"Change of status" usually means moving from one nonimmigrant (temporary) status to another without leaving the U.S. — for example, from F-1 student status to H-1B worker status, or from B-2 visitor status to F-1 student status. This is a change of status. It is important not to confuse it with adjustment of status — obtaining a green card from within the country (Form I-485), which is a separate process. A change of nonimmigrant status is most often filed on USCIS Form I-539, while a switch to a work status is filed by the employer on Form I-129.
Status as of July 12, 2026. I-539 processing in 2026 is long — from several months to a year or more, depending on the category. The key rule: the application is filed before the date on the Form I-94 expires; the temporary COVID-era policy on late filings no longer applies. Traveling abroad while the application is pending is generally treated by USCIS as abandoning it.
Change of nonimmigrant status and a green card are different things
A change of status is a move between temporary (nonimmigrant) statuses: both the current and the new status must be nonimmigrant. Adjustment of status is a move to permanent resident status (a green card) from within the U.S. under section 245 of the INA, and it is filed on Form I-485. Someone who obtains a green card not in the U.S. but through a consulate abroad goes through consular processing. A green card is a discretionary benefit — a USCIS officer weighs the circumstances of the case as a whole. A change of temporary status answers a narrower question: whether a person may lawfully remain in a different temporary category.
How a change of status works in general
A change of temporary status is filed while a person is in the U.S. in valid status. The general conditions: the status is valid and not violated at the time of filing (no unauthorized work), and the application is filed before the end date on the Form I-94 — USCIS recommends filing about 45 days ahead if possible. The decision is discretionary. Some categories cannot change or extend status (for example, transit categories C and D, K, and people who entered under the Visa Waiver Program / ESTA); J-1 and M-1 have restrictions. While a timely-filed application is pending, a person is in a "period of authorized stay" and generally does not accrue unlawful presence. If the status expired before filing or was violated, USCIS generally denies the change of status — except in limited circumstances beyond the person's control.
Which form is used for a change of status?
Most people — visitors (B), students (F, M), and dependents (H-4, L-2, J-2, and others) — use Form I-539. A move to a nonimmigrant work status (H-1B, L-1, O-1, and similar) is filed by the employer on Form I-129, and a separate I-539 is not needed for that. The form is filed online or by mail; official forms are free at uscis.gov.
What happens if the status has already expired?
If the date on the Form I-94 expired before the application was filed, or the terms of status were violated (for example, working without authorization), the person is considered "out of status." In that case USCIS generally denies a change of status — except in limited circumstances beyond the person's control. Accruing unlawful presence can lead to bars on entry (3 or 10 years).
Can you travel abroad while the application is pending?
Generally no: leaving the U.S. while an I-539 application is pending is usually treated by USCIS as abandoning it. That is why a change of status is completed without leaving the country.
Does approval of a change of status grant a visa?
No. A change of status changes the status of stay within the U.S., but does not issue a visa. If a person travels abroad after approval, they may need to obtain a visa in the appropriate category from a consulate in order to return. How the immigration system works overall is covered in the How U.S. Immigration Works section; the path to permanent residence is covered in the Green Card pillar.