I-539, Application to

Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status

Online Filing Instructions

Division of International Education

Last updated: September 2025

DISCLAIMER

The information contained in this instruction sheet is provided as a service to the international students, faculty, staff, employees and administrators of San Francisco State University, and does not constitute legal advice on any immigration, tax, or other matters.

Division of International Education (DoIE) will try to provide useful information, but we make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this web site or any associated sites.

As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided here should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

Neither SFSU nor DoIE is responsible for any errors or omissions contained in this instruction sheet, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. It is your responsibility as an applicant to verify the content you are providing is accurate

VERIFY ELIGIBILITY

The following groups may file online:

• Certain lawfully-admitted nonimmigrants in valid visa status changing to F-1 status (filing for change of status)
• Such as changing from a H-4 to F-1
• Regaining F-1 status after losing status (filing for reinstatement)
• Such as losing F-1 status after under enrollment due to W/WU grade

The follow groups may not file online:

• You may not file online if you have additional applicants (such as dependents - must also file I-539a)
• You may not file online if you require a lawyer or accredited representatives
• Students in this group must file a paper I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant status

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ATTENTION: F-1 international student advisor are unable to provide legal advice�and “double check” the answers you put on your I-539 form.

Please make sure to answer the questions accurately and truthfully.

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BEGIN YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION

1. Visit the I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant status
1. Click “File Online”
2. Create an account OR sign in
• How to Create a USCIS Online Account
• Email addresses to create a USCIS account can be different from the one used for SEVIS
3. Click “File a form online”
• Choose “I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant status ”
• Click “Start Application”

NOTE: A draft is saved for 30 days and then deleted if not submitted (editing resets the clock)

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GETTING STARTED

Change status to F-1

What is your current nonimmigrant status?

• Enter current nonimmigrant status
• Enter Duration of Status information
• Enter nonimmigrant status expiration if applicable
• If granted duration of status, leave blank

What are you applying for?

• Choose “a change of status”
• Type in change of status I-20 program start date for “Effective date of change”
• Leave “extended until date” blank since F-1 status is granted with a duration of status (no end date)

Is someone assisting you?

• Choose “No” : if you have an interpreter or lawyer, you cannot file online

Reinstatement

What is your current nonimmigrant status?

• Enter current nonimmigrant status: F-1 status
• Enter “Yes” for Duration of Status (see image below)
• Leave current nonimmigrant status expiration blank

What are you applying for?

• Choose “reinstatement to student status”
• Leave extended until date blank

Is someone assisting you?

• Choose “No” : if you have an interpreter or lawyer, you cannot file online

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You should have this stamp on your passport for your F-1 Duration of Status (D/S)

ABOUT YOU

1. Provide full legal name as shown on your passport and any other names you have used (such as preferred names or aliases)
2. Mailing address
1. This is where the RFE and/or Approval/Denial Notice will be mailed.
2. The address should be in California and be valid for at least 6 months
3. If you think you might move in the months after you mail your application, use a reliable friends’ address to receive your paperwork. Type in their name in “In Care Of”
4. Do not use SF State’s address
3. Physical address
• Provide your physical address if the mailing address is not where you currently live
• This can be updated later
• You should avoid this to prevent your documents getting loss, but if needed, you may change your mailing address after your application is pending
4. Physical address abroad
• Include the full translation of your home country address
5. Contact
• Provide personal contact information

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FOLLOW APPLICATION NEXT STEPS

• Fill all information applicable to your case
• Quick tips
• F-1 students do not typically have an “A-number”
• Date of birth is in the format of Month/Day/Year (For example, March 4 2000 is “03/04/2000”)
• Always use the most recent I-94 information
1. The entry date and location should be on the I-94 and the admissions stamp on your passport ^
2. Entry status should be F-1 for most students, but for students who changed theirs status to F-1, it may be H4 or B2
3. Current immigration status is F-1
• F-1 students do not typically have a “Travel document Number”
• SEVIS number is on the top right of I-20
• F-1 students do not typically have A numbers or prior USCIS online number

