary academic and financial documentation, the student should submit the I-20 Extension of Program eForm through iBearcatsGlobal.

UC International Services will review the request and, if the student qualifies for an academic program extension, update the student's SEVIS record and issue a new Form I-20 reflecting the revised program end date. Additional instructions regarding the USCIS Extension of Stay process will be provided with the approval of the I-20 Extension of Program request.

When an Extension of Stay is required, you must submit Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, to USCIS.

Understand that:

• The Form I-20 does not itself extend your authorized period of stay.
• USCIS must receive the Extension of Stay application within the applicable filing period.
• You should retain the USCIS receipt and approval notices.
• An approved Extension of Stay should be documented permanently.
• You should provide UC International Services with a copy of your USCIS approval notice (Form I-797).

Maintaining F-1 status and maintaining an unexpired period of admission are related but distinct requirements. You must continue to comply with F-1 requirements while also ensuring that you do not remain in the United States beyond your authorized period of admission.

UC International Services will not review your I-539 prior to your submitting it to USCIS.