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UPLOAD EVIDENCE

• Prepare your evidence
• Review USCIS’ website: Tips for filing online
• All required documents will need to be uploaded when filing online
• Students may upload 5 documents at a time
• Maximum size for document upload is 6MB
• No maximum to the number of files allowed
• Documents must be PDF, JPEG, TIF/TIFF (No Word Documents Allowed)
• Photos must be JPG, JPEG or PNG (No Word Documents Allowed)
• Government Issued ID: passport bio page
• I-20 needs to be wet signed and then upload

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TYPE OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Change status to F-1

• Change of Status I-20
• DSO support letter
• Letter of explanation
• I-94: get most recent I-94
• If a student has a paper I-94s, both front and back pages must be provided
• Passport Copy:
• Passport identification page with name, expiration date and photo
• Proof of Finances:
• If the proof of financial support appears weak, USCIS may send applicants a Request of Evidence (RFE) letter to request additional documents.
• Proof of previous immigration status:
• Photocopies of current visa stamp and biographical page of your passport, or photocopies of USCIS approval of you current status.
• Official transcripts from SF State and any other U.S. schools you may have attended.
• I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt

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Reinstatement

• Reinstatmenet I-20
• DSO support letter
• Letter of explanation
• I-94: get most recent I-94
• If a student has a paper I-94s, both front and back pages must be provided
• Passport Copy:
• Passport identification page with name, expiration date and photo
• Proof of Finances:
• If the proof of financial support appears weak, USCIS may send applicants a Request of Evidence (RFE) letter to request additional documents.
• Proof of previous immigration status:
• Photocopies of current visa stamp and biographical page of your passport, or photocopies of USCIS approval of you current status.
• Official transcripts from SF State and any other U.S. schools you may have attended.

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NAMING YOUR DOCUMENTS

• Document names can only contain letters, numbers, spaces, periods, hyphens, underscore and parentheses. No special characters.
• DoIE recommends students to to save files with clear names, combine pages, to avoid attaching the wrong or incomplete documents.
• For example, all students will need to upload their SF State I-20 to the USCIS portal. DoIE will email students a digital SF State I-20, and students must print this I-20 and sign page 1 with blue ink to make it valid.
• Students must scan or take a picture of all 3 pages of the I-20. If a student accidentally forgets to attach page 3 of the I-20, USCIS may deny the application.
• Therefore, best practices is to combine multi-page documents into ONE document, and save the document with the semester and information, such as “SF State I-20 - Fall2021”. This will be helpful when you need to upload your attachments.
• Do the same for any other files, especially if you have multiple, such as
• CCSF I-20
• SF State I-20 - Spring 2025
• There is no limit to the number of attachments you can upload to the USCIS online portal. However, you may only upload 5 documents at a time. If you are unable to combine files, please name the files appropriately and make sure to upload ALL pages such as
• SFSU I-20 Fall 2024 page 1
• SFSU I-20 Fall 2024 page 2
• SFSU I-20 Fall 2024 page 3

ALERTS AND WARNINGS

• The online application will have alerts and warnings to inform you of any changes that are needed.
• Review the alerts to see if any areas need to be changed. Red alerts will prevent you from submitting your application.
• You will not receive alerts if you do not upload evidence, alerts are only for fillable areas

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REVIEW AND PAY

• Review application summary
• Confirm to statement
• Agree
• Type in signature
• Do not sign until you have included all evidence and you are ready to pay

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PAY AND SUBMIT

• Do not pay until you have confirmed content.
• Form will be submitted once payment is submitted.
• No corrections can be made.
• Type of payment options:
• U.S. bank checking account transfers: need routing and account number
• U.S. credit/debit card: need credit card number
• Pay through Pay.gov
• Pay.gov will redirect you to a uscis.gov confirmation screen, which will include your receipt number.
• Keep a copy of your receipt number for your records.
• Paper notices will be mailed to mailing address

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You have completed the I-539 form Instructions

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We hope the information provided was helpful

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